Found....

hanging around suspiciously near the fireplace chimney.... one letter, that reads as follows:

Dear Stata

wach out thay are traps in my bedroom!  And can you put presents in my room.

Colby

Also found - several contraptions/traps upstairs, a camera rigged to shoot video under the Christmas tree, and two little boys who are "concentrating really hard on finding Santa" right now.  Instead of making their beds, like their mother asked them to. 

Bible Timeline

We were doing our Advent calendar tonight, and Quinn read an old testament prophecy.  Then he explained it to his brother.

Quinn: "See, Colby, that was told wayyyyyyyyyyyyy back in Jeremiah, and Jesus wasn't even born until JOHN, right mom?"

Opposition

It's much to young to be starting this, but my son Quinn says "no" to EVERYTHING. I. SAY.  It's like I'm dealing with a 14 year old in a 7 year old's body. 

Mom: "Quinn, get your shoes on,"
Quinn: "NO!"
Mom: "Quinn, you need to get ready for your pageant tonight."
Quinn: "It's not tonight.  It's tomorrow."
Mom: "It's tonight.  See on the calendar?"
Quinn: "The calendar's wrong."
Mom: "Quinn!  We're going to go home, clean your room, and then make a snowman."
Quinn: "I don't want to make a snowman!  No!"
Mom: "Oh look!  It's snowing outside, just in time for Christmas!"
Quinn: "No it's not."

No it's NOT?????  What's the white stuff falling from the sky??
Quinn: "Well, it's not JUST in time for Christmas."

UGH.  Oppositional child.  Just say "YES MOM" once in awhile!!!

Santa Letter From Quinn

Found THIS is Quinn's backpack today:

Dear Santa,
I love the presents you gave me last year and I hope you give the presents I want this year.  I would like a laptop  so I can email you.  I would also like a DS with the lego star wars game.  I really like that.  I really (want):
1.  DS with the lego star wars
2. laptop
3. Ipad with a charcher (charger)
4.  cars for my sister

I want an iPad with a charcher.  I would really like that.  I'm being so nice about it.  Can you give some cars for my sister? 

Love, Quinn
To Santa

Editor's Note:  This kid has expensive taste!  He's SEVEN.  We're in so much trouble.  I find it funny that he doesn't want Santa to forget the charger for the iPad.   I'm afraid Santa is going to disappoint him.  We've talked alot about what pricey things he has asked for, and he keeps telling me that "It's expensive for YOU, but not expensive for SANTA, because Santa makes his own."  He's at least thought it through. 

Grammar

Mom: "Quinn!  I need you to pick up the clothes on the floor in your bedroom so I can shampoo your carpet.  If you hurry, maybe I'll let YOU shampoo your carpet."

Quinn: "Mom, I don't need to be shamp-ing any poo."

Wha-huh?

The boys came home from church today, and I asked them to change their clothes, so we could go out into the woods and cut down a Christmas tree. Quinn (after no less than SIX reminders to do this one simple chore) finally came down with clothes changed.  In shorts and a T-shirt.

Mom: "Quinn, it's 23 degrees outside.  You can't wear shorts and a T-shirt."
Quinn: "Mom!  I'll wear a coat!  It's not that cold out there!"
Mom: "Go change.  Put on sweats and a sweatshirt."

(a few minutes past)
Quinn: "There, Mom, I did it.  See?  I put these over my shorts and T-shirts."
Mom: "All you did was put on a different pair of church pants.  I want you to wear sweats or jeans.  We're going out into the woods!"
Quinn: "Why can't I wear these pants?"
Mom: "Because they're church pants!!!"
Quinn: "Give me a different reason besides that they're church pants."
Mom: "How about 'I'm your mother and I SAID SO."
Quinn: "Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... that's not a good reason either."

Mom: "Go. Upstairs. And. Change.  NOW.  Pretend that I'm picking out what you're wearing.  Wear what you think I'd pick out for you."

After the third full outfit change, Quinn FINALLY came down appropriately dressed for the weather and activity.    Okay.  That only took exactly 23 minutes.

Now to work on the next boy, who hasn't even started yet.