Pre-Christmas Post

These last few weeks have been hurried ones for us. And since I just typed this post and lost it, I'm blaming Frank's new Mac and retyping a very abbreviated version. It's 10 p.m. on Christmas Eve and we've been trying to get Mason to settle and sleep since 7:20 p.m. Santa has not yet begun to put out the toys for the little ones and "he" is very, very tired. 'Nuf said.

A few weeks ago, Maddie and Mason's daycare held its annual Christmas play. "Polar Express" was the theme and all the kiddos wore their pajamas. It was quite the sight. My camera was not working properly and Maddie was hidden behind the crowd for the entire time, so my photos are not even worth sharing. Thanks to Amy for creating and sharing a video of Maddie, Stella Dot and Noah at dinner and during the play. Maddie is standing to the left of her teacher, who is shushing her. Too funny. Check it out here.



Mason has been practicing tummy time and rolling over. He rolled over twice onto his back last week. We were cheering and clapping for him. The next day, Frank found out from Mason's teachers that he has been doing this for weeks. OK. I guess we get the out-of-touch parents award.


He has begun to gnaw on everything in sight -- this includes things that are actually designed for babies -- yay! Here he enjoys the flavor of Herr Bear II from Oma and Opa.

Last weekend, we went to see the Meadow Lights and eat at the Meadow Village restaurant. This is now a tradition for us -- every year since Maddie was born. Buffet-style southern cooking with homemade desserts. Yummy! Also like last year, Stella Dot and parents joined us.

I think Stella Dot has green-bean envy.

Yay for dessert! The girls selected their own desserts. Maddie went for the chocolate pie. I did not. Later, I found out the chocolate pie has won numerous awards. She is clearly surpassing me with "sweet smarts."


After dinner, the Meadow Lights tram took us through the lights.


Eating peppermint sticks outside the country store after the tram ride.





Mason stayed awake for the entire tram ride and walk through the country store. I was saving these mittens for Christmas but it was freezing. He had two to three layers on!


Maddie is in a dress phase. By this I mean she has asked to wear a dress and tights every day this week. We are officially out of clean dresses.


Tub time! Earlier this week, I coaxed Maddie into taking a bath by promising that she could take one with Mason. They squeezed into Mason's little infant/toddler tub. They both had a blast. Mason kept splashing Maddie and she kept laughing.


Cheeks!


Maddie in today's dress. She is now obsessed with the Grinch after seeing the movie for the first time last night. I think she has now seen the movie six times.......that's five times too many. She asks questions about "Cindy Lou Poo" and why she is feeding the Grinch's dog at the end of the movie. She wants to know why the Grinch isn't feeding his dog himself. The wheels in her noggin' are turnin'.


The results of a playdough session on Xmas Eve. Maddie actually did everything herself (with instructions from Daddy). Notice the crazy hair, legs and freakishly large left hand with humongous fingers. Anyhoo.....not bad for not quite three years old.


Mason practices standing with a little help from Frank.

Our Christmas Eve cheese fondue tradition continues. Maddie declared she doesn't like cheese, but ate her weight in apples.

Later tonight, the kids opened one present each and we danced to Elvis singing Christmas carols. After searching through a pile of holiday CDs for one that contains songs she actually knows, I found an old favorite.

Me: Oh, I finally found "Here Comes Santa Claus." You can always count on Elvis.
Maddie: I don't like Elvis.
Me: Oh, but you will.

Merry Christmas!