Christmas, Alabama Style

Wow.  It is February.  I am a mess.  I am now posting about Christmas.  Before it escapes my mind forever..........

Alabama (fondly referred  to as Alavama) or bust.  We headed to right outside of Fort Benning GA, where my favorite Brother-in-law is stationed, to the tiny little southern town of....honestly I can't even remember the name....  Anyway, my sister-in-law Lauren, who is absolutely one of my very favorite people in the world, lives there with my beautiful nephews, fantastic Hubby and two dogs (one is a puppy!).   Even though the drive was longer than I would like to remember (we actually made it there and back with minimal tears and a boy who slept the better part of both ways! Lucky us!) it was SO good to see our awesome family.  We spent Christmas week with the Gables and just relaxed....and laughed....a lot.  It was exactly what we needed and who we needed to do it with.  Tristan and Jackson had such a great time together.  It was amazing to me how they bonded instantly and were best buddies.

Best buddies who jumped and taught each other how to climb in and out of cribs....

They of course, among being the best of buddies, were at times the worst of enemies.   What do you expect from a couple of 2+ year olds?

He did, took and said xyz to (from) me!

Whaaaaaaaaahhhh (the preferred form of toddler communication)

Most of the time though, they were best buddies.  Playing and coexisting together, thrilled to have each other.  Cousins at their best.

 

 

 

Two wonderful little boys (who mostly refuse to look at the camera) who are the light of our lives.  Oh yeah this one too....Sweet, sweet Sam.

 

 Don't believe anything my Mom or Dad says....I am a perfect baby!

Maybe it is just my presence (he he) but while I was there (at least in the room with this precious little guy) he did not make a peep.  He was honestly perfect!  Love, love, love this little bundle!

Cousinly Love

We took a couple of nearby excursions, both of which I can laugh about now but at the time were, for their own reasons, horrendous.... In just a few words, wind whipping, frost bite inducing, frigid air that literally came out of nowhere, and way to sunny to get a good picture - but oh s**t my memory card is full of (the crappiest I have ever taken in my life) pictures anyway.  You guess which is which...

Before I dump the rest of my (hilariously horribly taken) pictures on you and yours, I have to just comment on the tradition of opening Christmas presents...with 2+ year olds.....  In my mind it all went differently.  We literally could have given then each one gift to fight over rather than several a piece.  It really wouldn't have mattered because the only thing were distracted by was what the other was opening or had in his had so that they would drop their half opened gift  for Nikita to chew.  Not quite the Bing Crosby kind of Christmas morning I had envisioned.  But now a fond memory.  The best part was the huge motorized-drive-it-your-self-tractor that both boys IGNORED when they came down stairs.  That pretty much says it all.  (Eventually the tractor was successfully a hit Babci and Dziadzi).
 

Memories in action:

Jackson the sloth

 Boys who won't look at the camera.....

....and then they finally do....

 

 Christmas Scooter

....or two

Tractor success coming your way NOW!

 

well, almost.

Moving on to the animals

 3-dog Christmas

Love (or torture, you decide)

world's biggest litter box (this one's for you Lauren)

Sam

stamps

freezing...but a moment of happiness

Who thought this would be exciting?

 the boys (in slight blur, just for effect)

And now for the one and only picture of Lauren and I, and if you know us well then you will know that this is only fitting...

Great Trip to Alavama.  We love you Gables!

Christmas Cookies

I know, I know....it is way past Christmas cookie baking time.  Our tree is even down.....the embarrassment looms.  Just a little forewarning: the next few posts will probably be about Christmas....which happened last month...yes I know.  My excuse?  Full-time-working-mom-whose-almost-three-year-old-is now-pretty-much-a-non-napper-now-but-clearly-needs-one-isn't-enough?  Ok, then.  None.

Directions for making Christmas cookies:

1.  Find or make your apron.  We chose to fashion one out of one of Mommies old t-shirts and it has instantly become a piece of choice apparel.

2.  Choose someone you love to bake with.

3.  Make the dough, make sure you have plenty for cookies as well as eating.

4.  Decorate.  Sugary sprinkles are not just delicious but create a nice decorative effect when they are all over the counters and floor.

 

5.  Wash up!

5.  Bake and Eat.

Footnotes 
Reminder:  Dziadia's really like Christmas cookies so make sure to make a few extra batches so that there are enough for you to enjoy.

Fun with Santa...

............NOT! 

Each year my school holds an annual 'Lunch with Santa' where tots can make Christmas crafts, eat lunch, and of course, sit on Santa's lap.  As soon as we walked in, Jackson begged to see Santa.  Demanded to see Santa.  Cried to see Santa.  As I took him to get our tickets, he tried to escape to see Santa.  I was excited by the excitement that he possessed about Santa!   Then it was out turn, time for us to walk down the red carpet toward Santa..... and then...... meltdown city.  

"I DON'T WANT TO SEE SANTA!"

 Trying to desperately get away!

I even tried to do a picture together, thinking that maybe, just maybe, he would be alright with me there too.  Um, a big fat no to that one too, thank you very much.

Nothing that a few instruments and some Backyardigans couldn't solve though...

 In Mommy's class room, making noise music

Backyardigans on the big screen can make almost anything better.

The best part of the whole Santa incident was really the conversation that came after.  

M:  "Tell Daddy whose lap you sat on today."

J: "Santa's, but I didn't want to, I cried."

M:  "You didn't like sitting on Santa's lap very much did you buddy?"

J:  "No, I didn't, but you made me (short pause for dramatic effect), and I cried."

 Ah! The wonder of the holiday season!

Happy Holidays

Yes folks, it's that time again!

Playing Catch Up

Blogging has so taken a back seat to this CRAZY thing we call life.  But don't worry blogging world, I haven't forgotten about you.  In fact you are in the forefront of my mind, but ah, time is the culprit.  Yes that thing called time that I seem to have none of these days.  Well I seem to have found a sparse few minutes, so here we go!

Thanksgiving
This year we spent our Thanksgiving festivities at home and then with friends.  It was so low key, and so non-stress, that it ended up being EXACTLY what we needed.  I made a cheesecake and then we spent the rest of the day with friends and family.  Mari and Dennis, hosted the most beautiful and delicious dinner party I have attended in a very very long time!  And, they get an extra shout out for making it kid friendly to the only kid there *by letting him take over your basement for the evening!  We thank you so much for that!  Pictures are lacking (I am totally off my game right now!)  Of course, Jackson missed his Grandparents very much, but all in all it was a wonderful day.  We are and continue to be thankful. 

Playing with his racetrack in his *boy cave

Fall

We have tried to pack the most into fall as usual, and the weather has been so unusually warm and just pain awesome this year.  We have gone on hikes, trips to the city, played in the leaves, gone to the playground...you name it.  Amidst the craziness of Mommy working a lot, we are still trying to squeeze in some fun. 

 A Christmas card finalist that did not make the final cut....Daddy picked this year so when you get it....you'll understand....

 little blue eyed lad

Hope fall is wrapping up nicely for you!