1. The gifts Henry bought us during his class trip to the dollar store (listed in order of appropriate-ness to the recipient):
for Thomas: a 24-piece Winnie-the-Pooh puzzle
for me: a tiger bath scrubbie
for Kate: a plastic snowman treat container (empty)
for Bill: a pack of combs
They also made their own gift wrap.
2. Santa gave Thomas a pack of gum in his stocking. He proceeded to chew the entire pack all on Christmas afternoon- one piece at a time, and not swallowing any.
Bill says this is what millionaires do: throw their gum away as soon as it has lost its flavor and pop in another piece.
3. I took the kids to the pool on the 24th, to wear them out. By bedtime Tommy was a wreck of exhaustion, excitement, and sensitive skin (pool chemicals seem to really bother him). He was pretty much crying about anything and everything, and I was on guard for the moment Henry would lose his cool and start yelling or pinching. But instead, Henry came over to Tommy's bed and, in a gentle voice, said "you'll be ok, you'll be ok."
When I came back into the room with our bedtime book, both boys were smiling. "Henry made me feel better," Tommy explained.
4. Kate prepared the Christmas coffee cake that we usually make, while Bill prepared his casserole and I wrapped some gifts. She also helped carry all the gifts upstairs and arrange them under the tree. It's nice to have another grownup to help, but still have her be one of the kids when it comes to watching the Christmas movies and decorating with paper chains!
5. As he helped me wrap Grandpa's weather station, Tommy commented "yeah, 'cause sometimes Grandpa just likes... (shrug)... boring stuff."
6. Tommy passed the time at Grandma & Grandpa's by wrapping and unwrapping gifts for himself. For example, the happy meal motorcross bike from lunch, wrapped in a gift bag with prodigious amounts of tape.
7. Santa brought me Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I thought about getting it for Kate or Henry, but knew that that would really just be a poorly-disguised way of getting it for myself.
8. Henry woke up at the same time I did on Christmas morning- around 5:15 am. We waited until about 6:30 to wake his brother and sister up.
for Thomas: a 24-piece Winnie-the-Pooh puzzle
for me: a tiger bath scrubbie
for Kate: a plastic snowman treat container (empty)
for Bill: a pack of combs
They also made their own gift wrap.
2. Santa gave Thomas a pack of gum in his stocking. He proceeded to chew the entire pack all on Christmas afternoon- one piece at a time, and not swallowing any.
Bill says this is what millionaires do: throw their gum away as soon as it has lost its flavor and pop in another piece.
3. I took the kids to the pool on the 24th, to wear them out. By bedtime Tommy was a wreck of exhaustion, excitement, and sensitive skin (pool chemicals seem to really bother him). He was pretty much crying about anything and everything, and I was on guard for the moment Henry would lose his cool and start yelling or pinching. But instead, Henry came over to Tommy's bed and, in a gentle voice, said "you'll be ok, you'll be ok."
When I came back into the room with our bedtime book, both boys were smiling. "Henry made me feel better," Tommy explained.
4. Kate prepared the Christmas coffee cake that we usually make, while Bill prepared his casserole and I wrapped some gifts. She also helped carry all the gifts upstairs and arrange them under the tree. It's nice to have another grownup to help, but still have her be one of the kids when it comes to watching the Christmas movies and decorating with paper chains!
5. As he helped me wrap Grandpa's weather station, Tommy commented "yeah, 'cause sometimes Grandpa just likes... (shrug)... boring stuff."
6. Tommy passed the time at Grandma & Grandpa's by wrapping and unwrapping gifts for himself. For example, the happy meal motorcross bike from lunch, wrapped in a gift bag with prodigious amounts of tape.
7. Santa brought me Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I thought about getting it for Kate or Henry, but knew that that would really just be a poorly-disguised way of getting it for myself.
8. Henry woke up at the same time I did on Christmas morning- around 5:15 am. We waited until about 6:30 to wake his brother and sister up.
9. Henry has always loved Christmas, but this was the first year that he seemed to really get excited about SANTA COMING TO OUR HOUSE.
10. Overall Henry seemed more, um, connected this Christmas. He didn't need as much quiet-time-in-his-room as he has other holidays.
He sat with us at dinner and breakfast at my mom and dad's, somehow able to overlook his brother's antics. (That particular morning Thomas was playing with an old Star Wars toy of his uncles', which is made to crash apart upon impact with, say, a wall or a dog dish or the table. Tommy would smash it into something, exclaim "whoa!", and then ask my brother to put it back together again...)
Henry decorated cookies and enjoyed a family trip to an evening light show. He shared and communicated and waited to open presents until it was time. We did start some new medication with him about a month ago, so I wonder if we are seeing the effects of that, or just some growing up?
Hope your holiday gave you lots to smile about too!
12 comments:
All of these things made me smile, too. :-)
Thanks so much for sharing them.
It sounds like you all had a wonderful Christmas. The part about Henry making Tommy feel better made me tear up.
I must confess that the part where Henry made Tommy feel better caused me to tear up too. I am so inspired by this and have high hopes of Griffin communicating as Henry did some day too. It warms my heart to know that you all had such a wonderful holiday. Griffin seemed to be more connected this year too, much more than last year when he had to take several breaks throughout the day.
I have been away for awhile (not checking on my favorite blogs) and just in case I get slack again before the new year......I wish you all an absolutely divine and fulfilling Happy New Year!!
Hugs and smiles
I love the trip to the dollar store.
I love Henry's connectedness (we have alot more of that, too)
I love the coffee cake.
I love that Henry made Tommy feel better.
It all sounds lovely. Here's to a grand new year -
Oh it sounds like you had a very Merry Christmas!
Like Melissa said, all these things made me smile, too.
I'm glad to hear you had such a wonderful holiday, and how great it must be to see and recognize that Henry is reaching out, connecting and finding his way.
Happy New Year, Gretchen!
Gretchen, ALL of this made me smile hard! The joy in the little things AND the monumental things ("Henry made me feel better...") are what Christmas is about to me.
Sending you all warmest wishes for a joyful and glorious 2008!
These are the best presents I've ever heard of---from Henry especially, to Tommy and all of his family.
Henry's gifts are the best! I really love the pack of combs to his dad. So sweet!
Happy to hear that you had a nice Christmas this year and that Henry enjoyed it more this year too.
Our Christmas did make me smile but I have to admit your Christmas is making my smile even brighter!
All of that news sounds fabulous! I love the presents and making Tommy feel better! All great news!
what a wonderful list! the part about the gum and tape really cracked me up. we use the LARGE amount of tape here when wrapping AND fluffy must be a millionaire at heart because he does the same thing with the gum!!
i'm with tulipmom about tearing up over Henry helping Tommy feel better. so dear.
happy new year!
Henry is a sweetheart! I got teary eyed when I read that. Your boys love each other :)
Happy New Year to you!
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