Now: A Hometown Christmas

2011 Christmas Card Photo

We spent Jack's second Christmas at home in Rhode Island. While of course I missed being "home" in Michigan, it was really nice not to have to travel during the holiday craziness. We had lots of quality time with Jack's Rhode Island family, with many celebrations. It was nearly as exhausting as travelling, but so much fun! We also had my parents in town for a bit, they arrived on the night of Christmas day and left a few days later. The exciting part? They actually bought a condo while they were in town, so we are  now looking forward to lots more visits from Grandma Carol and Grandpa Carl!

Jack loves his new truck from Auntie Kate!

Christmas Eve

Santa made an early pit stop at Grammy & Grandpa's!

Aww...Grammy kisses are the best.

Our little family

Jack and Michaela share a book.

Coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Santa brought a truck just like Daddy's!

Playing with his new keyboard.

These pots and pans have provided hours of entertainment for Jack. Thank you, Santa!

Train cars for the train set from Grandma and Grandpa.

Dinner with all of the grandparents...how lucky can you get?!

Then: A Very Merry Michigan Christmas

Our first family Christmas photo. I think we look a little shell-shocked.

Oh my gosh, Christmas then…it seems so long ago now! Jack was just shy of 4-months for his first Christmas, which was spent in Michigan. The night before Jack and I left for Detroit, we were able to celebrate Christmas with his Rhode Island family. Sadly, I don't have any photos of him from that night...I think I was preoccupied with making sure that we were prepared for our flight. That following morning, the two of us embarked on Jack’s first flight (Marc joined us on Christmas Eve). It was a challenging day, being the only adult in an airport with an infant. I didn’t bring a stroller since my mom had a couple waiting for us back at her house. I had planned on just carrying Jack around in a sling that day, but of course when we got to the airport, he wanted nothing to do with it. This meant that I didn’t get to do the following all day: eat, drink, pee, relax. We had a layover in Baltimore that kept getting extended. Luckily there was a vacant rocking chair where I could sit with Jack, with enough space on the ground (a rarity during holiday travel) to put a blanket for Jack to stretch out. It wasn’t a horrible day, but it was definitely a challenge.

Taking a siesta on the airport floor, and giving mommy's arms a rest.

Once we arrived in Detroit, though, we had a great visit! Jack got to meet his Uncle Alan, Great-Grandma Lenore, and all of mama’s family for the first time. We had a wonderful trip, and were grateful that Daddy made it safely to us on Christmas Eve morning. We spent Christmas Eve with my extended family, and it was so nice to have everyone in one place. Jack seemed to enjoy Christmas morning, although he really didn't seem to care too much about the presents. That's okay, though, he enjoyed being with his loved ones, and that's what Christmas is really about!

Meeting Great-Grandma for the 1st time!

Meeting Uncle Alan!

My little elf!

Christmas Eve with Great-Grandma and cousin Laurie.

Jack tests out his new car from Santa.

Enjoying his Christmas gifts, back home in RI.

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!

Then & Now: Thanksgiving, Birthdays & Tannenbaums...oh my!

The end of November is always a crazy and fun one for the Rapoza family. We've got not two, not three, but FOUR birthdays in one week, which is also the week of Thanksgiving. Jack gets to celebrate his cousin Kody and his Uncle Kris's birthdays on the 21st, his Grandpa Bob's birthday on the 23rd and his daddy's birthday on the 25th...wow! Happy Birthday to some of my favorite guys, and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Then: The Rapoza Family at Kody's 4th birthday party.

Then: Grammy & Captain Jack

Now: The Rapoza Family at Kody's 5th birthday party (yes, that really is my husband, the penguin).

Now: Grammy and a terrified Jack meet "Happy Feet" (he did warm up to him after a minute or two!).

Then: Slept through the majority of Thanksgiving dinner.

Then: Kody keeps everyone entertained in the kitchen.

Then: Marc and Bob nearly burn the house down with their birthday candles.

Then: Kasey & Jack get some couch time with Grandpa Bob.

Now: Rocked his way through Thanksgiving.

Now: Kody keeps everyone entertained in the kitchen.

Now: The November Four manage to keep the candles under control.

Now: Kasey and Jack entertain themselves on the couch.

Then: Jack snoozes through Christmas tree shopping, snug as a bug!

Then: Daddy consults Jack for the tree selection.

Now: Jack watches in fascination as Daddy cuts down a tree.

Now: Daddy consults Jack for the tree selection while he's actually awake!