Sweetest Shepherd Boy

Mason was the shepherd boy in his class's song in the Preschool Christmas program. It was epic, the entire program. There is nothing like 2-4 year olds singing Christmas songs. They were all so cute. Of course, we're totally partial to this guy's cuteness:

Here's his adorable little class. Mason only likes girls ("gulls", as he says). The little angel girl is his #1 girlfriend, GiGi. But we also hear a lot about Bailey, Elena and Nikita as well. Ladies' man!

It was quite the spirited version of "Go Tell It On A Mountain". You could even almost sort of pick out a melody every so often. I wish I could get the video to post, but it's too gigantic, so you'll have to trust me on the fact that it was pretty darn classic.

I love that Mason loves his preschool. He adores his teachers and I love that they seem to sincerely enjoy him, too. They always comment that he's so nice to have around because he gets SO excited and enthusiastic about everything they do. "I LOVE this!" "This is SO MUCH FUN!" That's my Mason!

Christmas Faces

We didn't get many pictures of Christmas. It was sort of a weird Christmas. We were all sick. I was running behind all month long and felt like things just barely got done. But it was fun and low key and the kids had a blast. Santa brought the kids an art easel and a puppet theatre (with tons o' puppets). Maya got a telescope, Legos, lots of fun stuff. Mason got the Deluxe Roundhouse (most requested gift ever) Legos, etc. Simon got a few odds and ends. The kids got bunches of art supplies and treats - I always mean to cut back but never seem to.

We tried to give at least one handmade gift to everyone. Everyone in the family got a family memory box/book (which I should do a post about, it was pretty fun to do...), I made some birthday banners and bean bags, the kids made a few tied fleece blankets and a few art kits. It was fun to try to be more thoughtful this year with our gifts. Hopefully our recipients agree and didn't have to fake an "Umm...thanks?", haha.

Here's our little Santa Man on Christmas Eve! He was so cute walking around jingling his bell.

Uncle Matt always has fun gifts up his sleeve. The kids loved their stick on moustaches! So funny!

A Few Favorites...

Chris has been shooting B&W lately, maybe just to drive me nuts because I LOVE color! But I love this sweet little one, Simey all sweet smelling and clean from the tubby.

Look at those boys! Couple of blondies. Mason loves having a "snow" bath with his baby. You can tell he likes him, can't you? He's a very sweet brother. You almost get a peek at those cute little baby cheeks. Trust me, they are cute.

Mason was walking around with a box on his head the other day, in typical Mason style. "What are you, a Trojan Horse?" asked Maya. (I love her smart observations.) Then, in typical Maya style, she decided to take over the fun. She confiscated the box, drew a face on it (somewhere) and soon the Trojan Horse had the appropriate number of legs. It's all fun and games until they mow down the baby...which happened more than once. Oh, who am I kidding, they thought that part was fun too. Once again, my kids prove that kids don't need toys, just empty boxes.

Christmas Sunday

I feel like I've had my kids decked out in red for every Christmas in recent memory, and I was in the mood for something a little different this year...so browns + gold turned out to be the thing.

Simon was not feeling a photo session, and I wasn't there to provide distraction, so this was the best we got.

I really wanted red shoes for Maya, but never got around to doing more than quickly looking wherever I already happened to be. So no red shoes this year, but she liked her fancy gold dress just the same.

This kid kills me.

There's a semi-smile!

They were very cute li'l Christmas kiddos!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Cottams! As the card states, "Celebrating the birth of our Savior is our great privilege." Another privilege was singing Christmas hymns on Sunday. I have to just focus on the notes instead of the words if I don't want to sit and cry. My current favorite is "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing". Born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth. Born to give us second birth. I'm so thankful for my Savior. I'm grateful that even though I'm far from perfect today (faaaaaar!) that by striving to improve each day, I'm doing okay. And by Him and through Him, someday I can be more like Him. What a blessing that we've all already been given the greatest gift we'll ever receive, through the birth, atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I'm more grateful for Him than I can ever, ever say.

Wishing you the very Merriest Christmas. As the card says, "We're so grateful that He Lives! We wish you all His great blessings this Christmas & always."

Huh

Most requested video at our house right now: this one. The kids crack up. Simon cracks up. Okay, I crack up, too. (No worries if you don't crack up...it's not that funny, especially if it's not your kid!) We all find it so funny, in fact, I had Chris take a video of Simon watching the video. Which is hilarious and would totally be posted if his poor, bedraggled mother hadn't been holding him while the video was being taken at an angle very unflattering to my double chin. But just imagine a sweet little baby cracking up, and you're there.

Feel free to watch it over and over and over, as we have been doing. Or don't.

PS - Simon is lucky to be so darn lovable and cute, because that kid is a total mess. Into everything, creating havoc behind him. Such a turkey! I already had a Lucy and a Linus, now I've got a Pigpen. Seriously. He's a MESS!

Well Hello There!

I've met/reconnected with a couple of people lately that claim to read this blog and/or miss the frequent posts. What the? Really? I thought all that was left to do was hang up the "Abandoned" sign. But I do love this ol' blog and hope to return to it more often one day...someday. Thank you for still reading!

We had the loveliest trip to Salt Lake. So wonderful. (Big huge thanks to my parents for making this possible!) We stayed a couple of nights downtown at the very fabulous Hotel Monaco (highly recommended, love it) and a couple of nights with Chris' BFF (who I also consider to be one of my favorite people ever, along with his amazing wife and gorgeous children). We were lazy, although we didn't sleep in as much as we wanted to. (I did Rip Van Winkle it up for one niiiice 5 hour nap, though.) We saw the MOTAB with Natalie Cole and were super-wowed, it was fabulous. We spent lots o' time meandering around Temple Square, seeing our favorite sights (Christus statue, among others). I shopped 'til I dropped, hitting 3 malls and discovering 2 new stores in which I dropped some major buckaroos for 1 girl. (Here and here.) It was very exciting to find some size 7 clothes that don't look so teeny bopper! We ate a TON of good food. I browsed the good ol' Deseret Book for hours. We drove past all our old stomping grounds (And were super sad to discover that the turtle-shaped Reams in Provo is no more, now home to condos, ugh.) We sat and ate cookies and drank hot chocolate and chatted with people who have known us for almost forever. It was fabulous.

Of course, I missed my babies like crazy. I was soooo happy to get home and snuggle them. I was especially happy with Simon's reaction. Diving into my shoulder, then looking back to double check it was me, then diving again. Aaand repeat. It makes a Mama feel good. And poopy diapers are much easier to change when you've had 5 days off.

Taking 5 days off right before Christmas, though, isn't necessarily the best idea. The past few days have been a little crazy. Christmas gifts finished and in the mail - check! Of course, everything else is most definitely un-checked. But one day at a time, I'll get it all done. Tomorrow is the last day of school for both the kids, so I'm working on teacher gifts tonight. The "giving party" for our adopted Christmas family is Saturday, so I went on a buying binge today. Gotta sort thru things and figure out what else we still need. Christmas cards need to be ordered, addressed and mailed this weekend. And then next week I'll worry about finishing up gifts & shopping for in-town family and do my baking and delivering. I think we're going to make it!

In other news, we had our family pictures taken! See the proof below! First time since Maya was a baby that we actually paid someone to do it rather than set up the tripod and do the ol' set it and run. And I have to say, I think it was worth it. I LOVE how they turned out. Now...to decide on ONE for the Christmas card. And to hang up life-sized in my living room, of course. Feel free to vote!

And I'm sure I'll be back eventually. Surely in time to say a proper Merry Christmas. But just in case...Merry Christmas!

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This Is Simon...

This kid can boogie. If he hears the front door or the refrigerator door open, he is there, pronto! My little man standing in the fridge (with diaper booty!) is one of my favorite sights. He's such a sweet, funny little person.

Good Intentions

Every Sunday I assure myself that this will be the week I get back to blogging. Then...the entire week passes and nope. Oh well. This week will definitely not be the week, but here's a quick update on the latest...

• No one was sick in our home last week! You heard me! No one! It was very exciting.
• Kids' dentist appointments: check! (No cavities, but no accolades for the awesome brushing and flossing we apparently haven't been doing.)
• Maya's 6 year well check: check! (2 months late, but better late than never. She is well! And TALL! Hooray!)
• Cut & color: check! (Much MUCH needed. Much. I feel like a new woman.)
• Neighborhood Christmas party: check! (I love many things about our neighborhood, and this is definitely one of the biggies. Petting zoo! Pony rides! Trackless train! Photo booth! Breakfast tacos! Cookies & juice boxes! Crafts! Bounce houses! Santa! It's always SO much fun. Pictures to come. Perhaps.)
• "Holidays Around The World": check! (Korea is officially my new favorite country and bulgogi is officially my new favorite food. Anyone know of a good Korean place in Austin?)
• Family pictures: check! (It was ffffreezing, but I'm hoping it gave us all a rosy glow. The kids were grand champions, for real. I can't wait to see the pics. Then I have to design the card. And order the cards. And address the envelopes. Not that I'm running behind this year or anything.)
• Christmas shopping: check-ish. It's coming. I'm sure it'll all get done, right?

This week...Chris and I are headed to SLC for a long weekend! We've been the ultimate in wishy washy about this trip. It was on. Then it was off. For a long time. Then it was a possibility. Maybe. And then...we decided to just go. We're headed to the MOTAB Christmas concert Thursday night. I plan to live the Mormon dream while I'm there. (I used to make fun of my mom for doing all of the following when we'd visit in my child/teen years.):

• Spend hours in Deseret Book and eat between one and 12 orange rolls.
• Spend hours (and hundreds) in the Distribution Center.
• Spend hours and hours and hours at Temple Square and all the surrounding goodness.
• Drive past all our college apartments and cruise the old hoods.
• Drive down to Utah County and...drive around. Maybe dig up a mint brownie.
  

And other nerdy things as well:

• Eat at The Roof
• Eat at The Lion House
• Shop at the Gateway
• Eat at Gandolfo's
• Wander U of U campus. Make a stop at the bookstore. Make a purchase.
• Visit multiple Down East locations.

Things I'm excited about:

• Sleeeeepiiiiiiiiiiiing IN!!!
• Nooooo kids. (Although 4 nights is RATHER long for me. A day shorter might have been better. I will be dying by the time we head back.)
• Shopping alone!
• Eating alone!
• A 4 day dose of winter weather!
• Lights at Temple Square!

We're counting this as our substitute 12 year anniversary trip, since Cottam #4 (gender TBD in less than a month, yay!) will be arriving right around our anniversary in May. Taking a trip right before Christmas? Not so smart. Taking a trip right before Christmas when I'm already waaaay behind? Yeah, not so smart. Oh well. I'm excited, in case you didn't notice.

In other news, there is photographic evidence that we attended a parade! Our favorite, the Chuy's Children Giving To Children Parade. Always a blast. Perfect weather this year, lots o' fun. See below for proof:

I think this is the perfect picture. I plan to frame it.

That smile!

My girls!

Silly goose!

Does it get sweeter?

Niiice, Natalie.

One more tidbit. This guy's preschool teacher pulled me aside and asked if it was okay for Mason to be the shepherd in his preschool program while they sing "Go Tell It On The Mountain". Only a couple of kids will be dressed up, and she wanted Mason because she's her sweet, happy boy. And he sure is. As I say, he is my little ray of light. I'm glad others see that in him, too. He's starting to get more of a twinkle in that eye. Likes to include the word "underpants" in conversation (with BIG "aren't I risque?" eyes) and make himself burp at inappropriate moments. But mostly, he's the sweetest, most tenderhearted boy in the world. His Christmas list consists of more items for the rest of the family than it does for himself. He's fully willing, at my request, to give some of his best Disney Cars to the 3-year-old boy in the family we adopted this Christmas, with absolutely no thought for himself or what he might be losing. Just totally happy to give. He's a special guy. Just had to add that one in so I don't forget.

Phew! Until next time...