Christmas Adam

We have a friend who refers to today as "Christmas Adam" (tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and well.....Adam came first and there was Eve...and....get it?!?) so I decided it was an appropriate title for today's post. The Christmas festivities have begun. My Dad and Vivian came up to exchange gifts and go to lunch today. I was really glad Jason was able to take off work and go with us since he missed their last visit. We had a wonderful lunch and Bryce was a little angel (as always).

Bryce got his first Christmas gifts today. He even helped open them. He wasn't as impressed with the bows as I thought he would be, but I think the tissue tearing session this morning (see previous post) helped him know how to tear the wrapping paper. I promise to get a picture of him opening a gift this Christmas.

Bryce got two books. The Noah's Ark book is interactive and it came with a pouch full of animals that you can velcro to the book pages as you read the story. How fun!

tissues and climbing

Bryce got into the tissue box this morning and had too much fun! He was so amazed that the tissues just kept coming every time he pulled on one. I took the box away after awhile so he wouldn't waste too many. Then he enjoyed shredding the tissues into tiny little pieces. He tried to eat a few, but I convinced him otherwise, ha!

We need some better toys for climbing because the cable box and shelf are not really the safest, you think? We're going to have to put up a baby gate so Bryce can't get into the living room and pull up on the shelf. Once he catches sight of it, there is no stopping him. He is a great climber and he's building some muscles!

Santa Brunch

We went to the Country Club of Virginia today for their annual Santa Brunch. My dad's cousin lives in Richmond and belongs to the club. She invited us to brunch today and we had so much fun! We were excited to get another picture with Santa since our Bass Pro Shop picture wasn't great, but Bryce just doesn't like Santa!

He's saying "Mommy help me!"

He liked Santa's elf MUCH better!

It was fun to get dressed up and go out!

Me, Bryce, and his great-grandmother

My family L.O.V.E.S taking pictures (doesn't every family?). Everyone was swapping pictures today and we came home with this copy of our sweet little family at Thanksgiving.

S.N.O.W

I never get my hopes up when they predict snow because I always get let down and we never miss school. Well I should have known that predictions would be right since this time I'm on Christmas vacation for the next two weeks. At any rate, here is the yard stick on the hood of Jason's truck. Just about 11 inches. W.O.W.

My fourth graders had not seen snow since they were in kindergarten and this year alone, we have had two snow storms! Maybe we are back on a snow trend! I think Bryce's birth brought the snow, ha! If you remember, Bryce was born on a 70 degree day in February and we brought him home in 8 inches of snow in March! And here we are with a significant snow in the SAME year!

Jason built Bryce a mini snowman. I think he likes it!

Checking out the snowman.

Tasting the snow.

Knocking over the snowman.

I realized our white house was not a great backdrop on the white snow, so we moved to the steps to try and get a better picture.

Chase let us borrow a snow suit. Isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen? Who knew they made these things this small!

Macy enjoyed licking the snow we tracked in and Bryce enjoyed feeling how cold it was.

BLT

Let me explain. Every year our school does a fundraiser in the fall. The incentive to get kids to sell is the promise of a pig if a certain percentage of the class sells items. The teachers dread the pig, but the students L.O.V.E. it! The pig is judged in two categories. 1) Creativity of name and outfit 2) Fastest pig. This event is way played out for teachers because we can't think of any more clever names with a play on any form of pig (swine, ham, pork, bacon, etc.). One of my students and his mom came up with "BLT", which I thought was perfect! As you can see, we strapped on bread, lettuce and tomato and the pig was obviously the bacon.

Then I had the grand idea of serving the sandwich as a meal with chips, pickle, and a drink.

Just about every other class in grades 3-5 did some play on swine flu or H1N1. Ours was original and we ended up winning 1st place for the name/outfit competition. My class gets a pizza party! We won't even talk about the actual race, ha!

more christmas fun

Last night my grade level got together for our annual Christmas party. Each year we make a wish list and then draw names. It makes shopping so much easier and you get a gift that you really want. Robin (blue sweater) always hosts the party at her house. She provides the champagne and the main course. The rest of us bring the appetizers, side dishes, drinks, and desserts. We have a wonderful time socializing outside of the school scene, but the conversation inevitably shifts to students at times. We had a great evening!

red balloon

We went to CiCi's last night for a fundraiser for my school. I don't particularly like their food, but Jason does. Bryce enjoyed the entertainment. At first site of a red balloon, Bryce was mesmerized. His Daddy loves him so much that he went and got him his own balloon.

He wouldn't let go of that balloon for anything.

Holding on tight to his balloon.

He got the biggest kick out of knocking himself in the head with the balloon.

Who knew a 9 month old could have so much fun with a balloon!

christmas fun

This holiday season has been full of fun events and it's not even Christmas yet! Last weekend was the Christmas PJ wine party (I finally got a picture so I put it at the end of the post) and this weekend was a cookie exchange AND Santa on the fire truck!

I had to bake 6 dozen cookies for the cookie exchange. I'm not much of a baker so I don't really have any cookie recipes. I searched online for cookie recipes for hours and finally decided on double chocolate chip cookies. They don't look that dark, but they are darker than regular chocolate chip cookies. They turned out delish!

So delish that I won the "Yummy Cookie Award"....YAY

Here are all the cookies I brought home. Lots of yummy cookies!

Every year Santa Claus comes around to the neighborhoods on the fire truck. Do they do this in your town? I always loved it as a kid and still do as an adult. We knew Santa would be coming today between 3-9. Huge window I know, but we were lucky that he came before Bryce's bed time. Bryce and I stood on the front porch and waved to Santa. I was surprised that Bryce was not frightened by the loud sirens blaring as they passed us. Hopefully Bryce will look forward to Santa coming on the fire truck every year!

All the pajama dressed girls at the Christmas party.

Next weekend will be busy and filled with holiday cheer, too. I am helping with the Madrigal Dinners at church on Friday, we are going to celebrate Christmas in Suffolk on Saturday, and we are going to the Country Club of Virginia for the Santa Brunch on Sunday. Lots to look forward to!

happy birthday, great-grandma

Jason's Grandma's 80th birthday is Tuesday. Here we are at her surprise party today!

Bryce's favorite part was the ice cream and balloons!

He enjoyed playing with the ribbons and pulling the balloons down so they would hit him in the head!

We even got to bring some balloons home!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

laundry basket

I was folding laundry in Bryce's room this morning and he thought the laundry basket would be a fun place to play.

It made for a good fort. I tried to drape a blanket over it, but it was too heavy.

It made for a good place to nap, too. Well he didn't actually sleep in it, but I thought he might.