Visit with Grandma and Grandpa

We had a nice and relaxing Christmas at home this year. Of course we missed seeing the extended family over the holidays but it was nice to be able to take it easy and not spend our vacation on the road.

Morgan and Adrian must have been good this year because they both got the thing they wished for most from Santa. Morgan got a Doodle girl doll and Adrian got a Razor scooter.

Grandma and Grandpa drove from Orange Beach for a visit. Yesterday we took them to Market Street for lunch and to stroll around. We walked along the waterway to Town Green Park to let them get a feel for the place. The weather was a bit blustery and overcast but it was nice just the same.



Morgan and Adrian each received root viewer growing tubes so they planted some carrot, onion, and radish seeds yesterday. They love playing in dirt and planting things. They have already said that they will eat the carrots that grow but not the radishes or onions.

Snow in The Woodlands?

Yesterday we went to Market Street here in The Woodlands because there was going to be "snow" for the kids to play in and reindeer for them to pet. We envisioned a winter wonderland. Of course we knew the "snow" would be blown by an ice truck which is what they do at ELP for the kids each year in January. What we didn't know is that the area they did this in would be about 20 feet by 20 feet. I thought that the entire grassy park area would be full of snow. The festivities were to be from noon to 6 pm and we decided to get there early at 11:30 or so. When we arrived the snowy area was a madhouse and the edges of the area were watery slush. There were so many people crammed in the small space hurling ice balls at each other. Morgan and Adrian went for a few minutes but it was too overwhelming with ice rockets coming down at random from the sky. So we decided to go pet some reindeer. Unfortunately that set up wasn't much better. They had 2 reindeer in a tiny corral with people squeezed together around the periphery reaching in trying to pet the poor animals. I had imagined a larger corral where they would have let in a few kids at a time to actually get close and pet them but that wasn't the case. Luckily Morgan's long arm allowed her to pet one of the reindeer but Adrian wasn't as fortunate. We didn't stay there long. I was very disappointed after the hype that had been built up but the kids said they had "a little fun". At least it provided a few more photo opportunities.


Morgan pegs Adrian


Adrian retaliates


In front of the big tree


Giddy-up donkey!

Last night the kids and I decided to make pomanders. I made a star on one side of my orange and a crescent moon on the other. Morgan made a smiley face on each side of hers. Adrian put cloves on randomly around his and said that they were all noses.

School Christmas Parties

Wednesday was Adrian's Christmas party at ELP. The kids sang songs for the parents and we did a handprint craft together where we made an angel. Then the kids had a birthday party for Jesus where they had cake and other goodies. The kids presented the parents with a gift which was a handmade frame with a picture of them wearing a Santa hat. The teachers gave the kids a Christmas book and a handmade felt storybook of the Nativity. Then the room moms gave the teachers their gift cards.



Thursday was Morgan's Christmas party at Glen Loch. I was able to bring Adrian and he enjoyed hanging out with Morgan and her friends. The picture below shows Morgan's friend, Marren, between Adrian and Morgan. The students decorated a paper bag with foam stickers to put their goodies in. They decorated sugar cookies and had other snacks to eat. The kids sang songs for the parents. One of Ms. Guyton's former students came by with her parents. Her dad played Christmas songs on the saxophone for the class. It was fun. Ms. Guyton gave the kids presents (a sketch pad and a box of markers). Finally the room moms gave Ms. Guyton her gift card and a HUGE box of crayons for the classroom.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Yesterday morning we went to the Anadarko Children's party at the Anadarko Tower. We had our picture taken with Santa as a family. Then we went upstairs and there were clowns making balloon art, clowns juggling, and face painting. There were also various activities including cookie decorating, ornament making craft, and dressing large, laminated gingerbread people. The pastries and juices were delicious.


Yesterday afternoon we headed down to The Heights to Brian and Erika's Lights in the Heights party. It was great hanging out with everyone. We snacked until it got dark and then wandered the neighborhood looking at lights and listening to bands, bell ringers, etc. and just people watching. My favorite house won the award for "Most Wattage". Their theme was "Griswald Family Christmas 2006".

Power Ranger Rock Star

Today Adrian's class had their "Back to Bethlehem" party at ELP. I went to help out with the various stations including: making a clay Christmas tree ornament, making a wood craft project, decorating a sugar cookie, making a rice baby, and finally dressing up and making a live Nativity scene. Adrian was enthusiastic and participated in everything until dressing up. He didn't want to dress up like a shepherd, sheep, wise man, king, or angel. He wanted to dress up as a Power Ranger. I tried to explain that there weren't Power Rangers at the time Jesus was born but he didn't care. If he couldn't dress up as a Power Ranger, he wasn't going to dress up at all. When he came home at lunch time he ate and then went upstairs to put on his Power Ranger costume he wore for Halloween. He got his guitar and started playing and singing. His favorite song right now is "If You Get Close to Me I'll Get You!" which he says is sung by the band Hallway Walkers. He claims he got it from TV but I'm pretty sure he made up the song and the band.

Busy Saturday

We had a pretty uneventful week but today was one of those days where we had to divide and conquer. Morgan had CCE from 9 to noon, Adrian had to attend a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese from noon to 2, and Morgan and Andy went to see The Nutcracker ballet at the local high school from 2 to 4. On top of all that, I apparently have strep throat. I started getting sick yesterday afternoon and it has been off and on since then with temporary relief from Extra Strength Tylenol. I don't appreciate how nice it is to be healthy until I get sick.