Christmas 2010

As it seems every year, we get way too much stuff....  not that the kids are complaining

Jake really wanted these Buzz Lightyear wings.... 

 But then didn't want to try them on. Daddy tried to show him they were OK. 

 Zach kind of liked them too... But I don't think Jake even tried them on all day. 

 Seeing the kids excited about gifts was a lot of fun. 

 And sharing their new toys... 

 What 5 yr old doesn't need one of these...

 Zach had to "help" Jake after he rushed through opening all his things..

 And don't forget something for Mommy too....

Jingle Bell Run

Tonight was my local running group's Jingle Bell run - we run from Fleet Feet to a street known as Candy Cane lane.  Everyone on the street has their house all decked out with lights and lawn decor.  We stop at a house on the street for cookies, hot chocolate and a little socializing then finish up with a loop around the block before heading back.  This is only the 2nd year that I have done this, but both years I have taken the boys with me because they enjoy getting out to see the lights and I think they like the idea of running at night.  I hadn't used the BOB dualie in so long, that I almost couldn't figure out how to unfold it.

There was a great turnout for the run.  Lots of people were dressed festively - colorful socks, Christmas hats and even lights.  A friend gave the boys a few glowsticks, so they were happy to wave them around as we were going.  A few friends had just run CIM, so I got to talk to them a little as we were running over to Candy Cane Lane.   I would have liked to socialize a bit more, but between the crowd, the darkness and the impatient kids, I didn't really get to talk with everyone I wanted too.

After several cookies, Zach was ready to go.  Zach was interested in running fast, or rather me running fast with the stroller.  After our food stop, everyone was starting the loop around the block, I was getting them back into the stroller and Zach was telling me to hurry up.  I told him it was just a fun run, not a race. He says "But you are training for a race, so you need to go fast".  I guess it is good that he knows that you need to train, but I guess we need to show him that you need easy workouts too....

It could be anywhere

As far as the boys are concerned,  there isn't anything so special about Vegas. And really, the purpose of the trip really was to visit my dad, it just happens that he now lives in Vegas.  Once you are outside of the strip, it doesn't seem too different from any other suburban area - just some little casino places with slot machines and video poker are sprinkled around.  What has impressed the boys the most - the fact that they have their own kitchen and bathroom in their part of the hotel room and they get their own big bed to sleep in.

The only thing we have really done on the strip is go to the stratosphere tower.  I do love to go to the top of tall buildings, so this was probably as much for me as for them.  Jake insisted on wearing his spider man suit all day - and well, it is easier to just let him than deal with the tantrum of a 2.5 yr old who wants to wear his superhero costume.  Besides, I figured he would more or less blend in on the strip.  He wasn't prepared for all the attention that he got - whenever someone talked to him he put on his shy face and buried his face on Daddy's shoulder.

Maybe if we go to some other casinos, they will be more impressed with the strip - but I can't say it is somewhere I would recommended going with kids.  I mean the whole "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" slogan doesn't really apply when you have kids (unless  you want to pretend that you had a wild weekend, when really you were in your jammies watching TV at 9pm.....)

Tis the Season

I am ready for the holiday season - well not ready as in have the cards mailed, Chirstmas lights out, cookies baked, tree decorated and presents purchased (let alone wrapped) under the tree.  More that I am ready to start doing all those things.  

Most of the time I keep in touch with people via electronic means, but I still like sending and receiving actual Christmas cards - especially photo ones.  In year's past, I had lots of creative ideas for our Christmas cards.  And before we had kids, our dog(s) had to endure the embarrassment of being dressed up and posed for pictures (ok, maybe I had a little William Wegman envy, but my dogs never quite looked like his).



I switched to using photoshop to put together pictures. My Christmas card often became quite a project - finding or making props, trying to pose my models (if you think a dog is hard to photograph, try a dog and a baby together....)  So each year it was becoming harder to come up with good ideas and it seems every year I have less and less time.  Then I realized that you can get great designs with a lot less hassle from sites like shutterfly.  Cards, and Calendars  so easy to make, all you have to do is figure out what photos to include.  If I actually mailed out Invitations, maybe I would even use their designs.   And well, Shutterfly has a promo for 50 free cards -how can I pass that up?


Now the problem is figuring out the right photos to put in the card.  I should probably start this project before Dec 2 because the chances of getting cards to everyone by Christmas without lots of rushing around is pretty slim (hopefully I won't have to resort to overnight shipping).  Now I realize that I don't have that many pictures from this year.  I guess I will decide after the weekend what to do - maybe I can get some good Holiday theme photos?

Hopefully by this time next week I'll have some things checked off of my list.