Someone saw Santa last night....A 2nd attempt. We went the first time and the line was a mile long, Mom was cranky and the kids were in clothes came straight from daycare. Roman with a hole in his pants. "Roman!"

When we went the next time Roman refused to go, but Zoe talked me into sitting in on a picture. Note the hole in the knee. "Mom!"

Waiting in line was well worth getting this shot though. 

After I told Santa I wanted a pouting shot he commented "Oh, I like those".

Roman should have come with!

I see this picture and I realize how much I’m going to miss my Wednesday’s off with them. We went to the indoor playground a few months back. You too are too big for the little kid area but still unsure about this massive indoor structure. Zoe got herself stuck way up top last year and I had to rescue her, so she’s not so sure about navigating up the tubes and steps and ropes, even with her brother. Which is another thing. You guys have your sibling fighting moments, but you’re actually really close. Which is nice. I hope you maintain a lifelong friendship.

We know who likes to rule the roost.

But you do play nice and take turns.

Sharing is good.

This is what happens when I get tired and fall asleep.

I had no recollection of this.

I remember this.

Blinking noses.

Marble!

(no blinking nose)

Oh Marble, I remember when you were (almost) the size of a marble.

Waaaaah (cry, cry).

He’s like a dog, as soon as he sees you are there he starts begging for food.

Kind of like this, only with arms flayling. That might merit an animated gif (so retro right now!)

Food? Maybe that’s what we should have named the feeder fish. The kids have given names to some of them. We’ve moved on from naming everything Roman and Zoe, but names still take on characteristics of things in the area. Tablet = the variety made of paper. Pearl. Not sure if that’s a necklace or an homage to a character in Finding Nemo…And some others. So far Marble eats a portion of what is given him and keeps others as friends. Or that’s the story I’m spinning today.

Plane time (1)

Un-disturbed amounts of time to do whatever I want? How about a little picture review and written documentation? Ok. Problem is, this is going to be reliant on my memory of what I’ve already posted since as I write I have no internet access. No FREE internet access.(I wonder how that is going to change by the time you read this. I got a ‘smartphone’ a year ago and it’s already changed how I behave or at least interact with the internet. I can’t even imagine what it’s going to look like in 10 years. Onward we go.)

Christmas. Am I that far behind? Yes.

Grandma Candy got you each your very own tree. Blue. And pink. And you decorated it all on your own. Spiderman glove? Sure. Makes sense to me. So randomly pretty.

See the plastic jack-o-lantern? It’s a bit obstructed by Zoe, but you must surmise that time is an objective thing in our house. In fact, as I write this (Feb 11) there’s still a wreath (fluffy and feathery) hanging up on the wall. I missed it when the rest of the Christmas stuff went back and did the “Ah, there’s the ONE thing that I missed” and left it at that. Maybe by Easter it’ll be back in its box. Priorities people.  Energy dispersed in the most important spots.

Also see: turtle (“just a couple of weeks"….scratch that. ..months…)

Grandma Candy with her favorite grand kids. And the snowflake ornaments she got for their tree.

And the Charlie Brown tree she gave us. Along with two wooden trains given to the kids by Gary, a fellow I worked with for 10 years. A short time later they made these fire trucks at preschool (or Shawn’s house) and I thought “how perfect!” Instant art exhibit.

Dinosaur Traaaaain! Roman likes dinosaurs. He even watched Jurassic Park with his dad, which resulted in the “let’s not rush them into bigger kid movies…" discussion. I want them to still like Winnie the Pooh because that’s how old they are!. Although I just watched Peewee’s Big Adventure with them yesterday (couldn’t wait…and they loved it).

Zoe complied.

I asked them to do the "happy elf" (I think discussed here before - they got this look off the cover of a movie on Netflix).

More Christmas

out of season, i know

The photographer had to play down the "cheese" factor.  The first few times she said to smile Roman made is closed eye "cheese!" face.

better.

and there was time to confer with Santa.

"princesses"

"cars"

And the carousel was back in Maplewood Mall. Zoe decided she was ready to actually sit on a horse.

Big girl.

Roman, he sat with dad in a carriage. 

We need a little christmas

Kermit, our living room.

As we decorate, bake cookies or just tool around town, I always put on the Christmas radio station. You have your favorites. Last week you heard "We Need a Little Christmas" and informed me that the Muppets sing this song. Apparently Dad's had the Muppet Family Christmas on for you. Last night I finally heard it too. And when I see that special I realize that this is one I watched with your uncle Andy when he was little - probably about you age.  And we can't wait until the new movie comes out on dvd/blu ray! Odd as it is, it's more affordable to wait for it to buy AND it's a lot easier to watch it at home with you. Wander all you like.

What did she say?

Your Dad thought "why not start the decorating with some toys we've got sitting around the house?"  

Not a bad idea.

When Daddy  placed Jesse carefully on the tree, balanced nicely on a branch she said

"Sweet mother of Abraham Lincoln!"

No kidding. 

Merry Christmas from our neighbors to the north

Or maybe just to our east, in a trainyard in NE Mpls.

We were going to go last year, but there was a blizzard. 

This year I saw an article in the Strib about a stop in Cottage Grove. I thought I'd check to see if there were other stops. Yeppers. Imagine out luck: just 10 minutes or so away from home.

We got there just in time for the music.  

A stage folded down from one of the train cars and out came a band. Awesome. 

Run, Rudolph, Run!

 (Roman: I like that song!)

We thought we'd check out the lights just past the stage, so we missed most of the show. 

That was okay.

Although no one was really in top form. A little tired, methinks.

But it was cool.

And it helps it wasn't a huge effort to go. This makes for less expectation. There's got to be an equation there. Distance traveled is proportionate to how much it should "wow" you.

Apparently this wowed your Dad.

Time to decorate the tree!

And boy oh boy was this exciting. "What's this?" Well actually this time around there wasn't a lot of "what's this" but more "I have a little Santa". You're getting pretty adept with your language skills. 

I was rather impressed at your decorating abilities as well. You got those ornaments up there good.

We had some elves. I think there's now a book out about the elf on a shelf, but I got these 10 years ago or so at a store who's name I can't remember on Grand Ave. I have this memory of these at my house when I was really little. So when I saw them at Restoration Hardware (there it is!), I bought a couple. 

You just have to have some nostalgic pieces.

Like these skates. I probably made them. We used to make ornaments (and maybe you will too!)

And this snowman. 1981. That's 3o years ago (oh my!)

And the new. Princess Zoe.

And Conductor Roman.

Gotta have George. I think I got this before I even met your dad.

And there's just something about two toddlers decorating a tree. 

Those ornaments just tend to bunch themselves at the bottom third or so. 

Awesome.