For Christmas I Want...

A picture of my kids with Santa. This one is not what I had in mind. J is much too mature for such nonsense. He'd rather help me jump around and make faces trying to get the other two to laugh. Or smile. Or at least look interested. We did make the other people in the line smile with our antics. I'm sure it was in a patronizing, can-we-get-this-show-on-the-road way. I didn't get what I wanted; neither did they.

N agreed to do it without hesitation. Later he told me it was because last year he received a coupon from Santa for a free cookie at the mall cookie store and wanted another this year. He didn't want to ante up the funds himself so he chose Plan B, a picture with Santa, as the best option. Now, this is the punk who can't remember a Grammar rule two minutes after I teach it to him, but he can remember an obscure cookie coupon from a nasty, drunk, mall Santa a year ago. ARGH!! I guess I can live with reluctant participation and an ulterior motive.

M screamed. All toddlers scream at Santa. At least that's been my experience of three. Not a very large data sample, but let me tell you they've all screamed. It's okay, Santa is scary. I feel sorry for putting all of them through that trauma. But not sorry enough not to do it. I don't think I could live with myself years from now if I don't have screaming Santa pictures to gush over with their girlfriends.

So here's the final outcome. We're going to try a different approach this weekend. Maybe. If my nerves can take it.

The Lights of the Season

For a couple of evenings this week, we've been riding around enjoying the incredible Christmas displays set up in the area. Some people take a Less-is-More (or in our case a None-is-Best) approach to decorating. However, some go all out...a little crazy...over the top...call it what you wish. I just think they have an amazing gift and quite a talent. I'm sure it takes Herculean effort to set up some of the displays we've seen. Which brings me to my two conclusions. You knew that'd be coming, didn't you?

Conclusion #1: Some people have entirely too much time on their hands around Thanksgiving. They must go out to eat. And race around Christmas Eve buying all their gifts. So they can decorate during the in-between days.

Conclusion #2: I need to find out a way to borrow a few hours of their time. I'd love to have them come entertain my kids so I can deep clean my bathrooms and reorganize my closets. Better yet, I need to have them come deep clean my bathrooms and reorganize my closets while I entertain my kids. Yep, that sounds like the winner. I wonder if they shampoo carpets too.

Enough concluding. I know you really want to see the Christmas displays. Here is one we visited in a nearby neighborhood. Since Ah-boons play such an important role at our home, we refer to this display as the Ah-boon House. It's really a huge display that stretches over the lawns of several houses. I didn't know that many inflatables existed. I still don't believe they do. I think it's the same snowman in different clothes and different poses. Same Santa, too. Okay, okay. I really do believe it's that many. Seeing is believing.








Platforms are constructed to elevate the inflatables in the back. Tiered approach to ah-boon overload. Hmmm, interesting.









Here is the walking path down the driveway.










The backyard has a carnival feel.










Plus the sound of many air pumps. And enough penguins to populate a Pole.


Did you notice the snow globe on the left side? The freakishly large snow globe that I feared would suck me into it's snow world and make me live there where people watch me all the time. It has an identical twin on the right side of the picture too. I should probably see a professional to discuss my fears. But first I need to deeply contemplate what happens to me during the daytime when my snow world is a deflated pile of nylon.

By the way, I finally relented and used a flash. The area was just too dark. I hate it when that happens. I prefer the dark and moody shots with no flash. Unfortunatley the back area of the display was too dark, and I was too moody.











There's that snow globe in the back, taunting me. I think the freakishly large snowman beside it is the snow globe security guard. He's got a broom and he's licensed to use it.
















Time to go. Really, I can't get away from the globes fast enough.




Back to the front of the house. There is a house back there, really. I saw bits and pieces of it.

It's right behind the whole row of snow gl--

Moving right along...









Elmo is always good for a smile. He's not scary at all. Unless he's over 12 feet tall. This one appears to be only about 10 feet. We're good.

















Now polar bears over 12 feet are another story. That's the eave of the house just above Pooh's hand. I'm going to take a sedative now and tell you about another (less traumatic) display tomorrow.

An Update on the Burns

Many have asked about M and his burns. I apologize for not posting updates earlier. I keep forgetting, what with all the other very important things I have going on.


He's doing extremely well. He's healed great and except for one small area, we see no lingering scarring. The exception we're treating with scar cream (when we remember) and hope it goes away eventually. I really don't think he remembers what happened, but he does have a rapid and respectful response when one of us tells him "Hot." At least most of the time. Sometimes, since he's the Babiest, he can't hear anyone correct him. No one should ever tell the Babiest "No" for any reason. Only in his world. In mine, we should have named him No and cut out the unnecessary words that follow or precede No when speaking to him.