Ben's First Christmas

Ben had a very nice first Christmas. We spend Christmas Eve getting last minute things done. Then in the evening, we ran to Walmart to get a couple of last minute things and stopped at Sam's to get spaghetti sauce and meatballs for Christmas dinner. Our family tradition is to have Chinese food on Christmas eve and then look at the lights. We all went to China Wok and had a great dinner. Their chinese is always very good. Then we went to look at lights but only for a little while as Ben has very little patience for the car these days.

When we went home, we each opened a present. Jason got Spiderman 3 from me. I got a wonderful gift from my mom and Sue. They worked with Ben to make a Christmas tree out of his hand prints. The Christmas ornaments on the tree are made from his thumbprints. I love it. It is so unique and made by my little boy. I gave Mom a ducky frame with a picture of Ben in is duck bath tub. The funny thing is that she got the same exact frame for me! Sue also got a picture of Ben. Can you tell what our theme this year was? :) It was all about Ben!

Ben wore a new pair of Christmas pjs to bed. We got up around 7 and let him open his stocking and some of his presents. I found we needed to take a lot of breaks with him because he would get over tired. Around 10am, Jason's parents and brothers came over for Christmas. We had a nice brunch with an egg strata, coffee cake and fruit. It was a nice way to spend Christmas morning. Then we began opening the rest of the presents. A couple of my favorites for Ben were a push cart from Jason's parents. Ben can either use it to stand and walk with or he can sit in it. He look really cute walking with it. They also bought him a nice wooden sled. I can see it lasting a very long time! Mom and I both got him trains which he loves playing with on the wooden floor. He's very cute chasing them around. Auntie Sue got him a toy farm with animals. All in all, I think he was a little spoiled this year. I know we went overboard but it's his first Christmas. We also got very good deals on everything we bought for him. It was a fun Christmas.

When Sue, Chris and I were little we would take pictures every Christmas with our Christmas presents on my parent's bed. I decided to do this with Ben. I just remember as a kid organizing everything and being so excited. It's nice to be able to look at those pictures now and see the toys that we had back then. I want Ben to be able to do the same thing and to see the difference in every Christmas.

We had a great Christmas. The only thing that would have made it better would have been to have my brother, Chris, here for Christmas. He was able visit before Christmas and to see everyone. Ben loved seeing his uncle! I'll try to post pictures of his visit with us tomorrow. I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here are some pictures of our Christmas.

Benefit Supper

Ok. I know I haven't posted about Ben in a long time. I promise I will try to put some pictures on really soon.

Ben and I did have a great day together. It was a snow day for me so we stayed in our pajamas all day. We had a lot of fun just playing and hanging out. He's such a funny little man now!

This week at school has been rough. We lost a little boy on Sunday because of burns on him. I've never experienced losing a student and I have to tell you that it was tough. Monday was quite hard. I've never had to explain to children that someone has died. I hope I don't have to do it for a long time.

In the tragic accident, all three children were burned. The little boy that died was the most severe which brings me to the title of the posting. Some people at my school are putting on a benefit supper to help these two families out. Neither family has a lot. It is tough time of year and to deal with this extra burden is just too much. Please consider coming to the benefit supper and/or sending in a donation to help them. I think in life we are giving opportunities to pay it forward and this is one of those times. I'll be there volunteering in some capacity. Hopefully not as a cook since I'm not very good at cooking!

Here are the details.


BENEFIT SPAGHETTI SUPPER PLANNED
FOR DAVIS and BIRNEY FAMILIES
whose children recently experienced fire tragedy
DATE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 12th
PLACE: Boofy Quimby Memorial Center
Intersection of 219 and Quimby Road
North Turner, Maine
TIME: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Come and enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner and homemade desserts while supporting the Davis Family in their time of need.
*Donations will be accepted at the door.
If you would like to make a donation, a memorial fund has been started at Community Credit Union in Auburn.
Make checks payable to: Davis/Birney Memorial Fund, C/O Community Credit Union, 40 Stanley Street, Auburn, Maine, 04210
Volunteers will be needed to help set-up, cook, serve food and clean up. If you would like to help in any way, please feel free to call Sherri Jordan at home #225-5295, cell #212-7111, or email her at turnerbenefit@yahoo.com

Thank you and I hope to see all of you there!

Christmas Tag!

I found I liked the other tag games so much that I am initiating my own tag. I will update about Ben very soon but I just need to get my mind off other things tonight and do something fun for me!

Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I do both depending on my mood. Gift bags are easier but I sometime I enjoy wrapping presents too. I volunteered at a wrapping booth when I was in band in high school and get really technical about how the gifts should be wrapped.

Real tree or artificial?
Definately a real tree! Fake trees just are not the same. I need to have the smell of the tree even if I find pine needles for the next 6 months.

When do you put up the tree?
We usually put it up a week or two before Christmas although this year I'm realizing that I would like to put it up sooner so we can enjoy the decorations longer.

When do you take the tree down?
A couple of days after Christmas.

Favorite holiday theme?
I don't know that I have one. I really like Rudolph though and snowmen. Those seem to be my favorites.

Favorite gift received as a child?
That one is really tough. I think maybe when I got my cabbage patch kid although I've loved every Christmas regardless of what gifts I got.

Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but I would like one. They have a great nativity seen with the willow tree angels. I think it is just beautiful.

Hardest person to buy for?
My mom

Easiest person to buy for?
Ben

Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
A radar detector. (I won't mention who gave it to me!)

Mail or email cards?
Definately cards although I always find them to be a bit of a pain. But I love receiving them and seeing everyone's family pictures.

Favorite Christmas movie?
I love Christmas movies so it's hard to pick only one. My top favorites are It's a Wonderful Life, Rudolph, and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.

When do you start shopping for Christmas?
I usually start on Black Friday. It is my favorite day of the year to shop! But I do keep my eyes out through out the year for items I think someone in my family will like.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Yes but I'm not saying who I gave it to! :)

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
This may sound odd but anything with spaghetti/pasta sauce on it. I don't know why.

White lights or colored on the tree?
Colored lights. White lights just don't have any personality to me.

Favorite Christmas song?
I love Christmas songs too so it's really hard to pick just a few. My favorites are Mary, did you know, Have yourself a merry little Christmas, where are you Christmas and Oh come all ye faithful.

Travel for Christmas or stay at home?
Stay home. Traveling is not the same.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Yes, but only with the help of the rudolph song.

Angel on the tree top or a star?
Sometimes a star but this year it's an angel like what we used to have when I was a kid.

Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
We open one present on Christmas Eve and then the rest on Christmas Day.

Most annoying thing about this time of year?
The gimme gimme attitude of some kids at this time of year. I don't always think that parents tell their kids what Christmas really means.

What I love most about Christmas?
The surprises-mine and my families. Being able to help others at this time of year.

Ok! Now it's your turn. just copy and paste my answers in your blog and modify the answers for yourself. I'm tagging my mom, Sue, Stacy, Mary, Sarah, Jessica, and Linda to tell about your feelings on Christmas. I know this is a busy time of year but I'm expecting some answers! :) Merry Christmas everyone!!