Turtle Cookies & Firehouse Santa

One of my favorite childhood memories is baking Christmas cookies with my mom and my brother. I'd been wanting to carry on that tradition with Jack, and Marc was pestering me to bake some cookies, so I bit the bullet and did it. Holy cow, it was so much more difficult than my mom made it seem! The dough didn't cooperate, the cookie cutter shapes did not look like they should and the frosting that I made from scratch was totally gross. After much perseverance (and a can of store-bought frosting), we finally had cookies to decorate. I am pleased to say that Jack really seemed to enjoy the cookie decorating, so it was well worth it. And I can say with certainty that Jack LOVES eating the cookies...the star-shaped cookies turned out a little lumpy, and Jack thinks that they are turtles. Every morning when he wakes up, he starts yelling TURTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE!! We're totally screwed once these cookies run out. Maybe someday I'll be like my Grandma, and bake a million varieties of homemade Christmas cookies for the little ones, but for now, I'm retiring the apron until 2012.

Mommy holds Jack, who holds a "turtle".

Frosting the cookies.

Frosting himself!

Cookie baking wasn't the only thing keeping us busy last week. In addition to a few holiday parties, Jack got to meet Santa Claus AGAIN, this time at the Westerly Fire Station. Marc's "Nanutz" has been a member of the Westerly Fire Department for fifty years, and he invited his three great-grandsons to this charming event. Family members of the volunteer firefighters went to the fire station where they waited for Santa to arrive by fire engine. He then called them up by name and gave each child a special gift, as well as a stocking full of treats. Jack was much more comfortable with this Santa, who looked like he just stepped off his sleigh from the North Pole! Thank you, Nutz, for the lovely day!

Nutz, Kasey, Marc & Jack check out the 1950s fire engine.

Playing with their new toys from Santa!

How did Santa know just what to bring this little guy??

Then & Now: Santa Claus Comes to Town!

Growing up, I never would have imagined myself in a small town. But as with most things in life, that’s not how things turned out. It’s okay, though, I think it’s a good thing that I never ended up married to Michael Jackson. It’s also a good thing that I now reside in a small town (village, actually…we’re too little to be a town).  We have great neighbors, family nearby and a ton of really cool (and free!) events for families. Each December, the village really steps it up. One Saturday in December, the entire day is devoted to Christmas celebrations, beginning with breakfast with Santa at the Fire Station.

Then: Relaxing at the Fire Station with Sophie

Then: A Super Jolly Santa and an Equally Jolly Baby!

Then: His Shirt Said it All: Bah Humbug.

Jack has attended this breakfast with his cousins each year, with mixed reactions to Santa each time. Last year, he was just 3 ½ months old, and while he wasn’t necessarily crazy about Santa, he didn’t fear him either. His cousin Kasey didn’t like him, though, so Kody had to tell Santa what each of the boys wanted for Christmas: a 4-wheeler for Kody, balloons for Kasey and a car for Jack. They must have been really good boys, because they all got what they wanted! This year, Jack was more apprehensive toward Santa, and didn’t sit on his lap. Kasey wasn’t crazy about him once again, although he did muster up the courage to ask him for a candy cane. Only time will tell if the boys were good again this year!

Now: The Future Generation of Ashaway Firefighters.

Now: Making Sure Santa Knows What to Bring!

Now: Awkward Family Photo, Anyone?

After breakfast with Santa, the activities continue with cookie decorating at the community house, which is located in a beautifully maintained old home in town. There is also a home tour, where several of the gorgeous historic homes in the village allow the public in for a small donation to the local food pantry. We missed out on that part this year (but for a good reason: a tea party at Jack’s great-aunt Patti’s!), but did make it home in time for the luminaria and fireworks! It was a gorgeous night, and Marc’s entire family met at our house to walk to the field to see the show. It was simply lovely…walking through the luminaria-lit village to view fireworks set against a full moon on a clear night. Heavenly.

Fireworks in December? Set Against a Full Moon? Yes, Please!