He's Making a List... checking it twice

I should write a quick note while the rice krispie treats are cooling down. Ryan's out home teaching and Ben's in bed. I'm exhausted. It's 2 and a 1/4 days until Christmas... finishing up some last minute goodies... and then- visits tomorrow night with friends and then Christmas Eve with Ryan's family in Jonesboro, GA. I honestly am the most excited to just do NOTHING but be with family and sit around and be happy on Christmas day. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the holidays... but they also wear me out! So does my two year old. He's so sassy these days. [That's weird... a big gust of wind just blew by and it's been a fairly quiet night weather-wise.] Anyway, back to Ben. He's also been SO excited about Christmas this year. He's learned (parts of) Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman and it's A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!! We've actually been able to threaten him this year with "okay... I'm going to call Santa right now and tell him not to come!" when he cries and IT REALLY WORKS! He even got to SEE Santa at the Ward (Church) Christmas party Saturday night! He was a little scared at first... but he agreed to sit with him. He, in his true nature, was shy but wanted to show him his mac and cheese t-shirt. He might've even quietly told him he wanted a Woody Doll and a Buzz Doll. He loved going to Church on Sunday and I had a migraine and we almost left, but decided to stay because Ben wanted to go to Nursery SO bad. :) It's cute. He asks if he can go to Church just about every night. We bought him a book about what the real meaning of Christmas is, and that's been nice and a little challenging to make sure we tie that in to our festivities.I am working all this week which stinks... I have NO motivation. But am trying... My boys are going to come and visit me tomorrow so that gives me something to look forward to.
I had a photo shoot last weekend I haven't even been able to touch. And I miss my family. I keep seeing little reminders of Shauna every where I look. I miss her lots, and wish I could send her a gift or call her so she can hear Ben singing his Christmas songs. But I know she's up there watching and smiling. I will miss my parents this year, and hope that they have a wonderful Christmas and that my siblings do as well.
Side Note... not really having anything to do with Christmas- Ben's been using the potty a little more. I don't feel like we've made progress, but we took a few steps back there for a little while and now he's starting to get excited again because of a new trick we came up with... "Potty Pills". (Otherwise known as M&M's!) I've mentioned before we don't give him a lot of candy and so this is definitely a treat for him. He gets three if he goes one or the other, and 6 if he does both. I think he's figuring out that "going" means candy and I am trying to let him know when to think about when he needs to go. Not sure if it'll work or when it will or what... but we're just trying...
I am telling you what, I'm sick of changing a big kid's diaper. There's definitely a difference between a baby's poops and a kids. Ugh.
Well, on that special note- I am going to bed! Overall, I am grateful for this time of year because it truly has brought the Spirit of Christ in to our home. The Lord has been working very SMALL miracles to some, but so important and wonderful to me. Merry Christmas EVERYONE! I probably wont have the chance to post anything until after Christmas, so I hope it is wonderful!