Our (Mostly Honest, Slightly Sarcastic) Christmas Letter

Dear Family, Friends and General Acquaintances, 

Paul began his 9^th year at Mentalix, a fingerprint software company.  While he still runs around like a headless chicken most days doing everything from IT for the people in the office, handling the Help Desk for client issues, managing the new Card Conversion Division (including HR related drama for those employees), traveling to fabulous places like San Diego, CA and also not so fabulous locations like Keene, TX, performing software tests, He was promoted to Technical Operations Manager and enjoys being familiar with so many aspects of the company.  Occasionally he is able to go sailing either at Lake Grapevine or Lake Lewisville with some racers who enjoy winning. I’m not sure if this helps appease his desire to own a boat or only makes it worse.  Once he is making millions from the code he writes for various apps in his spare time he will buy his own boat so our boys can grow up sailing like he did.

Caryn is mostly a SAHM (the chauffeur, event organizer, errand runner, repair technician and lately a lot of refereeing) and continues to work part-time in her pajamas (aka working from home) as the Director of Finance for the Christian non-profit, Sigma Phi Lambda, Inc.  Most notably she cooks fresh meals daily and the house is never dirty.  In her spare time she enjoys catching up on the last years “must read” books, scrapbooking….can’t remember the last time that happened  and finding more projects on Pinterest that may or may not get done.  

Gabriel turned four in October and now tests our patience as a bossy pants and arguer is such a big help with his little brother and practices his debate skills for what will surely be a lucrative career as a lawyer.  He is a giver and a helper especially if the helping involves being outside with his daddy.  He is bilingual and is currently learning his 3^rd language because he is a genius and and clearly Harvard bound.  Gabriel enjoys building with LEGOs and playing with his wooden train set.  He is so advanced with his building and problem solving skills that the Dallas Transport Authority will be contacting him soon to help find a solution to the traffic congestion across the North Dallas metroplex.  We as parents take all the credit for his highly developed abilities. 

David had his first birthday in June.  As a child in the 90^th percentiles for height and weight we will begin investing in our retirement plan by training him for football as a defensive end next year.  He gets into everything and is the reason Caryn is physically exhausted and keeps a large bottle of ibuprofen stocked in the cabinet is an inquisitive child with a lot of energy. He loves his big brother (Bubba) and has a great encourager in him for things Mommy doesn’t want him to do.  David is an expert at locking himself in closets, emptying drawers and cabinets in record time loves playing hide and seek and finding new things to play with.  Having mastered his ABC’s by the age of one and memorized The Lord's Prayer by fifteen months, David is now learning to count to 100.  We are so blessed to have two  gifted children!

Merry Christmas!

The Bells

Celebrating 9 years of marriage this month (but it only feels like 3 1/2).

David's Christmas Story Moment

  

From the movie "The Christmas Story"

Today was the special Christmas Carols program by Gabriel's preschool class so I came prepared to get stuff done between drop off and the program.  Seventeen month old David was bundled up for the 30 degree weather in a sweater and thick sweater hooded coat and knit cap.   When I hoisted him out of the car he was determined to carry his lunch box.  On the way in I had David's hand in my right hand and my left arm was full of purse, books for work and David's backpack.  So we began the trek from the parking lot to the church.  Halfway to the sidewalk, we are crossing the lane of traffic of other parents arriving when David trips.  I manage to keep him from hitting the pavement by holding his arm.  But he dangles mid-way (still holding his lunch box) and makes zero attempt to stand up again.  My go-with-the-flow child decided it was too difficult to try and stand up with all of the layers he had on and would just lay down.  In the middle of the parking lot.  My left arm is full.  I cannot lift a 28 pounder with one arm.  Not when he WANTS to lay down in a lounging position in the street.  Cars were beginning to pile up as they waited for me to drag his lifeless body out of the way.  But I knew someone would call CPS if I resorted to pulling him by the hood.  So I squatted (wearing boots by the way) and managed to get my arm half way around his middle and I hobbled us to the sidewalk where Gabriel stood patiently waiting.  And Gabriel was probably wondering how David gets away with stuff like this.  So it begins, my eldest child.  So it begins.

My embarrassment and frustration were replaced with laughter by the time we got inside.  Because if we can't laugh at ourselves, well, that's just no fun at all.

The Art of Planking by Gabriel

To be fair to Gabriel's mad planking skills, he comes by it honestly.  We never told him about planking.  He just calls it "making a bridge". A week or so ago Gabriel discovered that he is juuuust long enough to make a bridge in the entryway.  David appears to be taking mental notes as he watches bubba plank.

Next comes the brotherly instructional time.  

David tries in vain to apply the tips big bro offered him.

Maybe when David grows another foot or so he and Gabriel will attempt the LBJ and 75 interchange bridges.  But lets not give them any ideas.....

Gabriel's 4th Birthday Party

We had Gabriel's birthday party at one of the Frisco Fire Stations.  It is free to residents and there is more space than at our house so it sounded like a fantastic idea to me!  

Fireman Joe and Fireman Bryan talked about fire safety (stop drop and roll, calling 9-1-1, jumping out windows, etc.) and then demonstrated what a fireman looks and sounds like in the suit! The Darth Vader impression was for the adults.

They also took the kids on a tour of the garage.  They got to climb through a firetruck and an ambulance.  

(a couple friends arrived after picture time so we missed them here)

This particular fire station has the CareFlite so we took a walk across the yard to see the helicopter.  They weren't giving out free rides though.

Back inside we played a cut-throat game of musical chairs to the song Fire Burning.

The kids circled up for a story with Paul about Little Critter's visit to a fire station.

After some yummy Chick Fil A lunch we played a hydrant hunt game I found online.  This blog site has the hydrants for printing.  After printing hydrants in a variety of colors we created a "Found It!" card for each child.  

Next up:  CAKE!  Brandy Sexton made the cake again this year.  The pictures were not able to capture the cool factor she surprised us with:  working flashing lights for the top of the truck!  Thank you, Brandy!

Now that Gabriel is four he says he'll be bigger when he is five and that is when he can drive.  We'll deal with clarifying that issue next year.  For now, he's "not bigger yet".  Love my Gabriel!

**Special thanks to Katie Hayes for capturing great photos for us!**

Rule #3 – Wear It Or Toss It

The season premier of my favorite show has inspired me to number my organizing tips in a Leroy Jethro Gibbs fashion.  Please take note of the important Rule #3.

Fall and winter clothing have been in stores since August, the temperatures finally seem to be dropping without the 100-degree spike thrown in the middle of the week and fall decorations and Halloween costumes are available for purchase.  Women are anxiously waiting to bust out the boots, sweaters and anything that says, “I am prepared for the slight chance I could get a little cold today”.  Maybe you store your winter things during the warm months or maybe they just hang in a separate part of your closet.  However you do it though, now is the best time to set the stage to PURGE all those things you aren’t wearing.   It seems that most women own so many clothes they can barely make space to squeeze in the clothes that are freshly laundered and ready to be rehung.  When you have a closet jammed packed with clothes I guarantee you are not wearing a majority of what you own, because you can’t see it!  So why own it?  It is probably a little worn, or needs repair or isn’t the most flattering style or color for you.   There is a reason you aren’t wearing it. 

I don’t remember where I read about this idea but I’ll call it the Hanger Trick.  This is the easiest most time efficient way I’ve seen and I do it myself twice a year.  As a clutter-hater I must warn you that I practice tough love when it comes to organizing.  So if you are faint of heart or easily offended, don’t read on.  No pain no gain, ladies.

First, turn all of your hangers backwards on either all of your clothing or just your cold weather clothing.  You can tackle the warm-weather items in the spring if you want.  The open hooks of the hangers should all be facing you instead of the wall as they rest on the rack. 

Second, when you wear and wash something just rehang it the normal way.  By the end of the season you can see every item you didn’t wear by the way it is still hung backwards.  It’s pretty much magical.

This is a picture of my warm weather shirts today.  After going through this process a few times over the past couple years there are not many items left ignored.  Wear it or toss it!

Next comes the hard part.  When the weather begins to change in your neck of the woods, you MUST follow through with this part of the plan or its pointless.  (If you are turning all hangers backwards and are going to make this an annual thing, mark the date on the calendar and consider using Labor Day weekend as your date.)   Pull out every single item that you didn’t wear all season (or year).  Pile them on your bed.  Be very discriminating as you consider each item and remember:

A)            You CHOSE not to wear it.

B)            Its now already out of your closet so you are halfway to donating the item!  Don’t lose your nerve now.

If you need further convincing on some items ask yourself these questions:

A)            "Do I need it?"  I know this is a matter of perspective considering we live in the gluttonous country of America.  Most of us are considered filthy rich on the world average.  But if you have three black sweaters can you convince yourself to part with one you didn’t choose to wear all season?

B)            "Can I live without it?"  Reread (A).

C)            "When did I last wear it?"  I know special occasion and formal items are a little different here.   But if there is a reason you go shopping every time you have a special event to attend, WHY are you not wearing what you already own?  As they say, “take a picture. It lasts longer”.

D)            "Is it damaged?"  If so, why hasn’t it been repaired?  Is it not important enough to mess with?  Has something else replaced it?  And…..

E)            "Is it a duplicate or substitute?"  For instance, I am well aware of a woman’s desire (“need”) to own at least six pairs of black dress shoes:  flats, platform, open toe, sling back, wedge, pointy toe, rounded toe, etc.  But again, if you haven’t worn it in a year or two, give them a hug and move on. (As a shoe-lover I say this with great empathy!)

F)             "If I didn’t already own it, would I buy it?"  I LOVE this question.  If it weren’t already sitting in your closet, would you spend the money to own it now? 

G)            "Is it out of style?"  I am aware styles come back around.  My dad has a pair of leather flops he has owned since college.  We used to give him a hard time about them but you know what?  That style came back around a few years ago and now my brother wears them.  There are some fads you should not participate in twice though.  Jelly shoes, leather mini-skirts and shoulder pads, just to name a few examples. 

Maybe after all of this you still need to have a little fashion show for an honest BFF or significant other so they can help you let go of some things.  My patient husband is a great help through this part of the process (he probably considers this skill of his more of a curse than a blessing though).  But the longer I do this the easier it is to let go of things on my own and the less he “gets” to help. 

Before I set you loose to attack your closet and rehang your hangers, please let me put one toe on my soapbox.  My dislike of clutter has been significantly enhanced as our family tries to be intentional with our choices and focus on others. With our almost-4 year old son we call these “loving choices”.  The sight of things we haven’t been using and stockpile to just “have” has gone from just an annoyance to a matter of the heart.  Show some love.  Give it away. 

LEGOLAND!

We had a lot of fun with my parents and youngest brother when they came up to visit this past weekend.  We went to LegoLand in Grapevine, grilled out, created our own yogurt concoctions with many flavors and tons of toppings (who puts poptarts on yogurt?!?), visited another new church and had a movie night with Gabriel as he watched Bugs Life for the first time.

But I think the boys would say the highlight of their time with the grandparents and uncle was LegoLand.  It's the only time I pulled my camera out all weekend so here you go!

It was finally our turn to buy tickets and enter LegoLand!

We watched Bob the Builder in 4D.

 Grandpa and David played in the Duplo section.

Gabriel, CJ and Paul all built race cars and raced them on the big track!

David pretended to drive whatever this thing was....

Snack time with Nana!

David kept coming back for more of this slide with Grandpa.