Preparing for Santa

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying all the festivities of the season. We are in full Christmas swing at our house. It is all Wim and I can do just to keep up with Gabrielle, Xavier, and Josie Dong Dong.

"Santa is going to bring me presents."

Last weekend was very busy for us. In addition to me working on Saturday (you just have to love federal audits being done at Christmas-time), we had lots of fun activities planned for the family to enjoy.

In between working on Saturday, Wim brought Josie to me and then we headed-off to Santa's Workshop party at our YMCA. Josie still was not interested in close and personal with Santa Claus or even Mrs. Santa Clause-- she wasn't even all that enthused about Mommy taking a few pictures of her with some cuddly Christmas Bears.

"I don't like these bears!"

Once we moved away from the obvious Kodak moment shots, Josie became much more curious about all the fun crafts that were all around her.

"I have a bunch of crayons and there is lots to color!"

"I get to decorate my own pine cone with glitter."

After some serious coloring, Josie moved on to making her very own sparkly pine cone ornament for our tree.











Josie and I also made some candy cane ornaments using fuzzy pipe cleaners and beads,

By the time we finished making candy cane ornaments AND Josie had munched down TWO real candy cane candies, she was in full swing and rearing to go!

"Christmas means candy and candy means YUMMY in my TUMMY!"

The next big fun craft was making a frosty, candy coated house. I think I managed to get Josie to place about a 1/4 of the candy on her house-- can you guess where the other 3/4 of the candy went?

After we finished hitting all the craft stations, we went into the story room to listen to the Polar Express. This proved to be much more complicated than most might expect. I think the majority of the kids at this reading were in the 2-3 year age range.

The first obstacle arouse when one little girl began exclaiming, "I want my Cheerios" over and over again. Her parents were frantically trying to find them.

Then several other little kids chimed in.

Then a couple kids decided to walk around the nice lady reading the story.

Then little Josie Dong Dong went up front, stood next to the lady reading, squatted, grabbed her
crotch, and gave me the 'potty' look.

Which brings us to the highlight of Santa's Christmas Workshop. . . . . .

"This is the best water table ever!!!!"

Later Saturday-night we all headed northward to enjoy a Winter Wonderland.

The kids were very excited about the abominable sized snowman.


Gabrielle and Xavier enjoyed some popcorn and took some time for Wim to take a picture of them in a festive holiday setting.

Meanwhile, Josie and I took a spin on the carousel. It was a very fast carousel. I had Josie snug tight with the seat belt and was wishing I had one on as well!


Josie was tired of waiting for people to load on the carousel and was getting fussy. Once we got going she loved it and wanted to go on it again-- but it was a bit too much of a free for all for me, so we called it good with one ride.

We also managed to fit in getting our Christmas Tree this weekend. Yes, I told you it was a packed weekend! Getting the tree was fun, but Xavier had pretty much had it with so much Christmas Cheer.

Wim Set-up the tree . . .

Gabrielle showed Josie how to water the tree and Josie re-paid her with some warm sisterly love.

On Sunday, we all decorated the tree.

Josie Dong Dong really worked up an appetite decorating the tree. Her appetite was well served with a yummy chocolate turtle and a chocolate covered jelly treat at snack time.

No time for comments on these pictures, too busy eating chocolate.

Then we were back to our usual weekly routine.

A tired Josie waking up in the morning.















A surprise shot of Gabrielle bringing Josie in for breakfast.

Josie Dong Dong calling Mommy at work today, during the snowstorm, to ask her when she is coming home to bake cookies.

Fa La La la--- Uhhh, WHO is THAT?!

Hi Everyone,

It is the first weekend of December and we are officially kicking-off the Christmas Season! Our events began early Saturday Morning eating breakfast with Santa.

While we were eating breakfast, Josie was very interested in the big guy dressed in the red suit.

"Who is that guy sitting over there?"

"Here Daddy! This is a really good bite!"

After eating our breakfast, we made our way to the cookie decorating station where Josie and I decorated some yummy cookies for each of us to try.

"Wow there sure are a lot of cookies and sprinkles!"

Josie was quite happy with the finished product of her labor-- what a delectable sight!


After all the hard work decorating the cookies it was time to eat them!

It was hugs and kisses abound with cookie filled tummies!

We next made our way over the Santa station. In this first picture I am pointing out Santa to Josie and asking her if she wants to say 'hi' to Santa.

"Yes, Mommy. I want to say 'hi' to Santa."

Here we are walking toward Santa. Josie was happy and smiling.

As soon as I started walking up the little stairs to Santa's lap, Josie's smile began to fade away, replaced by tears. Santa tried to calm Josie by showing her his Santa Bear.


Josie didn't give a 'stinky pie' less about the Santa Bear.

Here I am singing Santa Clause is coming to Town while Josie cries and points in the opposite direction of Santa.

"I want to go over there!"

Thus marks the end of Josie Dong Dong's Santa adventure for Christmas 2008. I once worked as a Santa's Helper and I have no desire to try and coax Josie into sitting on some strange man's lap for a picture, albeit Santa's lap. For any David Sedaris fans, I have some of my own Santa Land Diary entries if you are interested. My experience was at the Cape Cod mall, a far cry from Macy's in New York, but some crazy stories none-the-less.

Santa took Josie's rejection in stride and still instructed his helper to giver her a special candy cane. Thanks a lot Santa! We'll try again next year.

With our tummy's full of Christmas Cheer, we set out for a morning full of shopping. Before we knew it, Josie Dong Dong was ready for her lunch and a good nap so Josie and I headed home.

After her nap, we were on the go yet again to find more Christmas treasures. Josie was fresh and ready to go, sporting her Elmo hat and munching on some crisp Christmas Green Beans for a snack-- We have it on very good authority that Green Beans are a favorite snack of Santa's reindeer.


After a full afternoon of shopping, we were headed home. Josie really took the day in stride. She sat in her stroller for a little while and then wanted to walk around. She was very good about holding onto either my or Wim's hand and she got a big kick out of seeing so many people and all the Christmas lights in the stores.

On our way home after dinner out, Josie was finally able to break into the candy cane that Santa gave her.


"Mmmm, this is an interesting looking thing to eat."

"Whoa Yea! That is some sugary plum goodness!"

The next morning we all woke up to a really special treat--

SNOW!

This is Josie's first snow and I was very excited to take her out and run around in it. As with most new things, Josie likes to take it a little slow before she really gets into the groove.

"I don't want to walk in this stuff-- it's squishy!"

With a little bit of coaxing and removing her hood, Josie loosened-up a little bit and decided she wanted to check out this 'snow' stuff a bit more.

"Mommy is singing "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas."

"This stuff is kind of fun to walk around in-- it squishes under my feet."

"Mommy helped me make a baby snowman!"

"He has eyes and a mouth."

Of course, you can't enjoy a first snow and build a snowman without completing the fun with some hot chocolate-- another first for Josie Dong Dong.

What a hit this was--

"MMMmmm, marshmallows . . .

. . . a grown-up mug and EVERYTHING!"

Best Wishes to all for a happy start to the Christmas season filled with lots of sticky goodness.

Quick Video Fix

Hi Everyone,

Time is tight these days, for all of you too I am sure.

Here is a short video of Josie Dong Dong and Gabrielle, after party with some left over birthday balloons.

Josie's First ThanksGiving!

Hi Folks,

I had hoped to post this sooner, but unfortunately I have a case of pneumoniaitis (sp). It isn't as severe as pneumonia, but it really bites to say the least. I am on antibiotics and cough syrup with codeine that really knocks me out, so I think I am finally on the mend. At least I don't feel as run down as I did.

Regardless, we all had a nice Thanksgiving Holiday with Josie's friend Angeline and her mommy and Daddy, Kathi and Robert.

"Happy Thanksgiving!"

"When is Angeline and her Mommy and Daddy gonna get here?"

Here is a picture of the face Josie makes when we tell her she has to do something she doesn't want to do (like share), or we tell her she can't do something that she wants to do.

"What is with this 'share' thing I keep hearing?"

Angeline took a break from Josie's toys to chat it up with Gabrielle and Xavier.



It didn't take long for Josie to figure out that it is more fun to share with her friend so they could have even bigger baby fun together than they can playing alone.

"I have lots of toys over here Angeline, come play."

We had an early turkey dinner, more like a really big lunch. Both Josie and Angeline have similar nap times, so we decided to do our dinner before naps and have the rest of the afternoon to relax. It was a nice and relaxing meal.

After eating, the kids ran off to play some more, which allowed the adults some time to chat.

Gabrielle was very happy to entertain the girls. They spend some fun time playing train. Of course, Josie Dong Dong is in the middle of the whole thing.

The girls choo-chooed their way from the living room to the den and were playing silly in there. Gabrielle did a good job of keeping an eye on them.

"I'm in charge of Wiley bunch!"

As the old adage goes, if you can't beat'm, join'm.

It was soon time for naps and our guests said good-bye.

Later in the day, Josie had fun with her big bro and sis getting tossed all around.
Phoebe was feeling a little left out of all the festivities.



So Xavier and Gabrielle gave her a photo shoot to show how much they care.

We hope that all our family and friends also had a Happy Thanksgiving. We are all very thankful for the love that we share.

Reena