Veselé Vánoce!

Our Christmas season was void of extended family, but rich with the Spirit of Christmas where we tried to share as much of it as we could with others. We caroled, baked, ate, watched some lame Christmas shows, watched some GREAT Christmas shows, baked some more, shared some of our baking, ate, put up Christmas lights, and then had someone come up and properly put up our Christmas lights. We put up a Christmas tree, watch it break after finishing decorating it, undecorated it, bought a new one, and finally decorated the new one. We partied, we read Christmas stories, and, most importantly, we were reminded once again how marvelous it is to have Jesus Christ in our lives. 

We ate our traditional Mexican feast Christmas Eve, watched Joy to the World, talked about the Nativity, sang a slew of Christmas songs, and then B and I were both awake until 3am waiting for Santa to come. Alas, we didn't see him again this year, but the kids woke up bright and early to tell us all about what he brought. We let the kids open their stockings before trudging out to church for a whole HOUR. Merry Christmas to us! It's a nice break after having church for 3 hours every Sunday, but then we had to wait for about an hour until someone moved their car so we could get out of the cramped parking lot where you have to come early to get a spot, but the last person has to be the first to leave. It's kind of like Elijah's promise where the first will be last and the last shall be first... anyway. Then we took turns opening one present at a time and tried to draw out Christmas as long as possible. We baked some more and then joined some friends for a marvelous Christmas feast. We were able to chat with family via Skype, throw the kids into bed,  and then enjoy the evening cleaning up the junk that exploded all over our house. I think we already lost a puzzle piece... LOVED IT!

 This is actually our second tree of the season. Sadly, we had to say goodbye to our tree of ten years. I still remember it well. After getting home from Mexico with my family for Christmas the first year we were married, we went to an "After Christmas Sale" at Michaels and bought a straggly 5 foot tree for $20. It was perfect for us, so we kept taping it together year after year until this year ...when it finally gave up on us after decorating it of course. So I went to Makro (like an Czech Costco) and bought this beautiful tree and decorated a tree yet again.

 These are some decorations that I bought years and years ago at the dollar store that remind us to stay humble. 

 We have decked the halls and have the best lit house on the block. (What's that about being humble?)

 Santa flew to the Czech Republic! Haley wrote a 5 page letter to Santa and insisted that we give him milk AND Dr. Pepper. We also gave him some of our Christmas creme cookies and some carrots for the reindeer. Sweet, thoughtful children. 

 I don't think we were nice enough to deserve this many presents. Look at that loot! 

Merry Christmas. 

 Sweet Haley. 

 Maleia my love. 

 The Dillster. 

Little Logie. 

4 whopping kids decked out for some Christmas. 

 Obligatory Christmas tie. 

We hope the Christmas season reminded you about the joy we should have all year round. Christmas is a reminder that Christ came to this Earth not to rule or reign, but to love and give. It's not about taking and competing with others, but to share and lift each other up. We are here on this Earth to remind each other to "fear not" and to help bring "glad tidings of great joy" into each other's life. You have all done that for us and we feel blessed to have you as friends and family. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Love, The Czech Chapmans

Holiday Party, Embassy Style

Merry Christmas Eve!

We were watching "Joy to the World" tonight and Dylan asked about the ten lepards that Jesus healed and only one came back to say sorry. He also asked, "They keep saying that Jesus dies on a cross, right mom?" "Across what? Across the street? Across the river?" Maleia chimes in before we can respond, "It was across the Ocean in Jerusalem."

So we had an Embassy Holiday Party where we ate Carp Soup (Logan was the only one who liked it), learned how to play Dreidel, and sang all sort of Carols. Oh, and I won a door prize of an unpainted nutcracker with paint. Lucky me.

 Outside the Ambassador's Residency. This mansion is used for high end events. There was even a Christmas Tree on the roof. 

 The inside is spectacular!! Marble floors, columns, gold doors, and intricate detail make this place look fancy. 

 I can't believe that Maleia got away with wearing white socks to the party. . . 

 We got Dylan to sit with Santa because we told him he was daddy's friend in a costume that is helping Santa tonight. Choose your battles. 

 Logan loves his Dreidels that we have and "plays" with his all the time. Our Ambassador is jewish, so his daughter taught all the children Dreidel. 

BOYS vs. GIRLS

I truly believe that gender is ingrained, innate, and integrated into who they are at birth. You can't teach this stuff:

Dylan Praying - Please help me get big muscles like Spiderman and get to jump out of an airplane like Aunt Ashley and please help us be nice even if our sisters are annoying...

Maleia Praying - I thank thee for my baby cousins who are so cute. I thank thee that I can have ballet with my friends and that my performance can be short...

Dylan: Mom? Is there such thing as 'love dinosaurs'?
Mom: I don't think so.
Dylan: Is there such thing as 'terrible dinosaurs'?
Mom: Yea, we have a book called "Terrible Dinosaurs."
Dylan: (yelling up the stairs as he runs up them) SEE MALEIA?? THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS 'LOVE DINOSAURS'. MOM SAYS! SO NO KISSING!! THEY ARE TERRIBLE SO THEY EAT EACH OTHER!! THEY DO NOT GET MARRIED!

Baby proof?

I just felt like I needed to give an update on Logan. He is such a good baby and is getting a little antsy to walk. Baby gates and safety locks on dangerous stuff are in place. We stand ready for destruction. I will let you know when we need back up. 

Logan

• Laughs when he sneezes, farts, and hiccups. Total boy.
• Can crawl up the stairs and has to stop and turn around to make sure you are cheering for him every few steps. If you don't. He stops and claps for himself. Which makes is difficult on the stairs. 
• Keeps his hands in the 2 cup holders on his car seat when driving in the car. He has fallen asleep with his hands both still resting in the cup holders.
• Thinks it's funny when anything is on your head. It started with toys and bean bags to make him laugh, but we found when B would wear a hat, he would laugh at him. When the girls got ready to leave for school and would put on their winter hats, he laughs at them. Now he laughs at everyone who wears a hat. It's winter now, so he is laughing all the time. 
• He calls himself "ga-ga"
• Has gnawed on the side edge of the crib. You know, the edge that can't have plastic coverings. So little teeth marks line the Embassy cherry wood crib. I am not looking forward to finding out how much that will cost.
• Can sit for a long time just reading books, but if you want to read to him, he gets impatient with you, grabs the book, starts looking at it himself, and turns his back on you.
• Is still a little scared of Maleia the Smotherer. But sometimes pushes me away to let Haley hold him.
• Knows how to sign "more," "want," "done," "kiss," "up," "owie," and "touchdown." So pretty much all the essentials. 
• Trained everyone at church to say "touchdown!" Logan throws his hands up in the air, and everyone yells, "touchdown!" He laughs. We laugh. They repeat it until we leave the room or class starts. 
• Dances like Chris Farley.
• Still flirts will all the ladies and begs to be held by them.
• Can say "uh-oh," "dada," "mama," "hi," "baa," (for ball, book, balloon) "ga-ga," (for Logan) and "num num."