The Saturday Before Utah

Remember when we went to Rebekah's "well visit" and she colored a picture / wrote a letter to Santa? Apparently Santa wrote her back. Now Rebekah thinks she has a personal relationship with "Santa" and wanted to write him again telling him she is having a hard time deciding what she wants for Christmas. All of this while I keep hoping that she's gonna figure out the Santa deception and we can move on with life. Sigh. I know, they're only young once.

So, Saturday the ward had a breakfast with Santa. Rebekah waited patiently in line. I informed her, as always, that she did not have to sit on Santa's lap. She said she wanted to and I freaked out. For some reason I have a hard time with people in masks of any sort. I mean, who is this guy in a Santa suit that has my daughter on her lap? Yes, I have trust issues. Last minute, though, Rebekah changed her mind and sat on the stool.

They discussed Rebekah's dilemma and "Mrs. Santa" picked up on Rebekah's space dress and pointed out she might want a space themed surprise. Santa agreed and there you have it. Weeks of asking for Frozen II gifts out the window and we're heading for Space. Too bad "Santa" wanted to get everything done and already bought Frozen items. However, parents will take the hit and "Santa" can give her those glow in the dark wall stickers I purchased.

After the breakfast Rebekah and her 2 friends sang at a baptism. I got a quick picture of them practicing. Be still my heart.

The rest of the weekend was a blur with skating lessons, preparations for the Christmas concert the next day and so forth. Sunday was also a blur. But the Christmas music is done and now on to prep for the Utah trip! 

December Lessons

In swim Rebekah's working on conquering fears. This is Miss Hannah helping her feel comfortable with the diving platform. It looks simple but this was a huge moment for Rebekah. Very proud of her for doing this.

I have a hard time with her lessons sometimes because of reasons like this for the most part. Coach is sitting there, hunched over, yelling out directions for the kids to do. Seriously? Can we try a little harder please? I know it's harsh but man, we parents pay lots of money for this...? However, for the most part I'm quite pleased with her swim team.

Swim is also working on flip turns:

Ice skating is coming along. Rebekah is showing more and more confidence.

I was so concerned about her test and was sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the results. About this moment I knew she was successful.

We had another lesson with coach Katie. I attribute all of Rebekah's confidence to her. Here's some new skills she is learning:

At the end of her lesson I caught her practicing. That's huge. Hoping her love of the sport (and coach Katie of course) will continue to motivate her.

Coach Katie sang praises of Rebekah saying she has improved so much and gained much more confidence. She wants Rebekah to be in the ice show. I tried to explain Rebekah's insane amount of anxiety but left it as we'll see. Hopefully one day she will triumph over anxiety into a whole new realm.

Weekend with Grammy and Art

Don had his annual work Christmas party so mom graciously came down to watch Rebekah. This is them conspiring together about all the fun they will have....

The next day we made Christmas cookies together.

Always fun to have grammy for the weekend.

The next day mom went home and we had stake conference. It was a beautiful session, however Rebekah is still learning how to concentrate at church.

Setting Up Christmas Weekend

When we got home from our Thanksgiving trip, Don got down the tree. Kind of love this low maintenance pre-lit tree.

And kind of love the post pre-lit tree's up wrestle.

Then we went over to our bishop's house to make gingerbread houses. Rebekah is all about independence these days so Don and I sat by while she built and decorated.

The next day we set up the rest of the decorations. I made this felt tree (with the help of Miss Ana and grammy) when Rebekah was 2. She's grown so much! And yet, the felt tree still comes in handy.

Again, she's all about independence. So, per her request, I handed her the decorations, she decorated, and Don watched.

Once it was done there was more post decorating wresting to be had. But it ended with the sweet picture:

Then I forced a family picture. One of my friend's asked why Rebekah looks like a teenager. Seriously though. So big.

That evening we went to a baptism of a boy in the ward. Rebekah helped with the clean up.

November Books

Fun junior fiction. Not the best thing I've ever read but semi realistic and exciting. I'd say worthwhile. 

This, however was amazing. It's junior fiction but there's so many levels and adults will get what the kids don't. It's a fantasy; magic, witches, dragons, and so forth, but the author touches on "weighty human emotions" in an enlightening way. Highly recommend. I love this. 

Starts with the Churchills during the Oliver Cromwell time period and goes through Winston's children. It's less of politics and war and more of family life. The author prefaces the book saying she has based much of the information on Churchill letters and interviews and therefore some have referred to her book as gossip which she then defends by saying you can learn much by what people are saying and what they are not saying. I didn't find the book gossipy but rather enjoyed the way the information was presented. I liked that the book focused on the family's life throughout the struggles Winston went through in his political career. Highly recommendable. 

This was the second time through the book but it felt like the first. Rebekah actually brought it out for me to read so I figured I should give it another go. There's a lot in there; I remember being amazed that America came out victorious and I feel much the same way now. A good read. 

Junger's general premise is modern day society and conveniences have messed with our ability to socialize and belong. For example, the washing machine: no longer do women have to go to the river and wash clothes, which they use to do together; no longer do we sit at night sharing the light of a candle and knit / sew / mend and share our thoughts and socialize. He touches on the problems of inequality and how it separates us from each other. He also suggests that PTSD comes less from war episodes and more from what happens in the persons life before and after the war. It's an interesting read and I'm incline to agree with most of it, but I'd have to know more before I totally subscribe to his thoughts.

Children's book concerning bullying and the easiness and harm of doing nothing. Highly recommendable.

I read this quite some time ago, at least I think I read it.... It was familiar but there were parts that I didn't quite remember. However, this time around I loved this believing it one of Austen's best. There are so many insights into life and character in general all added upon by Austen's humor which is so ironically fantastic. So, true (spoiler ahead) there is the whole romantic relationship with the cousin, but this was a time period where that was acceptable and even desired. So, yes, a highly recommendable read.

Long, but good. It gave more insight to what was going on in London with the London people at the time of the war and highlighted the American's that helped prepare America to enter the war effort. It's somewhat dry at times but still a good read.

This one rates really high and I'm not sure I fully understand why. In fact I had to increase the listening speed as a way to convince myself to finish said book. It's a WWII historical fiction with an element of fantasy. I have read several of Alice Hoffman's book; if I were to rate them in best order, this would be the lowest followed by Rules of Magic and then Faithful. So, meh. Not worth it in my opinion.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving morning we packed up and headed back to Indy. Rebekah loves the luggage carrier.

On the way home I spoke to my mother who was making a grand thanksgiving dinner, and while listening to her describe the wondrous meal I ate my thanksgiving Honey Crisp Apple.

However, grammy had our backs and prepared a wonderful thanksgiving meal for us.

Afterwards, grammy and Rebekah made peanut butter fudge.

Yum...

Then next day we had a well visit appointment. On her own, Rebekah made a thank you box for Dr. Tighe, including a picture she drew of herself and Dr. Tighe, this picture she colored, and a piece of fudge.

Dr. Tighe was visibly touched by her thank you box. Also, turns out Rebekah is 4 foot 3 inches tall and 62 pounds, and is otherwise in great health.

While we were there the nurse suggested Rebekah color a picture for and write a letter to Santa.

We have the best doctor ever! And I have the best little girl ever! 

Springfield

I looked around early for our annual Thanksgiving trip, almost deciding not to do one on account of how much Christmas in Utah was running. But it's Thanksgiving, and it's a tradition so I kept looking. We almost chose Knoxville, Tennessee but for some reason Springfield came back into mind. We haven't actually done the museum so it seemed like a plan.

The plan was to leave right after ice skating lessons on Tuesday however with everything that happened I was unprepared. I had what I thought was a quick dental procedure turned into scary you have some type of growth and need to see a specialist appointment. (*Turned out okay - I just had my specialist appointment and he finished the work the other dentist started and said to monitor the shadow but assured me the chances of it being something serious were very small.*) I came back home and was so anxious that I mowed the lawn. Yeah, I went crazy. Then it turned out ice skating was canceled (who cancels for Thanksgiving break 2 hours before the actual lesson? - it's not that Thanksgiving came out of no where...) and then I realized I had forgotten to do laundry. But Don saved the day and we were able to get out somewhat on time with the hope that mom would let us do laundry when we get to her house.

We arrived to Springfield pretty late.

The next morning Rebekah made us waffles.

Then we headed back up to our room and found the cleaning lady working in our room. So we went to enjoy the view while we waited. Don said there's nothing like the view of Steak-n-Shake through a chandelier.

The first thing on the agenda was the pool. I remember when this swim cover came mid calf. So big!

Then we headed to down town Springfield to visit the museum. First we got stuck with the crazy museum man that wanted to sell us a membership and wouldn't take no for an answer, but finally we got to meet the Lincolns for a family picture. And yes, that's my jacket. Rebekah forgot her coat and I forgot to ask her if she had it.

Channeling her inner young Lincoln.

Apparently both Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln make a convincing argument.

This is an original Gettysburg address hand written copy.

"Don! Come pretend you're shaving in Linoln's shaving mirror!!!" He's so obedient.

Then we headed to Mrs. Lincoln's Attic for Rebekah.

Presenting Mr. And Mrs. Lincoln:

And Fredrick Douglas....

And maybe Grant...?

Rebekah made some dinner for us.

There were some movies to watch and Rebekah doesn't do well with movies so Don and I tag teamed it. Don stayed in the "Attic" with Rebekah while I watched then we switched. 

After we both saw the movie we were able to pull her away and head towards the White House years.  This is suppose to be Grant and McClellin. However, I'm not seeing the Grant resemblance. I forced a picture with Rebekah. She was none too happy... ah well. 

Rebekah loved the pretty dresses. 

Then I showed her how they kept the skirts full. She was almost as horrified as she was when she learned what a chamber pot was. 

The White House tour was somewhat rough on Rebekah. They museum was intense with animation (at one point you walk through a hall with motion sensor faces popping up and contending in loud voices to / about Lincoln). They also had Willie on his sick bed with his mom and dad near him. They also had the theatre and his coffin. Needless to say we moved pretty quick and eventually Don just took her out. However, the coffin room was poignant and solemn. At the end was this:

Afterwards we split up and I went through the WWII exhibit they were hosting while Don went back to the "Attic" and then we switched again. 

This guy literally just sat and played.

On the way out we stopped at the gift shop where I found this:

And this chess set. Love the little Lincoln and Grant vs Davis and Lee. 

Also found this: 

And Rebekah found this: 

On the way out we stopped to take a picture with giant Lincoln. 

Then we headed down to the old capital where Lincoln spent some time, tried some cases, visited the library, etc. 

Rebekah gave a good speech. 

Pretty staircase....

Then we had to get a selfie because I needed a family picture. 

We headed back to the car on the way we had a few more stops. 

Visited the train station:

Probably my favorite picture. Don's a trouper.

Then back to the hotel for dinner and of course the hot tub. 

Love that dad.