We want to wish each of you a "Happy Holidays" from the Simpsons! We are so grateful for so many things this time of year, and friends and family are at the top of the list. So are our kids. They really keep us on our toes (which is not so fun when you're waddling around 7 1/2 months pregnant and can't even see your toes!) A quick run-down of our happenings.
This year Davis has been asking Santa for Darth Maul attire--a black cloak, a double bladed light saber, and red and black make-up to paint his face. I think he got the idea after fighting Darth Maul at the Jedi School in Disneyland last month. He continues to surprise us with his confidence and lack of inhibitions. This weekend at our ward Christmas party he asked me if he could participate in the talent show that was going on while we ate. I put him off by saying I wasn't sure who was in charge of the talent show and kept on eating. Five minutes later, I could hear his voice as it boomed through the microphone singing "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer." He sang it perfectly and had changed all the endings, so everybody was laughing--my favorite was "...the reindeer shouted out with glee, Boo-yah!" He really is a fun and funny kid and everyone that meets him seems to fall in love.
Eden is talking more and more, is completely into babies, and is a typical two-year old with typical two-minute tantrums about two hundred times a day. She has quickly gone from "Mine" to "Do it" to "I do it" to the latest, "I wanna do it." All day long... I try to brush her hair. "I wanna do it." I try to brush her teeth. "I wanna do it." I try to wipe her hands after breakfast. "I wanna do it." One thing she can do is take care of her babies. She knows how to undress them and wrap them in any kind of "blankie" she can find--dish towels are a favorite. The other day I looked over and she had them all lined up on the couch. She is beginning to feed them, sometimes with real food if I don't catch her in time. I can tell I'm going to have to watch her like a hawk when the new baby comes and she begins to mother him too.
Allen is hard at work building his business with Nouveau Riche. He has just finished his fourth session down at the college in Arizona, which is a sacrifice on both our ends, but is totally worth it for the knowledge he comes home with. He loves learning about all the ins and outs of real estate investing and is happy to talk anyone's ears off about it! :) (Mine included!) The education he is receiving really is quite valuable and we're excited for the potential it offers our family's future.
I am busy being pregnant. However, as uncomfortable as I am getting, I really don't think I'm quite ready for the change. I just had my 30 week visit and my midwife started asking about my birth plan. "Already?" I replied. "Is it really that soon!?!" Our baby boy is due to be born February 26th and continues to be nameless, although we have a few ideas. I have just finished up another busy holiday boutique season in the area, participating in 5 boutiques and heading up 2 of them. We had our best year yet, bringing in almost $2,000 more than last year, but we also had a check bounce for the first time ($200, ouch!) It's definitely not a money-maker, but it's a lot of fun and gives me a little creative outlet.
Love to all! We hope this season is good to you. We are most grateful for the greatest gift of all from our Heavenly Father--the gift of the Savior. I really liked what our primary lesson said today--that one of the things the Savior has given us is his teachings that lead us to true happiness, and that's a gift we continue to receive all year round, not just at Christmas time. I really believe that is true.
Sincerely,
Allen, Sara, Davis, & Eden Simpson
