A Very Elmo Christmas

Our Christmas plans changed when our niece got sick with a croup-like cough and fever.  Since we have been sick ALL FALL we decided not to spend the holidays with Randy's family and instead we stayed home and had another quiet family Christmas.  It was just the four of us and my mom (who also needs to avoid germs while receiving chemo treatments).  We let the boys open one Christmas presents on Christmas Eve when we got home from Christmas Eve candlelight service.  (Justin was incredibly wiggly until we lit the candles and then he was mesmerized.  He wanted to blow it out when it was over and it took him about 15 blows.  Everyone around us was rooting for him to blow it out.  SO fun!!)

Of course, the presents were PJs and both boys were enamored.  Especially Justin.

In the morning we started with stockings and there was some fun stuff in there.  Justin let me help him sort through his goodies.

Justin showed Daddy his card game and his Toy Story water bottle.  (Sidenote:  Later that day I had washed the bottles and the boys were using them.  Travis said that he really liked his botttle.  Randy said, "Yeah, mommy really did a good job, didn't she?"  Travis looked at him funny and said, "For what?"  Randy just sat there with his mouth hanging open.  I piped up and said, "You know, washing the bottles so you can use them."  "Oh, right" Travis replied and turned back to his food.  Whew, good save!)

Travis got a Veggie Tales watch.  Everything Travis said that day started with, "According to my watch..."

Everyone got chapstick and Justin learned how it put it on: smear it all over every part of your face from your nose down.

Santa brought funny glasses too!

After opening our stockings we went to visit our doughnut lady and do some caroling.  She is always open on Thanksgiving and Christmas because she uses the big ovens to cook her holiday meals.  Since she is there anyway, she opens for business.  (They are only open until lunchtime anyway.)  I thought she wouldn't be very busy and we could sing some songs and then come back for breakfast.   In spite of them being surprisingly busy, Travis got in a few songs and we walked out with a boxful of kolaches and breakfast tacos, our Christmas present from our favorite doughnut shop.

After breakfast we started in on the rest of the Christmas presents.  Justin got all the Elmos in the first picture.  His favorite is Hokey Pokey Elmo and Justin is getting very good at moving right along with it.  I am very impressed!  Video coming soon...

Justin also got a guitar, and he spent a little time practicing.

Travis got a Toy Story racetrack and the first time we raced the cars he jumped up and down he was so excited.  Justin was very excited too.

Another of Travis' faves is his Nerf gun.  Somehow it was okay for him to shoot at our brand new windows.  Thankfully nothing broke.  Travis also hit the ceiling in our two-story living room.  He is a surprisingly good shot!  (That's my new Shark steam mop in the back.  So much fun for me!)

Our Christmas dinner was crazy eclectic.  We used paper plates and tupperware and a pretty gingerbread house as our centerpiece along with candles.  The table was prepped for 10, so there was lots of extra space!

It was a quiet and calm holiday.  We ended up talking and opening presents on Skype with the rest of our family.  There was a little bit of coughing going on, so it was good that we didn't spend the day with them.  I hate that we have to think about things like avoiding getting sick.  One of Travis's presents was a book about germs and how they make you sick.  Kind of ironic, but cute too!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Gingerbread House

Making gingerbread houses has never been one of our family traditions, but when a friend had an extra one that she offered to us, we decided to give it a try.  She also gave us all their extra candy, so there was more candy than gingerbread, and you'll see that Travis made good use of it.

Travis even let Justin help a little bit.

Then Justin found out that you could eat the decorations, and it was over.

Travis was very meticulous in his decorating.  He wanted icing and candy everywhere!

Did I say everywhere??

Travis and his masterpiece

It was the most colorful centerpiece we have ever had on our Christmas table!

Snow, Soup, and Santa

Our church does an annual "Snow Day" that has been expanded and now includes the kids' singing program, dinner and a visit from Santa.  This was Travis' first year singing and we spent lots of time practicing the songs.  They had the kids sing "Deck the Halls" - 2 verses!  That was tough to learn, but Travis did great and even got a third verse too (how many are there anyway?)

Here's the guys before the program began.

Travis refused to go up front so I had to go with him and stand as close as I could off stage but within visual range.  After the first song he got into it and he did much better!

Of course, what children's program would be complete without "Jingle Bells" and real bells to shake?

Then we did a quick wardrobe change and it was on to snow!  It was so unsteady that Justin kept falling down so I held his jacket to keep him from spending too much time on his bottom.  Travis quickly learned what the snow was for...

Throwing!!

It took a bit for Justin to learn that the snow could be picked up.

But then once he did, he decided snow is better for...

Eating!

I did try to explain about eating only fresh snow, but he didn't seem to care.  Probably good we don't live where there is snow all the time.

Our snowy family picture

Our friend making a snow angel.  She was quite damp when she got up.

Then it was back inside for Santa.  Actually, both boys could have stayed outside a lot longer, but Justin's nose was turning various shades of pink and his lips a bit purple so I had to pull the mommy card and call it a night.  In spite of all my worries and fretting about getting a Santa picture, I ended up with quite a few this season.  And this was a very friendly Santa!  Justin almost sat in his lap.  Given another two or three hours, it might have happened.

It was a really enjoyable evening.  I got in a few snowballs myself.  My aim wasn't too bad, unless you count the poor little girl I hit smack on the head.  I don't think it left a mark, but she was quite surprised!  I did get a few other people and there was talk of revenge next year.  We decided next year the adults should get 10 minutes of free play before the kids can go in.  That would be fun!

'Tis the Season...

...for eating packing peanuts!

More Christmas Creations

After last year I added "Make Christmas ornaments" to our holiday to-do list.  We had to do some quick thinking last year to come up with an ornament to give to the family, so this year I didn't want to let that happen again.  A friend shared this idea with me to make yummy-smelling ornaments out of cinnamon and applesauce.  It sounded easy enough, so we gave it a try.  It worked out like a charm, the first time even, so I was thrilled.  We were able to make then early and then paint them, which was fun for both me and Travis  (I did the candy cane while the kids were napping.  Travis did the bell when he woke up.)  They smell so great too.  I am curious how they will smell next year.  I am actually more curious how the rest of our Christmas ornaments will smell!  Everyone is very impressed.  Anyone have any ideas for next year? 

Cookie Day 2010

We survived another Cookie Day!  It was so much fun and slightly less insane in number than last year.  After last year I told my mother that she was going to be in charge of selecting which cookies to make since I didn't want to make 13 different kinds again this year.  She spent several hours pouring over the cookie cookbook and during her first chemo treatment we narrowed down our selections to only nine:  mint chocolate chip, gingerbread cutouts, stained glass cookies (my only request), rocky road fudge bars, caramel apple bars, rum raisin cookies, lemon nut refrigerator cookies, and chocolate orange shortbread.  Everything was new except for the gingerbread, which Travis requested.  I must say that my mom did some great picking.  They are all delicious!  I am sorry to say that I forgot to take a picture of the completed spread until after they were all packaged and delivered, so you'll have to imagine.  (The total was close to the 30 dozen Randy predicted last year, but I think we gave more away.  Better for our waistlines!) 

Justin was a much better helper this year.  As soon as Travis pulled over a chair, Justin went right over and got himself a chair. 

The boys helped smash the candy for the stained glass cookies.  That was a good way to start!  It looks so pretty!

Travis had to taste his stained glass creations.  They turned out surprisingly well in spite of the difficulty in pouring a small amount of crushed candy in a small opening.  We probably won't make this one again for a few more years until Travis has steadier hands.

I did break down and let Justin sample a cookie even though I didn't make anything wheat-free for him.  I told him only one and while I was removing some cookies from a cookie sheet I heard some munching.  I looked down and saw Justin with one of the mint cookies that was closest to the edge of the table.  He had walked over, reached up and helped himself.  He was sitting under the table enjoying the goods.

How can you say no to that face? 

Bass Pro Shop

Me-Me and Pop took Travis to the Bass Pro Shop yesterday.  It seems to hold some kind of mystique for Travis.  He loves wearing his shirt from Pass Pro Shop and he often asks when he is going to get to go again.  When we learned that Santa was going to be there this holiday season, I very enthusiastically agreed to Me-Me and Pop's request that they take both boys for 2 reasons:  an opportunity for unassisted Christmas shopping and a free Santa picture!  Between illnesses and timing issues, it didn't work out when it was originally planned, but they still wanted to go, so yesterday it was!  Travis had so much fun playing all the shooting games, seeing the "animals", touring the fishing boats, and visiting Santa.  Me-Me and Pop didn't make it out without one little purchase for the boys: matching fishing hats.  Justin loves his hat!  It's his first hat and he enjoys being just like brother.  Since then he has been wearing it all the time.  So sweet!