Christmas Holidays

Wednesday Xander had a Christmas party at school. Nick and I stayed the whole time, although Nick got very, very, very tired. The kids exchanged gifts (they didn't understand about the gifts they brought being for another kid, but they finally exchanged), ate a yummy Christmas snack, sat on Santa's lap and got pictures with him, and had a holiday lunch. (Xander couldn't stay for lunch because it was late and we really had to get Nick home.) Xander gave a pack of paintbrush markers, which his friend Lance (or was it Russell?) loved, and received a Memory game that he and I played that afternoon.

Today was his last day of school until after Christmas. A whole week at home! The teachers even compiled some fun worksheets for us to do at home if we wanted to. We want to! Xander made three ornaments at school which now grace our tree and wrote a marvelous Christmas card to us that said "Happy Holidays" (all in his own writing!!!!!!!!). Ms. Heather made everyone a cute snowman decoration which Xander intends to use to decorate his room.

Ms. Valerie took pictures of the kids with Santa, even including siblings. Here is me holding them up to the laptop camera:

 

Xander gave gifts to his teachers. They each got a Jiffy popcorn that I decorated with a gift label and bows. I have to admit it was last-minute. Maybe next year they will look a little nicer. ;)

Erik may get a little more time at home for the holidays than he expected, or at least he will feel more relaxed about work. We'll have to take advantage of that with popcorn, Christmas movies, eggnog, hot cocoa, wine, the zoo, and of course our Christmas celebration. Mom arrives Tuesday. Bonnie will probably come on Friday if not sooner. I just cleaned the bathroom, Moms!

First Powers Gingerbread House

Erik gets pretty much 99.9% of the credit for this:

Fabulously Wealthy

Got a lot done this morning (laundry, quiet time, got dressed, planned the day, made breakfast, drank coffee, exercised) but my patience has been tried today. Four-year-olds ask endless questions to which only they know the correct answer. It must be the first teenage period - parents are never quite right. If we accidentally bump Xander, we have hurt him and it is an amazingly evil thing to do. If he jumps on our back while we are trying to write something and balance our coffee, he is hurt that we don't quite appreciate his enthusiasm.

And he's right. My responses to him are my responsibility. Deep breath. New cup of coffee. If I could have my most important wish come true, it would be to appreciate every interaction with him, Nick, Erik, and others.

It is not a bad thing that he is active, curious, engaged, smart, and loving.

Just please, please, please could someone else stay here for a day and field all the non-questions?

Nick has become more and more pleasant as he has learned to communicate better and sleep longer at a time. It is more and more a joy to see the boys play together. Thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.

I am fabulously wealthy in love.

Being Amused

This is Nick and me being amused by Xander pretending to be a dog during snack time:

The one of me was taken by accident when I swung the computer back around. ;) Oh, and here's Xander being the dog:

'Tis the Season

Xander is very proud of his new clothes from Aunt Pat and Grandma Bonnie. He told me he had never worn clothes like these before, and he pointed them out to his preschool director and friends. Today he is wearing a sporty long-sleeve shirt with those warm-up-type pants that have yellow and white stripes down the sides. I saw in his classroom that they posted each kid's gift wish on a poster. Xander's says, "A new toy knight. If Santa has one."

Nick had his 18 month check-up today and is healthy. He only had one shot - hurray! But the trip still knocked him out. He fell asleep on our ten-minute ride home. I was proud of how many words he's saying (I can think of 15 really quickly) and the pediatrician only asked if he was saying five words. But I think the range is tremendous at this age and there are plenty 18-month-olds who say more words than 15 or 20. He really, really wants to speak to us, as Erik noted today. He gets really mad when his exact message doesn't get across.

So far this Christmas season, we have decorated, listened to Christmas carols, gotten out advent calendars, read Christmas stories and books, and had hot cocoa together. The kids have also helped me make Christmas cards and wrapping paper.

At the moment, a medley from Robert Shaw's Festival of Carols is playing on the computer and Nick is nodding away to it. Music is still the last resort that will always quiet him when nothing else will.

Another Brag About Nick

I have to report that Nick played pretty well on a courtroom bench for over an hour this morning. I was subpoenaed to be a witness since the guy we got into a car accident with contested his ticket. Nick played well with the doctor kit and books, at least well for a 1.5-year-old. When I walked up to speak to the judge with the police officer and defendant, he said I could put Nick down and he could run around. He said, with a smile, that it was relatively safe in there. I said he would certainly run around but the judge indicated that was okay so I put him down to talk to the judge. Nick ran all around and basically greeted everyone from the other defendants to the bailiffs to the seating section for all the police officers. He hung out with the officers for a few minutes, as a matter of fact. He was probably one of the lightest moments in that docket, so it all went fine. We got to go first and leave relatively quickly compared to the other poor souls in there. They were very kind. I can't say Nick didn't scream at all, though.

Activities and Pictures

 

These are pictures I took this afternoon. First are some grainy, horrible pictures of some of Xander's soccer and school pictures. Perhaps some of you will get a chance soon to see them in person. ;) We did a painting activity and Xander really wanted me to paint a dragon on one cheek and a ladybug on the other. So I did. When I was done with my almost formless dragon, he checked himself out in the mirror and said, "Ha! A Westmin Dragon!" He thinks I'm good, at least. Nick hates having anything stuck to him, including paint, so I just got a couple pics of him in between Xander's activities.