Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Festivities

I didn't get too picture happy this year for Christmas, but I did get some...these are the ones I took that turned out pretty decent.  It was a great day for all of us out here.  My in-laws, as par for the course, were more than generous and giving to all of us...kids, Col, and me.  It was a wonderful day started with a good laugh (Christopher came out from the back of the house.  We asked him "Christopher, do you know what today is?" He replies without hesitation, "Uhm...I fink...Thursday!"  I don't think he's ready to graduate preschool yet) breakfast and ending with a large fantastic meal with the whole in-law family involved.  (I forgot to bring my camera for the evening activities or there'd likely be more pictures).  I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Da

   

Matthew really liked his present

Santa was more than generous this year!

Evidence...Santa was here

Family was also extremely generous

 

He decided this was his Christmas outift

Christopher decided he was too hot...

Sesame Place: Take 2: The Parade

 As I said before, I made my maiden voyage to Sesame Place couple of weeks ago.  We did not, however, during that trip get to see the parade because the boys, who were both napless, had literally fallen apart at the seems.  Christopher was crying every time anyone uttered a word against his whims...Matthew was flopping around in his stroller like a hooked fish, whining and crying madly....and there was still 30-minutes until the start of the parade.  We opted, then, to leave the park and try again the following Friday.

So comes the following Friday and we headed back out.  This time, both boys having napped for 2+ hours/ child and with Nana Marianne accompanying us.  She was a great help to us.  Christopher still had some difficulties following directions and listening appropriately, but it was a much more successful venture than the the week prior by a wide-margin.  We got a prime spot for the parade and after it was over we tried to get Christopher to ride on some rides, but he would only brave the carousel.  Typically, one of us would just hold him until the ride ended to see if he was legitimately scared of the ride or if he was just being "chicken". Sesame Place, apparently, has a strong policy against this.  Once a kid is screaming or crying, they make you get off the ride.  I personally think that's a lame policy...but I suppose there's a purpose for it.  I would like to think that most parents would not intentionally put their children in harms way and that the establishment should trust that the parents only have the best in mind when making these decisions, but maybe I'm too trusting of people.  That is a possibility, albeit a small one.

 

 

Tree and House Decorating

 Tree Decorations

We finally got around to getting the tree erected and decorated.  It was a 2-day process, but "we" were able to complete the task in plenty of time for Christmas...surprisingly enough...

Christopher was very excited about decorating the tree this year.  However, as he was napless, his assistance with decorating the tree was very brief.  He began to get frustrated because he doesn't quite have the muscle dexterity it takes to hang some of the ornaments.  He is also very stubborn and independent, which led to the second issue.  He refused any help...even after he asked for help...with a hearty and very pointed "NO! I DO IT MYSELF!"  I love his independence and his desire and aim to accomplish tasks.  But, when he began the 3-Year-Old-Flop, I decided that it was time for him to remove himself from the tree decorating and get ready for bed.  He was angry at first, but was quickly reassured after he and I discussed why he was asked to stop. I can tell you that the insight of children cannot be underestimated.  He, as I rediscover with most children,  never ceases to amaze me in this area....amazing how "real" their world is.  He did make it about 20-minutes before the meltdown actually occurred...this might be a record for him.

Matthew, as much as I'm sure he was trying as hard as he possibly could, was of little help with the actual decorating part.  He was, however, very helpful in getting the ornaments out of the ornament-tub...albeit, sort of all over the floor, but he did accomplish this goal successfully. Another amazing skill he possesses is an innate ability to pull ornaments from the tree that had already been hung successfully (thankfully, it was none of  Christopher's or we'd have had a whole different scenario to discuss) and add them to his menagerie.  The best part is probably his displayed talent of scattering, disbursing, and diversifying the ornaments very effectively.  Maybe next year he'll be able to demonstrate the same ability on the tree instead of all over the floor...and possibly keep the ornaments on the tree. Time will tell.

 The Tree and House

Finally got the Christmas tree all decorated...much more effective without the kids, but a lot less fun.  I suppose its a wash...I suppose. The tree does lean a bit to the left, but I tried to mend that with the security line attached to the wall.  It helped a bit, but I did with it what I could.  The people at the tree farm didn't bore me a straight hole, so I opted for the least obnoxious angle I could.  We feel it necessary to anchor the tree to the wall for fear that one of the kids could pull it over on top of them...or the cat...I suppose.

The outside was completed in the afternoon by me changing the outdoor lights (in the soffit by the front entrance of the house...that is actually on the side of the house), and rehanging and restringing the lights on the wreath that was blown off the house last week by some strong gusty winds.  I interchanged red and blue lights.  I wanted red and green lights, but I could only find 1 green bulb and I needed 2, so I just opted for blue.  I suppose blue is a "Christmas-y" color...or maybe we're showing off our respect for Chanukah.  I think it looks pretty decent....not too much....just simple and, for lack of a better term, "tasteful". 

House with the flash

How the house actually appears at night...I'm not sure if it's more Christmas-y or eerie...

Sesame Place

     Tonight was my maiden voyage to Sesame Place.  For those who don't know, Sesame Place is sot of like Disneyland, but for Sesame Street...and significantly smaller (I think)....and with Sesame Street muppets...uhm....that's about it.  Regardless, I have to admit that I didn't think I would enjoy this at all, but I actually did.  Yeah, it was quite commercial, but to see the joy on Christopher's face...and the painful, agonizing fright of Matthew's face...when they got to see all the Sesame Street characters.  We watched a short Christmas show...looked at lights...took a couple of spins on the ol' carousel...got some popcorn...and best of all.....got in for a mere $0.71!  There is apparently a Christmas parade as well, but our kids were losing their minds with fatigue and we decided to leave before the parade.  We'll try again next Friday maybe. Until then...here are some pictures of the fantasy ride through childhood.