Christmas at Winding Way

Christmas came a week early for us this year. We headed up to Jim's folks' house to celebrate the holiday this Saturday. Jason was out from Ohio again. So great to see him! Check out Ollie's fascination with his uncle...

Trenton had requested only two things for Christmas this year. One of them was this fish game. He had played it a few times at the toy store and saw an ad for it in a Target circular. It was on his mind the entire time as he opened gifts... and he was over the moon when he got to it! Check out the video of all the boys playing...

Our big gift this year was I-pod Shuffles. So cool! We were also psyched to see that they were engraved with our names on 'em. I really need to find some time to check it out, add music and podcasts, etc... before class starts up in January.

Smile, cutie pie!

Dude, we totally thought that Ollie was flashing a gang sign in this pic.

Munchkins!

Curious George Visits the Environmental Center

Say Cheese!
Kevin and Trenton show off at the Manasquan Environmental Center.

This is one of our favorite places to hang out in the cold winter months.
Trenton has been requesting that we tell him stories lately. Made-up stories. So Jim and I have been getting creative. For the past few months, one of his favorites has been "Curious George Visits the Environmental Center"... I made that one up. CG goes to the environmental center, checks out the stuff, gets "a little too curious", and ends up getting into trouble. He absolutely loves it. And God forbid you leave any part of it out... Ha!

Ollie even got in on the fun. Watch out for that eagle!

What a Week

You may have noticed that the last few posts have been a bit... off... It has been a rough past few days! Between Ollie being sick, the Christmas events, and then me getting sick, I've not had much time to get on the computer. On Saturday, I started having flu-like symptoms and it turns out that I have mastitis. TMI warning: mastitis is an infection a breastfeeding mom can get when milk ducts don't drain properly. Luckily, I got on medicine by Sunday afternoon. But I'm concerned about my milk supply taking a hit and about it coming back... Now both Oliver and I are on antibiotics, too. So we're laying low a bit this week.
I have an interview tomorrow with the principal of the school I'll be working in next semester. I have to implement a one-week social studies lesson as part of my multicultural literature and literacy class. I was a little thrown off when I received a phone call yesterday asking me to come in and interview... I thought it was a random job offer! Maybe someday... it seems like a nice 4-6 grade school ;) Jim is going to watch both boys tomorrow morning so that I can go. Time to hit the sack!

Nativity Christmas Pagent

Christmas Pagent time!
This year, they needed some animals to be part of the manger scene. Seeing as we had a cow outfit handy from Halloween, we decided to use that. I wasn't sure how well he would do, so I dressed up as a shepherd just in case I had to go up there...

Both sets of grandparents came again this year. Last year, when T was a little shepherd, they all came to cheer him on, too. Although he was scared to walk up, once he saw Grandpack and PopPop, he was all smiles-- waving at the cameras and acting a little goofy.

Santa on the Train

Holy cow! Take a look at that train!
We got smart, and bought tickets early this year. Last year when we tried to go, they were all sold out. We did go two years ago with the Bluesteens and had a blast. The train is located at Allaire State Park and Santa visits on the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas each year.

We kept Oliver warm. Poor kid was at the doctor's twice last week. I'd been smelling something funky in his ear for awhile now... turns out it was an ear infection. We are treating it with antibiotics and drops. He also has this funky congestion during the night... for that, he has a Nebulizer treatment as well as a humidifier. Hopefully he'll be well by his baptism next weekend!

Trenton was very excited to see Santa but did not want to hold him at all. It was just as well; we were on a packed train.

Gingerbread Bears

We went a little crazy last night... it was the first night this week that Jim was home early, and I really wanted T to bake these cookies with him. Also, Frosty was on TV at 8PM. So we decided to bake cookies, take a bath, put on PJs, decorate cookies, then watch Frosty. That got him in bed at 8:30. He's been waking up though, around 9:30 to tell us he has to use the bathroom (he does)... but he slept until seven today!

I realized (again) that I don't own a rolling pin! No problem-- we used a sturdy plastic cup. Trenton helped me mix the gingerbread mix, honey, water, and butter. We used this Crayola brand cookie making kit that I got at Target. Too cool! He totally got a kick out of using the cookie cutter like we were playing with Play Doh.

The kit had frosting as well as edible paint. Trenton and Daddy painted the bears after they had cooled off. It took everything in his power not to eat all eight bears (he had two, and a snake ;)

Not sure if we'll make a gingerbread house again, like last year. I couldn't find the one I wanted at the store... maybe the bears will be a good substitute?