Your Christmas

You have been SO excited for Christmas this year.  I imagine that's how it will be for the next 10 or 15 years.  This year you asked for something specific, a Batman Blaster (something you saw while I was looking on Amazon.com for another item) and stuck with it.  I did my best to remind you of what you wanted and asked Santa for, so we didn't have any last minute changes this year.

We had professional photo's with dad dressed up as Santa, and then again a week later with Stella while her dad dressed up as Santa.

After your school program you guys all sat on Santa's lap, which was on the only time this year.  This particular Santa was a little less than jolly, but you didn't mind him.

We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Colleens house with the Lafeens.  A yummy dinner and time with Grandpa Lafeen, it was a great night for you.  You got your first gift card.  Or, as you put it, "I can buy ANYTHING I want with it?"  For the rest of the night, any time someone opened another gift card, it was an "Anything you want card".   We didn't manage any pictures from that night (oops)

Later that night the Lafeen's came over and spoiled you kids rotten!  You and Kate both got your own tablet's... along with a whole bunch of other toys.  You got quite a few Avenger toys, Batman pj's, some art supplies, batman toys, and a kit to paint and put together wooden race cars.  It was quite a haul.

Our neighbor brought us a GREAT gift the night before, sugar cookies with frosting.  I was planning on making cookies with you guys but completely ran out of time, so these worked great.  I just found some sprinkles for you guys to add to the them.



Santa is a bit more modest and has decided to stick with "Something you want, Something you Need, Something to Wear and Something to Read".  So, between the big guy and mom and dad, we had you covered.

You got your batman blaster (not quite as fun as it looked like it would have been online), some chapter books, socks, underwear, and a new pair of jeans.  You also got a coloring book, some slime that makes farting noises, and a card game.  Kate got you a light sabor (saver) and you also got another lego kit from mom and dad.

We met at Mimi and Papa's for brunch with the Goughs.  It started out with a whole bunch of Lego's.  Each of you got a Lego tray and new lego's to play with.  You also got these amazing hand made monster blankets from Nikki, Ethan and Skyler's mom.  We got a new game from Laila and Nolan and a framed picture from Konner.

We also lucked out and got a few pictures from Shondel.

  

From there we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Hardcastle's to have dinner with the Hardcastles and open presents again.  Great Grandma Hardcastle gave each of you $20 that we'll deposit into your bank account. The only picture I managed was one of Kate.  You got a cool, handmade superhero cape and little bug that vibrates around anything. You got a bunch of clothes and toys from Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen and a few other toys that I can't seem to recall right now.  

We rolled back home around 10 pm, and all three of you kids were still awake.  It was a LONG day!

I can handle it

You love playing outside in the snow these days.  Even the last week, where the snow is pretty much gone and icy, you ask to get dressed up in your super warm clothes and play outside.  You'll stay out there for an hour or more, and Kate usually follows you out there too.

The first really snowy day, I opened the door and said "Whoa, that's a lot of snow".  And your response was, "It's okay, I can handle it."

And, yes, that snowman has a gun on him.  

Christmas Program 2013

We missed your preschool program last year because you came down with pneumonia a few days before.  You were super excited to go and you've been singing a lot of songs (a few with unique lyrics) for a couple weeks now.  You were very entertaining and lively during the songs.

A few videos...


Let it snow from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

A little bit of Elvis from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.
One picture I managed...

And a few from the 'special guest' that arrived afterwards.  He didn't look too excited to be there (or very jolly)

Chuckie Cheese

You had your first friend birthday party this year.  I've been to a few birthday parties with a million kids, and was wanting it to be a bit smaller, which ended up being a good thing, because Kate was sick and it ended up just being me with your two friends.  (Dad stayed home with Kate and Milo).  It was also a lucky thing that Josh's mom and dad ended up staying too.

You took your 'best buddy' Joshua from school and our next door neighbor, Max.  You loved it, and I was pretty impressed with the birthday package and everything.

Happy Birthday, Chuckie Cheese style from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

Rockin' out from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

Birthday Boy

I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but you have got to be the BEST gift receiver I've ever seen.  You're a kid, so there's no doubt on whether or not you like toys (you're getting a little less excited about clothes that don't have superhero's on them).  But, I think one of the reasons that you get so many is that you are so fun to watch.  You LOVE it!  It's always JUST WHAT I WANTED.  And everything is always AWESOME!

We had a friend party this year (post to follow -I'm behind) at Chuckie Cheese with a couple of friends before your birthday.

The morning of, we got you a Batman Cave, which apparently you LOVED!

 We also met up with Grandma and Grandpa Lafeen and April that night.  You got walkie talkies from them and truly couldn't have been more excited.  I'll even forgive you for wanting to go to McDonalds for dinner (where I got food poisoning).

On Sunday we had our regular Sunday dinner with the Hardcastles and we had your birthday dinner there.  You requested a spider-man cake, which luckily I found a pretty easy one to do.

A week later we had a combined birthday party for you and Kate with the Lafeen's and Goughs.  I let Kate pick the cake this time, but she wanted a spider-man cake again!  This time it was dads turn to be sick, and he stayed upstairs the entire day, including the party.

You're one lucky and loved kid!  And, you're SUPER excited to be five years old!!





Just what I wanted from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.

Awesome! from Melanie Lafeen on Vimeo.