CHRISTMAS 2012

I will continue to add to this post as things progress today and tomorrow so stay tuned...

I will start off with the "Breakfast With Santa" that we went to Saturday morning. His best little friend Keely was there, along with the twins Ryan and Austin and lots of other little ones. This breakfast was put on by the Outdoor Pursuits class as a fundraiser.
We (by "we" I mean "he") ate pancakes and sausage and cereal.

Then, Santa (Sasa) came. Some little guys were scared. Some just admired him from a distance. Not our boy. When his time came, he ran right up to him and crawled up on his lap and snuggled right in. He didn't talk to him, but his actions sure let Santa know he thought he was a pretty ok guy. BTW, he is asking for a shovel "fufle".

Then, as we were leaving, he ran up to Santa again to give him a "kug" good-bye.

We've really been enjoying the season. We have been reading Christmas stories. As I am typing this, he is watching The Polar Express - again. He's laughing his sweet little giggly laugh right now. There is no sweeter sound. We've been to two Christmas dinners already - one at Sherman's mum's yesterday afternoon and then one at our church last evening. We've done lots of baking, but the favorite was the gingerbread boys and we've saved out special ones just for tonight.  Also tonight we have my family coming for some Christmas Eve festivities and then tomorrow's the BIG DAY with gifts and visiting and a turkey dinner at my grandmother's. 
Our family has just been taking in all that Christmas means and brings, and we are finding such joy in the precious "gift" we've already received.
So from our family to all of you, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

Last night we had our traditional lasagne, caesar salad, homemade rolls Christmas Eve supper, a tradition started by Brady many years ago. We had made gingerbread boy cookies for regular dessert, but we had also made big ones that we were saving for Christmas Eve dessert and then to leave out for Santa.

He got to open a gift last evening, new soft, cozy Elmo jammies.

 

We put out Santa's lunch (he wasn't too sure about leaving out one of those cookies for Santa but I convinced him) and left him a note, reminding him about a new shovel.

We read Twas The Night Before Christmas as well as our other Christmas books we've been reading, and then it was off to bed.
The fun this morning started about 7:00. It was wonderful! He came out and there was a recliner and a chainsaw waiting for him. I told him Santa had brought them and he said, "Dadu Sasa" right away. He sat in the chair holding the saw for a long time. We just soaked in every minute of his joy.

 

 

You'll notice in the following pictures he has on less and less clothing. The longer he opened, the more he stripped. It was hard work!

He got his shovel and a broom and much, much more.

 



 

He really liked Brady's new hockey pants too.

 



We had an amazing morning. The three of us just sat back and watched the magic that was his to experience. It was so much fun and also a bit emotional for us. He took in everything and wanted to just enjoy and experience everything and it was a really special time for our family. We are so blessed.
Right now he's down for a well-deserved nap. When he gets up we will head up to see Sherman's mum and then it's down to my grandmother's for turkey supper.
Thank-you to everyone for their cards and gifts. Everything is greatly appreciated. I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas.
GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE.

Counting Down

 

Things have been pretty busy around here, as they have been everywhere, I'm sure. We've all had colds but besides that, we've been shopping and wrapping and baking. We went to our  Santa Claus parade here last Saturday night, which was lovely. We are just enjoying the season and all that comes with it. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day as of late, so I'm just going to post some pics and I'll write something more in-depth later.




Although this boy doesn't care too much for TV, he loves the movie The Polar Express. He'll ask for it, "train, train" and then sit on the floor or in Sherman's chair or his little rocking chair and watch parts of it.

 

 

 

The boys each have their own chocolate advent calendar, but somehow one boy usually ends up with two chocolates each day...

 

 

 

 

 

Such a big help! He really loves lobster when they're alive, but not so much when it comes to eating them - yet.

 

A big "thank-you" to Kevin, Jan and family for the new winter boots and hat he's sporting.

 

One more thing... I still haven't received our Christmas pictures. They were supposed to be here almost two weeks ago so I'm afraid they may be lost in the mail. I will send them out when/if I get them. They were pretty cute.

The Tree's All Up and Trimmed

Thursday marked five months since The Big Move. Time has sure flown by. We've learned and grown a lot and have had a lot of fun during that time. He is very social and friendly - loves interacting with anyone who interacts with him. I know he will love the workers and kids at daycare when I have to go back to work. I'm not the least bit concerned about that. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being home with this precious little boy. It has been so special for me.

We put up and trimmed our tree last Sunday afternoon.  It's been a bit of a tradition over the last eight years to watch The Polar Express the night we trim the tree (yes, I still ask Brady to stick to this tradition and he is very gracious about humoring my sentimental whims). So, we sat down as a family to watch it and this little boy had never sat so still for so long. He loves trains and music and the combination (plus his soother and blanket) seemed to be a huge hit. It was a lovely family time together.
We had fun trimming the tree, him mostly laying the ornaments on the branches and just so enjoying looking them all over. He especially liked the "Sasa" ones, he seems to really like Santa already :) My mum gave him an ornament that we were able to put his picture in, which he liked a lot too.

He likes to look at and touch the ornaments but seems to be happy to just do that. We put all the glass ones up higher just incase there was some rearranging he might want to do, but so far he seems to like things where they are I guess.

Yesterday we had a playdate with two-year-old twins Austin and Ryan (their dad was one of Sherman's groomsmen in our wedding). That was so much fun - three little boys and enough loaders and dump trucks and diggers to start their own construction company. Then last night we went to the community tree lighting. His little friend Keekee (Keely) was there and they had gingerbread boy cookies. As soon as I took out my camera though, he wanted to take off so I only got the one pic but thought I'd share it.

Today marks the countdown to Christmas so we started his advent calendar this morning. I tried to explain how each morning he will move the snowflake into the next pocket until we get to 24, then Santa will come. He took it all in and seemed intrigued by it all. Both of the boys have chocolate advent calendars too, but trying to explain opening only one door for one chocolate square a day seemed a bit harder for some reason. There was also a new Elmo's Merry Christmas book waiting on the coffee table for him when he got up from his nap today, a little Christmas season kick-off gift. He loves "Melmo". He had to take the book to the rink with us at suppertime to show Keekee. We also have lights and decorations up in his bedroom and so things are pretty festive around here.

I'll end now, but I also wanted to include a picture of him fishing in his "boap" because its just too cute for words!

Christmastime's A Comin'

Well, after we got home from watching the loading of the boat last Friday, this little fisherman got a big box for his boat and a little one for his trap and he's played quite happily with them ever since. I think I need to sink the boat and get him a doctor`s kit for Christmas :)
We have the inside of our house all trimmed except for the tree. Everything is "pippy", especially the "ights" in his room. He is becoming aquainted with Santa already so we should be in for a fun time. I'll have some Christmasy pics soon.

Just 'cause I want to share this, I found this waiting for me the day I dug out the decorations:

My ever-thoughtful hubby had been away the week before and bought me a sweet little tree I'd commented on when I had seen it in the flyer, as well as a mega bag of chicken bones to help me keep up my stamina.
xoxo

Now, back to the boy. The owners of a fisheries company here have constructed a huge tree made out of lobster traps. It is lit with multi-colored lights and decorated with bouys. We have to drive by it everytime we go to the rink or the store. He LOVES it! We call it the trap tree. It, too, is very pippy.
He is learning to share really well, especially when one of us has something he wants. We are then reminded with a really big smile to "sare". He has also started saying "gelgum" after we say thank-you, and he's drinking so well from a big cup now.  We are up to reading about a half hour's worth of books at bedtime now, as well as several times throughout the day. He is filling in a couple of the words in a few of our regular rhyming books. He's learned a few letters and can count to four. He's also probably the only two-year-old who hollers "east" and shows two fingers (for 2T) when I get out the bread mixing bowl. He has a belt which he loves because its just like Brady's. He wears jeans a lot so he can wear his "belp".

He loves playing in the cupboards...

 

and wearing helmets...

and using the tape measure to "pelp" Sherman lay our new bathroom floor (his last renovation project for a while, which I REALLY, REALLY appreciate BTW. Thank-you, you're the best!).

 



 

 

I also want to shout out a big ol' CONGRATULATIONS to our other boy, who was awarded his silver standard in the Duke of Edinburgh program at the Legislature by the Lieutenant Governor a couple of weeks ago. We are so proud of you Brade! Well done!

 

Kerrin (also from GM) received her gold, Brady his silver.

 

Anyhoo, it will soon be time to start Christmas baking so that will keep us busy. We will be having a party at the play group we go to, the community tree lighting is next weekend, our church dinner and concert will be coming up as well as the GM Santa Claus parade etc., etc. It will be a busy and fun Christmas season I'm sure. I'll take lots of pictures. Stay tuned.