I've been nice!

Christmas was wonderful this year! When things slow down and the kids are back in school, I'll post some pictures, but thought I'd share a funny tidbit from Christmas. All season long, I've been using the "you'd better be good, so you can make the nice list" threat to help my kids behave better. I think Kristen was the one to really take it seriously, and she more than once asked me if I thought she was going to get coal in her stocking. I reassured her and told her to be a good girl and she would be okay.

Well, on Christmas Eve, we have a get together with my mom's side of the family with lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. The kids watch out the window for Santa and he comes and brings a sack full of gifts for all the kids. As they were being handed out, Kristen anxiously waited for her name to be called. As soon as she was handed her gift, she said to me, "Mom, I'm Nice!" Seriously, I thought she might cry with joy. She had been really worried!

So, now that Christmas is over, the question is, what can I use or say to help my darlings stay on the nice list? It only seems to be effective between Thanksgiving and Christmas!

My Baking Boys!

The other evening, the boys were bored, so I gave them an assignment, to put the over ripe bananas to good use and make banana bread. They gladly accepted and turned to Nathan's favorite banana bread recipe from a cookbook his school put together a couple of years ago. Those that know Nathan well, know that he is becoming quite the cook/baker! Like his mother, he can look through recipe books for hours and think about all the delicious food he can make. On Saturday mornings, he likes to take orders for breakfast and especially loves to spoil his dad with his creations! And, usually, they turn out amazing!

So, the boys made the bread from scratch with pretty much no help at all until it came to clean up. Unfortunatley, they still lack those skills! Here are the happy bakers.

And here they are showing off the finished product. They made enough for us to enjoy, their teachers, my sister, and Nathan's scout leader. Good job guys, you're awesome!!