Christmas 2010

I’ve always loved Christmas, but this year I saw it with new eyes—those of my two sons. The magic and the excitement of stockings, and Santa Claus, and reindeer’s hooves on the rooftop. The wonder of a child’s birth, of Wise Men traveling great distances, of LOVE coming down on that first Christmas. I found pure joy in watching my boys experience all of these things.

Our Christmas celebration began on Christmas Eve at Auntie Jane and Uncle Tom’s house. We nibbled on tasty snacks and opened presents before heading to church.  The boys were excited to open their gifts—but were completely surprised by the treasure hunt at the end that led them to the back of Grandma and Grandpa’s car and to their JEEP!

 

 

 

I think the pictures speak for themselves—this gift was a hit!

We went to a late afternoon service at church designed specifically for families with young children. The boys got to see the Christmas story come alive through song and a short play. Jack had been practicing some of the songs that I thought we might sing at the service, so he was ready to sing.

After church we went back to our house for a simple meal of clam chowder (one of the boys’ favorites). The boys were completely exhausted and it didn’t take much convincing for them to get into their new Christmas jammies and head to bed. Before retiring for the evening, Tom and I set up the video camera on a tripod aimed down the hall. We were ready to capture the boys as they ran down the hallway in the morning to see what Santa had left them. Tom even had the remote control to turn on the video camera. We were ready.

Christmas morning the boys awoke around 6:30. Jack busted out of his room and down the hall followed by a frantic Tom trying to hit the remote to turn on the video camera. Sadly, Jack was too quick and we didn’t record it, but we did manage to get a lot of other great video of the boys opening their stockings.

 

Santa brought Jack a Buzz Lightyear and Emmett a train/lego table for his room.

Emmett takes a break from opening presents to have a drink and play with his new tractor.

The boys play Hungry Hippos. And pause for long enough to let us take a picture.

But one picture was enough. They wanted to play some more.  

We took nearly an hour to open presents—much longer than I thought it would take. Not because we had so many to open, but because each present the boys opened they then wanted to play with for a while. Tom and I drank a whole pot of coffee, the family stayed in our pajamas most of the morning, and we had an absolutely perfect Christmas morning.

This was the first time we had been at our own home for Christmas morning. It was so special to wake up and have that time as a family.  I must have told Tom a dozen times that this was exactly the way I had envisioned our Christmas morning to look. It was wonderful.

At around noon, my parents,Matt and Joanna, and GG arrived. We snacked some more and opened more presents.

 

The boys were excited to open more presents.

    Jack got a Frosty the Snowman train from Matt and Joanna. Boppa and Matt helped him set it up. For the rest of the day, that little train chugged along the track blowing its whistle. Jack discovered that he could stand over the train and be a tunnel. He thought this was the coolest thing.

 

 

After presents we sat down to an unconventional Christmas dinner of salmon, risotto, and green beans.  Tom has always wanted to have seafood on Christmas day. And although I’m not sure that this is what we’ll always eat, it was delicious and fun to make. I had fun setting the table using my new Christmas dishes from Tom’s parents.

Once dinner was finished we just sat around, drank coffee, let the kids play with their toys, and talked. It was so comfortable and fun. Our new home easily accommodates guests and Tom and I had a blast hosting. It was a lovely day filled with all good things—truly a blessing.

So if we didn’t get to tell you in person,

we wish you a very Merry Christmas

and may goodness find you always in 2011.

Polar Express Birthday Party

Jack LOVES the Polar Express. Last Christmas it was on TV and we recorded it. We have literally been watching it for the last year. So it only seemed fitting that a little boy who loves the movie and who has a December birthday should get to have a Polar Express birthday party.

 

 

Everyone received an evite with wordage and a picture from the book.

The kids wore their pajamas to the party. Jack gave everyone a ticket as they entered and the conductor (Tom) punched their tickets. I was dressed as an elf. We decorated the windows with cut out snowflakes and played Christmas music. Having a house already decorated for Christmas made this party so easy!

 

The kids (and some adults, too) decorated ornaments with glitter, glue, markers, and stickers.  

 

 

Then it was time for hot cocoa and cupcakes.

  

And as the kids ate, they were surprised by a very jolly visitor—SANTA! Santa dropped by to deliver a special gift to each of the kids. The kids were pretty stunned, and not sure what to think. Santa said a quick hello and then hustled back to the North Pole to finish up in the toy workshop.

 

 

Inside the packages were some Christmas goodies.

That even the parents enjoyed!

And each child got an ornament which read, Believe.

As always, I had so much fun planning this party. It was so special to have family and friends there to celebrate Jack with us.

Jack is 3!

Though it hardly seems possible, our little guy is now 3 years old! We started his birthday with breakfast in bed—a tradition that he wasn’t sure about because, in his words, he might spill on the bed (as if he has ever cared about such a thing before!).  We sang to him and brought him a birthday waffle to eat in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. He blew out his candles like a pro and promptly said, “again” in true Jack fashion.

After breakfast we got dressed and headed to the doctor’s office. I know, I know, what kind of terrible mother schedules a doctor’s appointment on her child’s birthday? Jack is growing and healthy. What more could I ask for?

When we got home, Nana and Boppa were waiting for us. After opening a couple of presents, we hopped in the car and made our way downtown. First stop—Santa Claus. One of the beauties of not working is that you are able to go places when the crowds are not there and visiting Santa was a perfect example of that. Both boys hopped right up on his lap and smiled for pictures. Jack told Santa it was his birthday and Santa sang Happy Birthday to Jack. Jack was in awe.

  Emmett thought Santa was pretty cool, too, but he liked the Christmas lights behind Santa equally as much.

Armed with candy canes, the boys said their goodbyes to Santa and we made our way to the train display at Macys.

 

 

 

 

  

Jack LOVED the trains. He must have run back and forth between the two pairs of mittens a dozen times making the trains go around the tracks. We even went back to the trains for a second time after eating lunch with Daddy.  I’m thinking we’ll be needing our own train around the Christmas tree soon.

Last stop was the carousel. Now both veterans of riding it, neither boy was scared, just completely excited. Nana and Boppa had fun riding with them, while I stayed behind and took pictures.

 

A total kid’s dream of a day—not a bad way to spend your 3rd birthday!