Christmas Laughs

Christmas just keeps getting better as our kids get older.
You see, our favorite form of worship is laughter...and our kids just keep getting funnier.

Last night, we went to the extended family Christmas Eve party.
Lots of home cooking, praising our Savior, and children performing.
Yep, it's a family tradition that kids must entertain the crowd.
They sing, they dance, they perform skits or read poems.
This year, our boys decided to shake things up for the older crowd...and brought electric guitars and drums. In true Rassi style, they also made us laugh a little - so the song didn't seem so long.
*sidenote* Evan IS singing; but with his cold, the microphone being too low, and the drums blaring...Micah was a bit surprised to hear that this sounds a lot like a solo.

Christmas morning has been wonderful.
Due to colds and late nights, the family slept in.
Well, everyone but me.
I got to spend time in the quiet, praising God - for becoming man, conquering death, and showing us how to live in this world.
That quiet time was such a wonderful gift, and then this little blessing showed up.

Evan has been working on his "Christmas Outfit" for a couple of weeks.

For years, the Rassi family has told hopeful little children (ornery too, since they are Rassis) that all they are getting for Christmas is "A glass of milk and a spankin' machine."
This year, each boy independently decided to wrap a special present to surprise his brother.
Micah spent an hour building his gift out of Fishertechnics.
He was giggling to himself and couldn't wait to see the look on Evan's face.

The motorized "Spanking Machine".

Unbeknownst to him, Evan was also full of anticipation. He was bursting at the seems to see how Micah reacted when he unwrapped the following gift...

Yes, it's a glass of milk...and our "spanking spoon".

In our house, a successful surprise must be followed by a giggle, an emotional sigh (these come from ME, of course), or a scream.
I'm quite glad they chose giggles this year (because I am also the main screamer).

The boys started off the gift-giving with their pranks, and quickly moved on to the "real" presents.
(Something they want, something they need, something educational.)
In the middle of all it, Clay and I opened up our gifts as well.
By the reaction (more a hearty laugh than a giggle), I would say that THIS was Clay's favorite gift of the day.

If you don't understand why this is funny. Go ahead, yell across the room, "What's Updog?"
See what your friends and family say...it might help explain.
If not, then make a comment below, and I'll explain it to you.

Well, Christmas is not yet over.
I'm off to cook and eat and giggle some more.
I hope you are all taking time to worship Jesus in your own special ways.
(And I'd like to recommend laughter as method that is always enjoyed.)

Luke 2:10 
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people".

Jesus was a Smelly Little Boy

I've spent the last few days contemplating the whole idea of God becoming Man.
Infinite Creator of the Universe...itty bitty living space.

God took a part of Himself and sent it to Earth.
Whatever the human, touchable Jesus part felt...the all-powerful, uncomprehensible part ALSO experienced.
God came as a fragile baby, stumbled as an unstable toddler, played as a sweaty, dirt-covered 9-year-old... THAT. blows. my. mind.

I look at my boys and wonder what Jesus was like.
He giggled. He sneezed. He yawned. He submitted to the authority of parents. He loved others.
I often see the image of God in my little boys, but I don't often think of God sharing the image of them. At one time, GOD was a smelly little boy...*thoughtful smile*
I love that.

It helps me love Him in a whole, NEW WAY.
It makes Him REAL - with an added dimension.
Still perfect, but not untouchable. Still experiencing life...but innocently.
Still getting dirty...but not sinning. Still showing us how to live...by LIVING.
THAT's how much we matter to Him.

I love days like today.
Time off, time together...for the sake of celebrating our GOD.
Let's not forget Him.
Let's not limit Him.
Let's explore the depth of Him - so we can be more like Him.

I Lost on Christmas Morn...

Our little noisemakers have learned the power of mood music, so Silent Night was streaming softly from the Ipod. Coffee was brewing, the lights were dim...and we all watched Daddy stumble into the kitchen to pour himself a cup of hazelnut and caffeine.
Did I mention the coffee was STILL brewing? Luckily, I'm married to a saint - so he chuckled quietly while cleaning coffee off the counter (even though his wife was cackling at his sleepy mistake from across the room).
Cackles....now THAT is how Christmas should start.

Big brother came racing toward me, pen and gift in hand.
"Mom! You have to sign Dad's gift! We forgot!"
The pointing and snorting were soon directed MY way as I distractedly signed my youngest SON'S name...oops.

Little Shnook felt special with his name on the package twice...so there was no sense in scribbling it out. We all knew what I MEANT to write...

There were not many gifts to open this morning at Christmas number ONE (gift palooza with all the grandparents would happen soon enough), but we made sure each precious unwrapping was memorable in it's own special way.
My little actor put on quite the production when he opened this gift from his brother.

Who would expect a 9-year-old to get THAT expression over socks? (especially a child who often revolts against being fully clothed - notice the unbuttoned shirt.)

Next we giggled as Dad opened a Star Wars t-shirt where Darth Vadar "sometimes makes a face like this"...

And the comical anecdotes shared while explaining just WHY a pogo stick really ISN'T safe for ages 9 to NINETY-NINE would have made even the Grinch crack a smile.

Finally, what could make a Mother's moment sweeter than opening her gift to find out that she "lost the game."
Confused? Let me explain... We've been playing the game where one player tries to get others to look at a hand making the OK sign.
For instance:

You lose.
You looked at the photo.
I don't care if you weren't playing...you still lost.
According to the rules, I should be able to punch you now. Maybe someone nearby can do it for me. Or maybe you can play by Rassi rules just this once. You see, after many a harsh lesson learned while playing "Slug Bug", we decided that family unity requires less bruising. (Plus, the kids want Mom to play...and Mom needs to be treated like a lady - at least when it comes to fists.)

So, this morning I opened a beautiful pair of leather gloves from my adoring children...
Do you see it coming? Yes, the forefinger of the glove was taped securely to the thumb.

So I got my "boring ol' Mom gift" and the men in my life got to have some fun.
We all hooted with laughter as they shouted in unison, "YOU LOSE."

Merry Christmas All!
Hope you laugh a bit yourselves while you celebrate the ONE who blessed us with the ability to giggle. Feel free to come back and share what makes YOU chortle on Christmas morn as well.
God Bless!