The meaning of christmas (according to a three, almost 4 yearold)

Benjamin was very excited about Christmas this year. All he could think about was Santa. We tried to teach him the real meaning of christmas, about Jesus's birth and what it means to us.... but... it seemed like he was all about the presents and santa.


But, sometimes he surprises me. I think some of it must have stuck with him, because when Tammy (rob's sister) asked us to write her son  (our nephew, who is serving a mission in Brazil) a Christmas letter this is what Benjamin had to say:


Dear Edler Skiles,                                                                                                     Dec 6th, 2011

Your mum asked us to send our testimony and thoughts about: Christmas, the Savior and our favorite Christmas memory. Since Benjamin is only 3 years old—turning four in February. I thought the best thing to do with him was a “Question and Answer” format. This is Benjamin’s message for you this Christmas :)



“Benjamin, how do you feel about Jesus?”

“Happy. Because He wants me to be happy. “



“What else?”

“Christmas.”



“Tell me about Christmas.”

“Snowman’s. And Pop corn. Movies—Cars2.”



“Why do we Celebrate Christmas?”

“Because Santa comes. Because he got’s lots of presents.”



“What is Christmas really about?”

 “Jesus’s birthday! Having a Birthday. Jesus’s Birthday.”



“Why was Jesus Born?”

“Because He died.”



“What do you mean?”

“Because the earth. So we can live with our families.”





“What has been your favorite part about Christmas?”

“Toys. Making Crafts about Baby Jesus. Decorations---Blue kinds.” 



“What do you want to say to your cousin, Mark, who is on a mission right now? Maybe like, Merry Christmas or something?”

“Uhhhhh….nothing.” (I think he was done with the interview at this point)



“He’s a real life missionary!
“No, I am.”



“What do you want to say to him?”

“I want to talk to him.”

Updates:

Novemeber:

We had my mom and dad come down for thanksgiving. Sadly, my mom had a kidney stone attack, so the trip was made short....

Had amazing thanksgiving dinner at the sals home. I think it was the best dinner I've had!!! Lynda did an amazing job of entertaining so many and there was more than enough food to go around!

Rob's work continues to be insane.... every few weeks he is  having to work 24 hour shifts to watch drilling.... that wasn't part of the job description, but rob has done well doing what is asked of him.

December:

Seemed to fly by. Rob had his birthday on the 4th, and we had his sisters and their families over for home made spaghetti sauce and meatballs and kiersta made a wonderful dessert. We made way to much food, so we ate spaghetti and meatballs for the next 3 days (lunch and dinner). Surprisingly we couldn't seem to get enough of that stuff!

I had good intentions. The first week of December i thought I was on top of everything! I had half of all my christmas cards ready to go and half of my christmas baking done. Then, it wentsouth after that.

Life got busy. The kids were sick. Christmas parties. Then I got super sick with a terrible sinus infections.  I was so sick Rob had to take a couple of days off to take care of the kids. Before I knew it, Christmas was almost here! In a mad panic, I finally got my cards mailed and had to do a lot of on-line Christmas shopping for gifts because I was running out of time.

We then headed up to Wichita, KS to spend the Christmas vacation with my parents. It was so nice to have a longer visit with them, especially since their visit at thanksgiving was cut short. My parents were so kind and helped with the kids a lot. Robert and I even got to go out on lots of dates-- even got a overnight get away! My mom made amazing meals, and of course an amazing Christmas and New Years Dinner. My dad also made his special spaghetti and meatballs (which I don't know if I can ever replicate because it is so good) and his yummy omelets.

The kids were in heaven.
Benjamin adores his grandpa dave. Everyday, my dad and Benjamin would play trains (I secretly think my dad was enjoying every min of it too!). Vera loves her grandma Gail. It might be that my mom is the only one that really understands everything Vera wants and says.... it also could be that my mom gives Vera 3 helpings of strawberries  with whipped cream after every dinner.

We also went to the exploration Museum which the kids loved!

It was nice to have a break from the regular routine of big city life, and to have a low key vacation.

Learning...

Right now, I’m in the process of reading 3 parenting books. Can you tell what is constantly pressing on my mind?

So far all of them are pretty good reads:

“Hold on to Your kids: Why parents need to matter more than peers.”

“Unconditional Parenting: moving from rewards and punishments to love and reason.”

“Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.”

Its not like my kids are extremely terrible, awful, misbehaving children. Days when I “think” they are atrocious, I just have to watch an episode of Super nanny to bring me back to reality and how good they are.

I know.  I am a terrible person. I make myself feel better about my parenting skills (or lack thereof), by watching other people’s children yell expletives at their parents and beat the crud out of their siblings. And I take comfort? Yes, yes I do, realizing  that  Benjamin’s offenses of “not listening” seem so minor. 

                                                        

The thing that I stress most about is making sure that I do the best that I can with raising the kids that the Lord has given me.  That I will do all in my power, to teach them correct principles, both temporal and spiritual while they are on my watch.

I have wonderful kids… they are not easy, but they are wonderful.

Being a parent is the hardest job out there.

“You think” lots of things before you actually have kids. 

“You think“ you know what kind of parent you will be when you have kids.  How easy it will be to have weekly family home evenings--- that the children will sit reverently, quietly and hang on your every word.

“You think” your kids will love the same things you do.

 “You think” you will be so patient and speak in soft, kind, soothing tones when your kids are driving you bananas.

Like I said, “you think” lots of things.

The reality is, being a parent is one big lesson of  humility and rolling with the punches. Things never quite turn out how “you think” they will. But that is what makes life interesting and how we gain experience.

I really believe that parenting was the Lords way of refining us. Aspects of parenting truly test every virtue  “you thought” you possessed. Only to make you really work for those virtues and refine every part of you.

Parenting brings incredible moments as well. “Family fun nights.” Watching your kid over come difficulties. Watching them learn new things. Ailments that can only be fixed with a kiss from you. Little glimpses of what your kids are becoming, and who they really are.  

Sometimes I contemplate how I devote so much time to the taking care, the nurturing, mundane tasks of the feeding,the cleaning,ect, the *teaching* (educational/ and spiritual) of them, and how much work they really are. And even then, after all that I do, I know I could be doing more.

When I start to feel like my efforts are in vain, I often think about how patient our Heavenly Father is with us. How much He loves us, and that His greatest work is to bring to pass the eternal life and immortality of His children.

It is then, that I am reminded of  what a blessing it is for me to be apart of that process. 

And I am grateful.

Boot camp and other things.....

Boot camp

Rob and I both signed up for a Bootcamp Exercise class at Rice University. The thing I love about this bootcamp, is that the past 3 years it is usually the same 7 people who take the class. Every time I’ve done the class Rob watches the kids, but this time we thought it might be fun to do it together.

It had been months, five to be exact, since I had even worked out, never-the-less attended bootcamp. Come to find out the class had a new instructor (who is also a  trainer for the Houston Dynamos).

This guy knows no limits when it comes to the term “ultimate workout” and demands 90 % each circuit. You can’t even complain, because the guy runs just about every circuit with each group. He is insane. I am pretty sure he works out multiple times a day.

With his workouts, I never thought, nor ever imagined that I would ever try to do some of the things we have. Like sprinting up a ramp carrying 50 lbs in weights, multiple times—but I have. Let’s just say I have never worked out so hard in my life until now.

The first day back I almost died--really.

I shamefully had to skip out the last 10 mins of class because I felt so sick and my head was pounding.

I think the instructor thought I wasn’t going to come back.

I could tell my peers felt bad for me.

Because I couldn’t finish the circuit in time, they had to do extra push-ups in my behalf while I skipped out.

Talk about taking a hit to my pride.

This past year and a half, my body struggled to even be able to do a jumping jack. Bed rest about killed my muscle capacity and strength, and I struggled, I mean struggled to even keep up with my peers in the class. Its like I had lost any atheltic abilities that I might have ever had. It had been like this all last year when I was doing bootcamp.

However, now, after 6weeks of intense training, amazing workouts and an awesome trainer, its like my body has woken up. I finally feel like I am where I was before my pregnancy with vera.

Nostalgic

A couple of weeks ago our work out was to run a timed 3 mile. It sounds so lame, but I was nearvous… Who really cares right? I mean its boot camp --- not for a grade, no glory, not a real race… just a work out class. Still, the runner in me always gets those butterfiles before running.  It had been years, and I mean years, since I had gone out for a real “run”, never-the-less ran 3 miles.  I was determined to not walk, and not end with a pathedic time.  I was determined not to embarrass myself. I honestly believe that half the battle when it comes to running is all mental.  The entire time I was running , I treated it like I was running in an old cross country meet. Picking off runnings, one at a time.  I didn’t have a running buddy to help me keep time or pace. Just myself and the other joggers on the loop.  I kept telling myself, “ You were a runner for 11 years… its like ridding a bike, you don’t forget how to run..”

I am proud to say that I ran the entire loop, and was very happy with my 8-8.5 min miles—not bad considering I hadn’t run 3 miles for a very long time.

Two weeks ago we ran a timed mile, and I was happy about my 7:15 min mile. I felt awesome! Afterward, I felt like I could have run another  mile. I know its not amazingly fast, especially compared to what I ran in higschool, but its improvement… and for me I am happy with that, especially since a year ago, I could barely run a lap around the soccer field for warm-up.

What I love about this bootcamp instructor is that he makes us do some kind of running every workout. Whether its sprinting ramps, running around a field-- our workouts always include running. 

I can’t lie. I love running---even before running became cool. 

There is something so nostalgic about it for me.

For an energetic 8 year old little girl, this was the perfect outlet for me and it stuck. Remembering former days of  track practices, relays, the 800m run (my favoriate race), long Cross Country meets, and passing the time with team mates and good friends.

I think one of the most rewarding parts of running is the knowledge that you have the mental discipline to work through any discomfort or pain. That if you endure just for a little bit longer,  you body will comply and it will soon be finished. 

Running really makes me happy. I mean really, really happy--- like painting. I feel like there are certain things in life that we were meant to do. Its not like I’m amazing at any of these things, but I feel deep down inside it was what I was made to do.  What I truly beileive is that everyone has something like that in there life~

Benjamin

You are your mothers son. Sometimes I see the things that you do, and remember doing the exact same thing.

Sometimes it drives me crazy how alike we are!

I am trying so hard to enjoy you more and stress less. You are the first, which sometimes means you end up being the guinea pig while your parents try to figure out parenting. Yet, you are so patient with our humanity and seem to understand that we sincerely love you and are trying our best. Thank you for being so very patient with us---especially me!

You have such a bright, happy, spirit and such the contagious smile. I love hearing your mischievous giggle, and when you tell Vera that you love her so much because she is your best friend.You mean everything to her.

I love how you truly believe that your mother and father can make anything from paper-- from the millennium falcon to gloves for your hands. You have such a creative spirit and an appreciation for beautiful things.

You are an amazing soul, and I love you more than you will every know! Every day you tell me that you are getting bigger--- and you are! I love you so much my dear sweet little boy!I love you so very much!

Vera

You are my little princess. You are so very much a "girl"--- from your dramatic fits, to your shoe fetish, to your incredible ability to love everyone around you, especially your big brother Benjamin. I hope you know how beautiful you truly are--- how incredible and vibrant your spirit is and what an honor it is to be your mother.

Halloween

I love Halloween!

Not in the "blood and gore" creepy kind of way, but the "fun, innocent, dressing up" kind of way... It could also be because the first time I met Rob was at a singles ward Halloween dance at BYU... Who knows. Heck, any excuse to have a party kind makes me love anything!


Rob and I were talking about how Halloween is kind of a strange tradition. I mean if you were coming from a country or a culture that does not celebrate it, the concept of hanging ghosts from a tree, cobwebs all over your house and dressing up in the most tackiest costumes might seem a little strange. So, I'll admit, I am kind of nerd and like to look up useless information. I looked up where these traditions came from and I think I'll just ignore that part of history and just enjoy the innocent "pin the nose on the pumpkin" parties that I like to put on for my kids.

Anyway, my original idea for a costume was to dress up as  kate middleton-- I can not lie, I was seriously excited about that. But, I ran out of time because of the move, so I thought I would just blow it off for another year.


The kids had a lot of fun this year. We had a little halloween party (last min), we went to Isacc and Haileys Halloween/birthday party, and then Halloween night. By the end, I was done with halloween :)

The kids loved trick or treating!It was a fun night. They were so wiped out by the end of it. Having kids makes holidays that much more magical! I just love the both of them so much!

The princess receiving the royal treatment! mosquitoes were so bad this year!

I think I have the cutest little boy ever!