Our Christmas started at home this year. Santa sent our elf Grimsee back to our house on Christmas Eve morning with a little something for the boys to start out their Chrsitmas tradition, in our new house. Not sure what Santa was thinking sending us a helicopeter that makes all kinds of noise and a excavator too! Our morning was filled with beeping and noises for hours while Trev and I tried to pack up to go to Vernon. In true 3 year old style there were many fights over the toys and the conclusion was that the helicopter was not a hit from Santa, but on its box was a picture of a fire rescue truck. One of those was in Trev and my closet waiting to go back as we thought they had enough toys that made sound already. I caved and let them have that too. That seemed to satisfy the arguments over the excavator for us to get out the door at a decent hour. These days we still plan our trips still around naps, but purely so that we can have a hour of quiet in the car....those boys never stop gabbing.
We arrived in Vernon in great time despite crappy roads at times. Grandma had a great roast beef dinner waiting for us, yum. Before bath and bed we put out some special treats for Santa. The boys were pretty keen on this part. We left beer for Santa (love the way the boys say "beer" with their cute little voices), a tart, and some veggies for the reindeer.
In the morning the boys woke up like it was just any other day, I guess it hadn't quite sunk in yet. They didn't even try and open the presents like they did with the ones under our tree at home, where they immediately poked their fingers through the wrapping paper. We had some breakfast and then opened up the presents from Santa, and the grandparents. The rest had to wait until Chris and the kids arrived, but we put a dent in the pile at least. Santa brought them what they asked for, a fire truck with lights and sirens for Cole, and a police truck with lights and sirens for Grayson. They were pretty excited about those. Chris and the kids and Nanny and Papa had lots of other toys to come later. The boys received lots of new clothes, and some much needed socks, although we still can't manage to get matching ones on them.
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| Mmm..grandma's pancakes |
At noon, Nanny and Papa surprised us all by showing up unannounced. Nanny needed to be a part of the action for the day. The boys didn't blink an eye when they arrived, yeah, we are over the crying. The boys opened a few gifts from Nanny and Papa and fell in love with the Cookie Monster playdough set. All the kids really, but the boys played for hours with that new toy making a big mess in the kitchen each time. The rest of the day was spent playing and hanging around waiting the the big moment when the turkey hits the table. We went outside as soon as the sun broke through the clouds. Since it was a very green Christmas, Acacia and I played bocce on the lawn, while the boys played with their new scooters, and Trev played soccer with Cy.
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| Cookie monster playdough |
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| Food to feed cookie monster |
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| Candy canes and scooters |
We had dreams of the boys sitting at the table and eating, but no, Cole wouldn't eat a thing and we banished them to the bedroom so we could try and have a nice dinner. He didn't really eat anything all weekend but toast and cereal and maybe a vegetable or two. Grayson was a little better, eating some turkey at least, but soon enough he followed Cole into Grandma and Grandpas room to watch TV. Trev and I at least got to eat a first and second sitting of dinner this year! Nanny and Papa left after pie, but in all stayed a whopping 6 hours. That was a treat. We finished the night with too much wine and crokinole, not sure who the champion was.
On Boxing Day, we tried to make a plan in the morning with all the kids, but the boys weren't being too agreeable. Chris and the kids went to walk the dog, the boys and I went to the beach, and Trev went to buy and install a TV for my grandmother. We had a few spins on the spinning thing, a slide or two and a swing or two, but they weren't that into it.
What they really needed was more sleep after Christmas Day. They were down by 12 or so and Trev and I went to spend some Christmas money. Amazingly Trev was very patient, we hit up a few stores for cross country ski gloves and tuques, new hockey skates, and wandered around Home Depot. Trev was most patient and good willing with a fabulously flamboyant Robert and his faux finishing techniques, who got very excited when I started asking him some more advanced painting questions besides"can you mix me up a beige?". Still not sure what happened with Trev there but I liked it.
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| Science experiments that require adult supervision really make Chris happy |
When we got back and the boys woke up, the kids played a lot. We made candy sushi, with marshmallows, candies and fruit roll ups. Fun, but a little bit too much sushi candy for all of us to eat. Acacia also taught the boys how to eat candy canes which was really cute. I gave them some on Christmas eve and told them to suck them, which they immediately crunched and then spat them out and said they didn't like it. Acacia taught them the proper way to lick a candy cane, and they were in love! All the kids ran around all weekend eating candy, candy sushi, candy canes, life savers and chocolate. It was wild and crazy in the basement. I'm not sure my mom went down there after we opened all the presents for fear of what she might find.
We were back home after a great visit by Tuesday in time for work in Wednesday. Another Christmas done.
