New Found Joy in Giving to Others

This past Saturday, as I was wrapping up the last of the Christmas gifts, Levin finished helping daddy with a project and came to stand and watch. Standing may not exactly be the right word.

Maybe if we said watching, walking on wrapping paper, volunteering to help, walking on more paper, taking the scissors, grabbing the scotch tape and walking across more wrapping paper, you would get a better picture.

As we sat together, him looking for ways he could be involved, I remembered one of the chief blessings of being the daughter of a garbage collector. A large assortment of unsold, post Christmas wrapping paper. (His occupation being a driver of garbage trucks and only occasionally does that involve forays into the realm of a collector. My husband and father-in-law are more the types to retain and collect garbage as a hobby, but that's another story.)

So back to Levin and his desire to assist in the wrapping festivities. Levin and I went downstairs and picked out a roll of extra wrapping paper, just for him to use.

We found his scissors and he got to do with it as he pleased, whether just cutting up the paper or cutting and wrapping up some of his toys.

He was very taken by the idea of wrapping up some of his toys, and so quickly ran and picked out a favorite toy of Philip's. A special truck Great Grandma Van had given him a couple months ago.

With only a little help, his truck was hidden away beneath the several layers of wrapping and a measured amount of scotch tape.

Then comes the hard part! Waiting for the perfect time to give the perfect gift. In this case I made him wait about an hour until Philip woke up from his nap.

He was so proud of his work and was excited to share it with his brother. At the first sound coming from Philip's room, Levin bolted upstairs full of anticipation at what Philip would think.

He threw the present in Philip's crib as he was still rousing himself with instructions to open it at once. If only I could have caught this all on video, because both boys were so excited. Once Philip unveiled the gift, he seemed a little puzzled to be opening a truck just like the one he already had. But he was still excited to see his brother excited and to get something from him other than the usual assortment of bumps and bruises.

So for all our efforts at teaching our boys, sometimes lessons like the joy of giving come along so spontaneously. Isn't it amazing the lessons God sends our way!

Beep Beep!

I have memories from my childhood, of my mom taping down roads along the carpet for us to drive all of our (mostly my brothers) trucks and cars along, so today I finally pulled out the tape and set to work.

If you are looking for an indoor winter game to play with your young ones, here you go. All you need is some masking tape and a few cars and trucks...oh, and floor space large enough.

Just Missing the Hot Chocolate

Little Hands

Here it is, our project for December, which began as a group effort, but..well...you know how it goes with little ones.

Let the Baking Begin

Last week, the boys and I made sugar cookies together, and this week we plan on staying home to bake up some more yummy treats. I still have yet to come up with a fun little art project for us to work on together. Stay tuned to see what we think up.

This is Levin's old man that is "falling apart", and thus, using a cane.

Making Family Memories

Our mission last Saturday morning, was to find a Christmas Tree, while making fun happy memories together. Grandma and Grandpa German, and Aunt Jen came along too, which the boys always especially enjoy. We did not stay out long looking for the perfect tree, due in part to a busy day ahead, but also because of the freezing (literally) temperatures. The tree is up and decorated, but I have no pictures of that yet...maybe someday soon.

Come on over.....

....but don't forget your ice skates!