It's the most wonderful time of the year!

OMG you guys, 

Cocoa Picnic.

I think I anticipate this day as much as I do Christmas.  Is that totally crazy?- Don't answer that.  

Sometimes we go out of the house.

And sometimes that does not end in disaster.

Here we are enjoying our Nation's Christmas Tree- which I, for the record, think would be much better done by less draping and more wrapping of lights. Just sayin'.

But there were trains! So, Tree? What Tree?

I started a tradition of collecting an ornament, yearly, for each of the kids.  This year I let them pick their own.

I have big plans to keep and box them separately, so that Sofie and Carter can hang their own ornaments on our tree each Christmas.   

Then, when they're fully grown and out on their own- I'm gonna pawn them off as sweet keepsakes, whereby forcing them to manage years worth of their own crap!   

Ha Ha- now, how's that for some passive aggressive mom-shit!

Happy Birthday TWO you...

Sunday was the boy's second birthday party and let me tell you- the kid is a pro!  I have to say that I was shocked (amused?) to find that he totally got the whole birthday thing.  He was psyched for the cake and candles, he got some awesome AWESOME gifts from friends and family and he totally LOVED the attention (shocker, right!?!).  Here's your recap:

He's two so this thing was all about the trains

Ride-on Thomas the Train curtesy of the grandparents

Blue fondant: the only part of the cake worth eating

Not sure what I'm more proud of: Getting the boy to his second birthday or making this cake... probably the boy, but it could go either way!!

Visions of Sugarplums

December Haiku:

A month of the sick

Fa la la la la gingerbread!

a cure for gray days

Santa Train

A good friend let me in on a well kept secret- well, maybe it's not soo well kept, or even a secret at all- but it is the VRE's Santa train.  The Virgina Railway Express runs a holiday train to promote rail safety, collect for Toy's for Tots, and send quivers of joy up and down the spines of little boys everywhere.

It was a wonderful chance to take the kids on their first train ride, and, oh! See SANTA, again! But, thanks to the sick, it ended up as mama-son date day, as the girl rested up from round two of the bug and dad stayed home to bleach the house within an inch of it's life. 

It went a little something like this:

The boy LOVED it! But what's not to love- Trains!  and Santa!  and Mommy time!  WOW!
You can bet we'll be first in line for tickets next year!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

We went to sit on the big guys lap.  It was actually less annoying than I anticipated it would be.  Our local mall had a sweet spread in a Narnia, ice palace kind of theme.  The line for Santa was queued through a snow globe with falling "snow" which kept the kids quite entertained.  See below:

Fun with scooping and dumping

Wonderment and awe

Breakdancing?

 After vigorously attempting to remove the "snow"flakes from every inch of both children's bodies before moving on to the VERY.IMPORTANT.SANTA.PICTURE, I tried to snap a cutesy winter-time-both-babies-in-front-of-the-tree-shot:

This was the best one.  yikes.

And here you have it... the Pièce de résistance :

I know, right?

Bah Hum(Stomach)Bug....

In an effort to thwart any and all holiday related fun-having, we came down with a nasty stomach bug last week.  It started with Carter on Monday and worked it's way through Sophia and Pat- before circling back around to the kids for round two.  Wheeeeee.  That was fun absolutely disgusting!*
Anyway, we managed little more than to squeak out a few advent-ish crafts and read (ad nauseum**) our stash of Christmas books.  But stay tuned, we have some fun outings/activities coming up!

*Dear Santa, I'd like to request an update for my Christmas list to include: a replenished supply of Clorox, an incinerator to "take care of" the "soiled" sheets and towels, and possibly that thing where certain memories can be permanently erased from one's conscious- there are just somethings a lady never needs to see again.  Thanks, C

**Pun totally intended.

The lights are brighly shining

This whole advent thing really does it for me.  (Don't worry- I'm seeking therapy) I just love having a plan, engaging the kids, and sharing these lovely moments of budding tradition.  

The other day we took a few moments to learn about St Nicholas and to tell some really cute stories about the kindness he showed those in need.  I also found this little nugget, which is interesting, if nothing else.  Of course the kids were psyched to leave their shoes out for St Nick, in hopes that he might stop by with a little treat.   He did, of course and both Carter and Sophia were delighted to find an orange (for health) in their sneakers.  So delighted, in fact, that Sophia neglected to check her other shoe and went hours before finding that the jolly old guy also left two coin (for wealth) and a bit of chocolate (for happiness:).  I couldn't get to the camera fast enough, so the blurry chocolate smear on Sophia's chin is our only documentation of St Nick's visit...

We also got our tree up,

 (did you notice our little buddy "Noodle" up there on the tree- that dude rocks!)

and semi-decorated....

I say "Semi" decorated because I have big plans...

...but I also have a sick kid, so we'll see how far I get on that one! 


photo credit: Martha

Of all the trees, most lovely...

For those following along at home, here's your recipe for "cutesy family holiday advent activity one."

Step one: find the most ridiculously adorable family run tree farm in all of the world

Step two: pick up a couple of parka-bundled cherubs and a hunky outdoorsy type

Step three: pick out the fir that makes you want to sing from the rooftops the chorus of Oh Tannenbaum

Step four: set to work your two cherubs and that hunk on your beloved evergreen's trunk

Step five: regret heavily your choice in attire, then enjoy a hot picnic lunch on a brisk December day

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

I'm back at it... the ever-so-sparatic blog posting thing.  And also the advent activity thing (it's  THE HOLIDAYS! AND SO SEASONAL! AND fodder for the blog posting, iiiaight!)

We're planning The Second Annual Demers Family Advent Full of Fun Holiday Activities (that's TSADFAFFHA for short) this year, and once again I plan to bore the pants right off ya share our adventures regularly.  

Here are some of our loosely scheduled, holiday to-do's:

• Take a quick trip to Williamsburg for fun and relaxation 
• Pick out and cut down our own Christmas tree
• Start a St Nick Day tradition
• Sit on the big guys lap
• Make ornaments for our tree
• Take a ride on the Santa train
• Add to our yearly ornament collection
• Have a birthday party for the little man (unrelated but hugely important)
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Make a popcorn and cranberry garland for our deer family
• Make marshmallows for roasting
• Have a Christmas Movie night
• Bake an insane load of cookies
• Throw a cocoa picnic for friends
• Visit the national Christmas tree 
• Have breakfast for dinner
• Take a Jammie and Hot cocoa ride to check out the neighborhood lights
• Read "The Night Before Christmas" by candle light on Christmas eve 

Feel free to play along at home!  I'll keep you posted.... it will be thrilling*

*Thrill subject to state of mind, sanity and sobriety