Then: December Days

So last year's December was a lot like this year's December. Visits with Santa, playing in the snow...I prefer to view this as creating traditions instead of being lazy with finding new activities. Actually, all our seasons seem to have a rhythm when it comes to our favorite activities. And I'm totally okay with that, traditions are what makes each season so special, especially Christmas.

Sammy's first encounter with the big guy.

 

This is when Jack asked for tools for himself and a combine for Sam (because obviously all 4-month olds need farm machinery).

 

Slept right through the whole thing...

...but when he woke up, Sam was so excited about his new play mat from Santa!

Apparently, Jack  finds it necessary to shovel our backyard each time it snows.

Sam's first snow! 

Now: December Days

December is such a fun, crazy month, and this year is no exception. Every weekend is full of holiday activities and plans with friends. So it was kinda nice to have to slow down thanks to some (relatively small) snowstorms. We typically visit Santa Claus at the Ashaway Fire Station each year, but this year he was there the day prior to the Westerly Fire Department Christmas party, so in order to avoid fire station Santa overload, we skipped it. That night we had planned on having some company over and then heading out to see the annual fireworks display, but that's been postponed because of inclement weather. So instead, we had a nice family night all cozy in our own home.

The Westerly FD did an amazing job, per usual, with the visit from Santa. He arrived by firetruck as he always does, and took his time with each child and gave each one a special gift and a stocking. Sam, however, was not impressed. I'd like to blame it on the fact that Santa arrived right in the middle of Sam's usual naptime, but I think it's more the fact that Sam really is terrified of strangers. I can't blame him, but poor Santa was so sweet and really tried to get Sam to feel comfortable to no avail. Jack is usually okay with Santa, but this year, he was a little timid. Regardless, the kids had a great time and absolutely love the gifts from Santa Claus. They've been playing with them nonstop since we opened them, and are even playing quietly and sharing incredibly well. A Christmas miracle.

In the midst of all this, Sam has really been coming into his own. At the ripe old age of 15 months, he took his first solo steps at the Westerly Library, of all places. He's not exactly up and running quite yet, but he gets more and more comfortable all the time. He continues to be a remarkable climber, and climbs up and down our stairs way too fast for mama's liking. He hasn't figured out just yet that he could probably climb out of his crib, and I really hope he holds off on that for awhile... (I also hope that I didn't just jinx myself...) Every day is a new adventure for him, and I'm happy that I get to be here to share it with him.

Just moments after taking his first big steps!

What does the fox say?

Guess who loves to feed himself?

Then & Now: Thanksgiving Weekend Traditions

It's become a tradition in our family to find and cut down our Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend. We spend every other Christmas in Michigan, so I think the tradition started when we realized that we wanted as much time as possible with a freshly cut tree in our living room. My Scandinavian grandparents grew up with a different tradition...they'd put up their tree on Christmas Eve, and leave it up for the entire month of January. I'd be fine with leaving the tree up well into the new year, but Marc is more inclined to take every single decoration down before the end of December. So we've created a tradition of our own, and no matter if we're in Michigan or Rhode Island for Christmas, the tree arrives during Thanksgiving weekend. Jack has been old enough to "help" these past two years, and he really loves getting out there with Daddy and a saw and finding the perfect tree.

Then: In search of the perfect tree.

Then: Found it!

Then: Helping Daddy drag it to the car.

Then: Mommy and Sam were there all along, and here's a pic to prove it!

Now: Mommy forgot the camera, but did manage to take this one measly pic on her phone.

A tradition that we began last year is to head to downtown Westerly on the night after Thanksgiving to see Santa's arrival. Each year, he and Mrs. Claus and myriad other characters (a Christmas puppy, Rudolph, The Grinch, Frosty, I think I saw a teddy bear...) come to town on fire engines, with the Clauses leading the way in the town's vintage firetruck. It's a really charming event, and honestly feels like it should be a Hallmark movie set with classic Christmas carols playing against the backdrop of beautiful downtown. Last year Marc's parents joined us, and this year we were fortunate to be able to meet some friends in from out of town at the event, and it was so nice catching up for a bit, even if it was a bit chilly!

Then: The 4 of us waiting for Santa.

Then: Jack and Grammy Judy

Now: The 4 of us waiting for Santa. 

Now: Jack waves to Santa from Daddy's shoulders.

Now: Jack gives his sweet friend a hug goodbye.

Then & Now: Thanksgiving (again)

In an effort to catch up on this blog, I'm going to bring back an old favorite of mine, Then & Now. I did this for Thanksgiving when Jack was a baby and I'm doing it again now that Sam is a baby. Both this year and last, we've spent Thanksgiving here in Rhode Island, very, very close to home at Marc's parents' house. They moved into the house across the street from us just over a year ago and it's been both a blessing and a curse...tee hee! One of the blessings is that we have a very short commute to holiday parties (this holds true for parties at Marc's paternal grandparents' house as well...they live in the OTHER house across the street!) Last year we had a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in their lovely, albeit small, home. But this year, with a larger group attending dinner and with a brand-new garage up for grabs, we all pitched in and made a Pinterest-worthy celebration in the new garage. It may have been unconventional, but it was cozy and lovely and lots of fun!

Then: Jack & Sam at Sammy's 1st Thanksgiving

Then: Can you guess which member of the Wolf Pack isn't impressed with Thanksgiving?

Then: Typical 

Then: The ladies love Baby Sam

Now: Who doesn't have a fireplace and flat screen TV in their garage?

Now: The ladies still love Sam.

Now: Sam finally sees that Thanksgiving isn't so bad.

Now: Typical

Halloween '13

Now that we are wrapping up Thanksgiving weekend and transitioning into the Christmas season, I thought there could be no better time to finally write that Halloween post. Without further ado, I present HALLOWEEN 13.

Jack received the most adorable rain gear set from his Grammy Judy, for his 3rd birthday. So back in early September, I may have possibly suggested to him that it would make the perfect Halloween costume. Shockingly, he agreed, and not once did he change his mind about being a firefighter for Halloween. All we needed to do was get a helmet and he was all set. Jack received a super cute camping set for his birthday from Grammy Carol and Grandpa Carl, so he used the axe from that set to complete his costume. And since Marc is the king of accessories, he also had a working walkie talkie to call the station and a "hose" made out of a repurposed pipe from a pirate ship (obviously). The end result was super cute, and Jack had a great time, but made sure to remind us that he isn't a "real firefighter, I'm a kid."

Since Sam is still too young to decide on his own Halloween costume, I chose the perfect sidekick costume for him...a dalmatian puppy. No firefighter is complete without his trusty companion, and Sam has earned the title of "puppy dog" around our house for his constant chewing on shoes, as well as the fact that he's been known to bite a time or two. Typing that out makes it sound awful, but I promise it's an endearing and respected title in our home!

Because no Halloween is complete without a jack-o-lantern (or as Jack would say, "lantren"), the boys and I went pumpkin picking at our go-to Manfredi Farms on October 30. No time like the last minute. Jack helped his daddy draw the face on the pumpkin this year, and they did a great job.

Drawing a face with daddy

Sam was mesmerized by the jack o'lantern's glow.

After realizing on Nov 1 that I'd forgotten to get a photo of my favorite part of Sam's costume - the tail - I may have put him in it again to get another photo. He may have yanked off the hat repeatedly.

And a bonus pic because this one always makes me smile! :)