Advent Recap

We didn’t get to do all of our planned Advent activities for this month, but we were able to do the majority of them! Although we didn’t complete all of the plans we had made, our children do have a deeper understanding of Christmas and know how the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. Marek ran around all month playing with the Little People Nativity set and identifying “Je-Je” (Jesus) everywhere he saw a Baby Jesus.  And, Hollis, well, Hollis could not get enough of everything Christmas, Jesus, Advent.  One day, at the beginning of this month, when Dustin was dropping him off at school, Hollis got to the door of his classroom and noticed that Mrs. Greer had decorated. He stopped in his tracks and his little buddy exclaimed, “Christmas decorations!” Hollis followed his buddy’s declaration with, “I love Christmas decorations and BABY JESUS!” I can’t tell you how I have thought over and over about how my son taught me through this response to not only enjoy every part of Christmas, but to remain focused on Baby Jesus!  So thankful for the gift of children that teach me spiritual  truths with their simple observations!

One of our favorite Advent activities was making a trip to Bristol Motor Speedway to see the Christmas light display there! WOW! Daddy’s favorite part of the night was getting to drive on the racetrack. Mommy’s favorite part of the night was getting to watch the joy smothered all over everyone. Hollis’ favorite part of the night was the rides and Marek’s favorite part was getting to see all of the lights! We ALL loved the light displays. They really were incredible!

Here are some of our other favorite advent activity memories: 

The parade was such fun! The Grindstaff boys sat with us and entertained us the entire time! Love them! Hollis' favorite float was "Frosty the Snowman" and Marek's was "Ronald McDonald"!

One night, we made hot (not really so hot) chocolate with some homemade mix we had been given. It was YUMMO and everyone enjoyed it! The marshmallows were Marek's preference while Hollis loved the hot chocolate itself!

Movie night was preceded by a prize - a popcorn tin!!! The boys had never seen one, so they thrilled! As you can see, Marek laid claim to the caramel and Hollis ate up the butter and cheese! 

On the first Sunday of Advent, the boys wore their shirts made by Nana! Aren't they just the cutest things ever? 

A Fresh Start

The Scott family would like to welcome you to our first blog! For several years, we used Totsites to share about a day in the life of Hollis and Marek. But, we are ecstatic to make a change and begin a family blog. I, April, am probably the most excited and relieved about a fresh start. After making the transition from one child to two in July of 2009, I fell FAR behind on updating the boys' website. Therefore, the largest time gap ever sits between my last post and this one. However, I am ready to put my guilty conscience behind, accept some grace, and move forward. Each post on our new blog will be written from the vantage point of one of our four family members. We can't wait share and do life with  the greatest family and friends, YOU!

Happy 2nd birthday, Marek Gebre'-Joel Scott!

Happy 2nd birthday, buddy! We love you so much and can’t imagine our daily life without you! Yesterday, we had your birthday party!! We celebrated a few weeks early this year seeing as you are going to be with Big G and Nana on your actual birthday. We sent out these invites to all of your Sunday School class buddies a few weeks ago:

And then, this morning, I left a bit early to go pick up your Bob the Builder cupcakes made by Cupcakes by Design! She did a fabulous job! And, you, of course, thoroughly enjoyed them, lots of them! After picking up the cupcakes, I went to church to set up everything. Just before the party, you came into the gym with Daddy and Hollis. You were TOTALLY delighted to see all of the fun decorations and activities set up! But, your very favorite things were the balloons! “Boons! Boons!” you shouted! Hahahaha!

After everyone arrived, we all played with balloons and ran ALL over the gym! Then, everyone decorated construction hats with tons of stickers (one of your favorite things right now)! Following that fun activity, we played on the inflatable obstacle course!! Cupcakes and snacks were next (we had all of your favorite snacks right now: bananas, grapes, cheese puffs, and something sweet-cupcakes!)! We sang “Happy Birthday!” to you and directly following the song, we urged you to blow out the candles and you did just that!!!! Hahaha! Everyone burst into laughter and coupled it with claps galore. Our last activity of the party was a Lowe’s Build and Grow building project! Everyone got to build a putting green. It was TOO cute to watch everyone with their hammers, nails, wood, etc… You enjoyed this activity and were definitely more interested in banging the hammers on everything in sight than anything else. We ended the time with opening presents and a bit more time on the inflatable! You had an a BLAST and we all made many sweet memories!

Upon leaving, you and Hollis took all of the balloons outside to release them. Here you two are:

I can’t even begin to tell you how much Mommy, Daddy, and Hollee (Hollis) love you!!  Happy birthday, buddy! 

Advent Attitude

Watching the boys open the advent calendar was not as I had envisioned. Hahaha! Hollis was bubbling with excitement and ready to open the package, while Marek was claiming it as his own by proudly plopping himself down on the unopened rectangular object. Hollis displayed little patience and Marek then burst out into a complete meltdown. After that raw display of emotion by both children, they settled down, opened the package and proceeded with a more model remembrance of the coming of the Christ child. The calendar we bought this year is a tri-fold book type with little numbered pockets containing tiny books that tell a small portion of the story each day. Behind each book, Dustin and I inserted small bit of paper labeled with a family activity for each day. Here is that list of all of the activities:

Advent Calendar Family Ideas

Dec. 1	J. Iverson Parade
Dec. 2	Go buy canned goods for those who are hungry & Science Center!
Dec. 3	Mickey’s Christmas Movie Morning
Dec. 4	Deliver canned goods to church food pantry & Pick out our Angel tree child
Dec. 5	Go see the Christmas lights at Bristol
Dec. 6	Go buy Angel tree gifts
Dec. 7	Visit Santa
Dec. 8	Wrap and deliver Angel tree gifts to church
Dec. 9	Movie night with Nathan & Noah at their house
Dec. 10	Birthday party for Marek & make pizzas and decorate gingerbread houses with our friends
Dec. 11	Worship Jesus with songs!
Dec. 12	Happy Birthday, Jesus! Party
Dec. 13	Make cookies for shut ins
Dec. 14	Deliver cookies for shut ins
Dec. 15	Make Christmas cards for college kids
Dec. 16	Geppeto’s with Santa and carriage ride
Dec. 17	Read the Christmas story & Open Presents
Dec. 18	Deliver presents to teachers at church
Dec. 19	Make Christmas pancakes for dinner
Dec. 20	Bouncin’ Kids
Dec. 21	Give a toys & coats to Goodwill
Dec. 22	Take a trip to visit Ganmommie, Bailee, Anden, Abram, Aunt Sandra, Uncle Noah, Kenny, Nan, & Grandaddy
Dec. 23	Celebrate Christmas with Ganmommie
Dec. 24	Celebrate Christmas with the Scotts
Dec. 25	Deliver pancakes & celebrate Christmas with Nana, Big G, and Aunt J

Marek at 1 1/2 years old

Marek has been a pointer, pointer finger hyper extended and longer than a railroad track, for about 6 months now! He uses his pointy finger to direct us, show us, investigate other children (their eyes at times), and a myriad of other activities. I love it! It is just the cutest thing ever! In May, we did a Mother’s Day photo session for Ganmommie and in one of our family photos (above), Marek’s pointy finger extended straight up to Jesus. Dustin determined that it was Marek’s way of giving God props for the great gift of family. I think that he is so right in that assessment!

 Marek is talking more and more these days, but is growing frustrated at his inability to communicate more! Some of the words we have heard him say on a consistent basis include:

·         Please

·         Momma

·         Dadda

·         Hollis (HaHa – for short)

·         Snack

·         Juice

·         Amen

·         More

·         All done

·         Knock (during knock-knock jokes)

·         Thank you

·         Sorry

·         Nana

·         G (for Big G)

·         J (for Aunt J)

Using sign language has been a strength of Marek’s since Jan. (right after he turned 1). He only uses 3 signs, but he uses them well.  Those three are:

-          More

-          Please

-          All Done

  

For several months now, each time everyone is seated at the table for a meal, Marek claps his hands to initiate our prayer time. SWEETNESS! He remains in his “prayer position” until the prayer is over (most of the time). He also helps us end the prayer with, “Amen!” This is so precious to me. I pray that he will have an ever increasing desire to talk to his Heavenly Father!

Baby Biter!

We never had to deal with the biting issue with Hollis unless it was someone biting him. He just didn’t have that tendency. However, our youngest definitely has the tendency to show frustration or get revenge by biting. So far, thank the Lord, he has done it with family only. Usually, it is his method of revenge with Hollis when they are wrestling and Marek has enough of his very big brother. However, there have been other times when he gets mad at either Dustin or myself and comes at us with mouth wide open!!! WHAT?!  We are praying that this habit does not extend to the outside world! That would be a mess!  Due to this, he has learned what time out is!

 

Sleeper!

Marek has ALWAYS, ever since we got him last summer, has been a CHAMPION sleeper! He goes down for bed between 7 and 7:30p.m. and we usually go into his bedroom at 7:30a.m. to find him just lying in bed so contently waiting for us to come and pick him up! What a SWEET baby! However, around the beginning of the summer when we started having the college and career students over for Bible study at 8:00p.m., we worried a bit that he would wake up due to the noise. So, we pulled out the sound machine that we bought when Hollis was little and started using it with Marek. WOW! To say that this boy loves his sound machine is the understatement of the century. He literally LAUGHS out loud when you ask him if he is ready to go to bed. “Let’s go turn on your machine!” we will say and he will DASH to his room.  He loves to go “Night-Night!” J