Christmas Extravaganza!

We started letting Benjamin open presents a week before Christmas because we and his grandparents went overboard this year. The finger paint opened on the 23rd was a flop. It was returned to the store yesterday. (I probably wouldn't have known Benjamin was so against the finger paint had it not been opened independently. He tried to put it back in the wrapping paper and told me he needed a different present and then was really sad when I wouldn't give him one. I explained that he was a really blessed little boy to be getting so many presents and he should be grateful for what he had.) I have a recipe for homemade finger paint, so I'll try it out on him in a few months.

Benjamin really wanted Luigi and the Ferrari matchbox cars from the Disney "Cars" movie when we were at the BX. (I'm thinking we already own about $100 of matchbox "Cars". It really adds up...) I was wary of buying them after getting him so many presents, but then Ryan reminded me that the cars could be an exchange for the finger paint. We do need to start getting him things he really likes instead of things we think he would like. I was thinking we should get Benjamin a tricycle for his 3rd Birthday, but now I'm thinking he'd really like a Fisher Price camera a whole lot better.


Benjamin just made me watch the attached video ~10 times and is still begging to watch it again. Hopefully this is a teaching moment. It does make me laugh when he grumbles about not getting what he wants. He started doing that about a month ago.

New Christmas Eve Tradition

Benjamin got the "Little People Inn" this year to finish off his Little People Nativity set. We "acted out" the Nativity story using it on Christmas eve. Hopefully in the following years it will go much smoother. Benjamin kept running off with the Holy Family during it.

We had the missionaries from our congregation over for dinner. We got them Offutt AFB hats because we figured with 2 Christmases in Nebraska someone had surely already given them Husker corn cob hats.

Christmas Party at Great-Grandma Hoffman's

Benjamin and I went to the Christmas Party at Bethany Lutheran Home today for Grandma. We were running late and Benjamin fell asleep in the car because it was during normal nap time. It was kind of nice because then he was really mellow. They painted Grandma's nails and curled her hair. She looked great for being 90! I can't tell if I look old or if Grandma looks young because they always seem surprised to find out that I'm her granddaughter and Benjamin is her great grandson.

Benjamin was impressed with the mini cheesecakes. He refused to try the eggnog.

It was freezing today (the high was 4 degrees) so we were hunkered in at home the rest of the day. I don't like cold winters!