Crazy Christmas Time

A month since I've blogged.  That maybe a new record.  My spirit is willing but my mind is weak.  So what's happened since Thanksgiving.

Luke won the character award for his class this month.  Each month a character attribute is . . . featured? . . and a student from each class is selected as the best . . demonstrator? . . of that trait.  Last year Luke won the caring award.  We were so proud.  This year he won the perseverance award.  And, of course we're proud again.  I'm glad he's quit caring so much about his friends and is focusing on trying hard with his work.  I'm kidding, sort of.  I do think he's tried so hard this year, especially with his writing that's a challenge for him, and I'm really proud.  And he's trying really hard to be a good friend without obsessing over certain friends as he's done in the past.  Great job Luke!

A couple we weeks ago we were thrilled to attend a gingerbread house party at the home of friends who just moved to town.  I've known Kim, the hostess with the mostest, for many, many years.  I've followed her blog for quite a while and always loved to read about her annual party.  Reminds me so much of the great parties and events her mom would host when I was a child.  So now that we live in the same neck of the woods, I was thrilled we got invited to this shindig!

Look how beautifully organized things were.  Each child had a preassembled house and a tray of goodies for decorating.  I love an organized party!  Luke was ready for some house creatin'.

Luke's house was kind of a how-much-candy-can-I-cram-on-one-house theme.  And I had to fight my natural inclination for order and symmetry and let him do his thing.

Finished product.  Wow.

After house decorating Luke made some new friends.  I'm always a little nervous around new friends.  How will it go?  Will it be obvious our boy is a little different?  But he did really well and from my observations was a "good friend".  The kids had a great time playing in the marvelous backyard and with the super cool pirate costumes.

Luke and his new friend, Luke!  (And another precious little girl I cropped out since I don't know her family or how they feel about blogging.)

As we left the party, Kim asked Luke to come back sometime and play.  When we got in the car, Luke asked me if I would stay too the next time we came.  Assuming he'd be nervous, I told sure I would.  He said, "No Mom, could you just drop me off and leave for a little while?"  Wow.  Kim really made him feel comfortable, and he's really gaining confidence.  Or he wants to get into some pretty big mischief with his buddy Luke.

Last Saturday was Breakfast with Santa.  Always fun, always crazy.  This year Lamar stood in line for our photo op while I supervised Luke in the craft area. Lamar texted me when it was time for our picture.  After 7 years, I finally figure out how to make Breakfast with Santa less stressful.  Luke LOVED everything this year, especially the crafts.  This event was WAY too chaotic when he was younger.  And now he loves it.  Amazing.

Here is Mr. Christmas sporting a Santa hat, Christmas necklace he made at a craft station, candy cane and 2 Christmas slap bracelets.  Remember slap bracelets?  I remember them being outlawed at my elementary school.  Well, they're back.  Annoying trends always make a comeback.

Last Sunday we had our annual gingerbread house building afternoon at church.  I was tired and hey, we'd already done that this year and you can't top Kim's party.  But Luke can now read the announcements and knew all about it and really wanted to go.

I let Luke do his own thing on house #1 of the season.  We needed a plan this time.  And once he saw how cool his house looked, he loved our plan too.

House, with thatch (pretzel) roof, Christmas tree (with star on top, thanks to our friend Ms. Jennie) and snowman.  Too bad I didn't get a photo of the window and shutters on the side.  But I do like my, I mean our, m&m door there.

Ta da!  We had a lot of fun.

We have a few more festive activities to take in before the season ends.  The days are just packed with fun.  I'm exhausted.  But occasionally I just stop and try to remember what our lives were like a few short years ago.  Christmas was the hardest.  It seemed there was nothing our family could easily participate in.  And now this boy just loves every celebration.  I don't deserve such blessings!