By the fire

I have always had this vision in my head that a happy family sits around the fire and reads books and talks at night. I know.. sometimes I'm pathetically idealistic. (and maybe I've read too much Ray Bradburry and Madeline L'Engle.) And yet, this month has been just dreamy because we have our first fireplace and we actually turn it on and sit together and read. Most nights Eirik cries and throws a fit because he wants to watch tv, but once we get reading he's great at listening. He catches EVERYTHING. I think his reading retention is better than mine. If I re-read a book he will tell me if I say one word different. It must be hard to be so smart. Tonight I set out sleeping bags and let the kids sleep under the Christmas tree. I think it will be a snow day tomorrow so why not live it up? I used to love sleeping under the Christmas tree. I'm glad Paul took this picture of my vision coming to life. I do love to read to my kids.

PS. Eirik had to wear these goggles to preschool every day this week..even before it snowed. He also refused to get dressed for church this morning so we took him in his pajamas. Paul decided at the last minute not to let him walk into sacrament in his PJs. I was hoping it would embarrass him enough to teach him a lesson, but Paul said, "I know Eirik and he is not going to be embarrassed, he's just going to think he won." He is probably right, and he forced him to change in the car.
The kids have been getting happy or sad faces lately based on behavior. Two weeks in a row they have gotten more sad faces than happy faces even with SANTA as incentive to be good. It's been a bit rough. Joren keeps stealing from friends houses. Eirik stole from Walmart. They hit each other constantly and Joren uses bathroom words all day long and says, "is that funny?" each time. Joren peed on the basement floor at our friends house. Eirik is incredibly obstinate and sassy and has HUGE tantrums. However, they do have good moods where they are so sweet you want to eat them up though. Eirik told me he was going to do all my chores for me from now on and asks me every night (usually after being a complete pill) if there is anything he can do for me. And Joren always follows me around saying "I wuv you mom." They are good and I'm probably going to have to make some happy faces magically appear so that Santa can still come because I'm more excited than they are. :) he he.
I think these next few Christmases are going to be the most fun we'll ever have at Christmas in our lives. I hope they like what we found for them. I can't wait! 12 days and counting down!