On the 10th day of December, we have a reservation to go to the North Pole to see Santa. It was this seasonal thing at an outdoors mall in Yonkers that we'd heard about and decided to give it a try. We like to do some sort of family Christmas thing each year, and have done the Rockettes and other various things in previous years. This sounded OK so we piled into the car on a cold and blustery December afternoon to go.
In the car the kids asked questions. What is it? What will it be like? Where are we going? Etc. We only had a vague sense ourselves so we gave vague answers. But it will be fun, we said. Hopefully.
We parked in a parking garage and walked over to where it was. The kids saw a LegoLand sign which I think they were more excited about. But we got the Christmas village, waited in line, went inside. Emily and I noticed how small the whole structure was and said to each other, well, this could be quick.
But it ended up being great. Most notably, it included a 3-D, Disney-type ride where we felt like we were on a magical sleigh traveling at high speeds through the sky on our way to the North Pole. Escorted by Shrek and Donkey, no less! So that was cool, fun for the kids and a reminder for us of our great Disneyworld trip at the beginning of the year.
Once there (it's possible we didn't actually travel to the North Pole, but it seemed like it!), we got to go in as a family to see Santa. He was sitting on a comfortable couch in a room packed with letters from kids and toys and books and things. He had kindly eyes and a great beard, and though I can't be sure it really might have been Santa. The kids sat down on either side of him, Kate on his lap and Jack next to him. Jack, maybe, didn't think it was really Santa, but was polite and respectful. When Santa asked what he wanted, he said an XBox, whew! Kate was shy, when Santa asked her what she wanted, she drew a blank, just sort of smiled in a daze. She believed. Santa said her present would be a surprise, which works well for us.
They smiled nicely for pictures, I shook Santa's hand and wished him a Merry Christmas, and we were whisked back to Yonkers. (After buying the pictures in the gift shop, naturally, that's how they get you!) Happy and full of good cheer, we had a nice dinner at a burger/comfort food place. Kate and I played Tic Tac Toe and did a crossword. We all filled up on food and drink. And then happily skipped over to LegoLand to spend too much not enough just the right amount of money.
We drove home, listening to Christmas music. Heard a James Taylor song, about which Kate asked, "Why is he singing like he's dying?" We laughed much of the way home, and went to bed with visions of sugar plums and Lego Santas in our heads. Nice night.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Fifth Day of December
On the fifth day of December, I had volunteered to chaperone Kate's class trip to see The Grinch in New York City. I did the same with Jack's class two years ago.
Kate was very excited about both the trip and me being a chaperone. The night before she wrote me a note. "I can't wait to see the Grinch tomorrow!" She wrote. "With you!"
I showed up at school and collected Kate and her three little friends. She was all smiles and held my hand. "Can I sit next to you on the bus?" she asked. I said, well, we'll see, we'll all be close to each other. On the way down, she and her friends ended up sitting in the row right in front of me. They chattered away and occasionally she leaned around the edge of the seat to look back at me, but was fine.
We arrived, and clambered out of the bus to stand on the sidewalk. It was mildly nerve-wracking, so many people and little kids milling about. I did head counts over and over -- 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all -- to make sure we had them.
We headed inside and all sat in our row. Kate wanted to be next to me; I made sure I was. We pulled out our peanut butter sandwiches (yum!) and ate lunch. It was only 10:30, but it felt later and everyone was hungry. One girl said she had to go to the bathroom, the others didn't, so I took her. Got back 10 minutes later, the other three had to go. Of course. We trundled off again. 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all.
During the show, I was a little bit sympathetic to The Grinch. I mean, those Whos were kind of loud. Kate got a little scared at the scene of the Grinch riding his sleigh, because the lights were lowered and the music was roaring and the wind and fake snow were whipping around. Kind of cool! But Kate was nervous so I hugged her and reminded her of the cartoon version where the dog was riding the sleigh and stuff. She cheered up.
Kids and adults alike sang along to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." We all made it back to the bus, and this time Kate grabbed a seat and saved me a spot next to her. Tallest person on the bus, me, ended up sitting over the wheel. Sigh. But it was OK, and we talked about the show all the way home.
As we got off the bus, she hugged me and held my hand as we said goodbye. Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp.
Kate was very excited about both the trip and me being a chaperone. The night before she wrote me a note. "I can't wait to see the Grinch tomorrow!" She wrote. "With you!"
I showed up at school and collected Kate and her three little friends. She was all smiles and held my hand. "Can I sit next to you on the bus?" she asked. I said, well, we'll see, we'll all be close to each other. On the way down, she and her friends ended up sitting in the row right in front of me. They chattered away and occasionally she leaned around the edge of the seat to look back at me, but was fine.
We arrived, and clambered out of the bus to stand on the sidewalk. It was mildly nerve-wracking, so many people and little kids milling about. I did head counts over and over -- 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all -- to make sure we had them.
We headed inside and all sat in our row. Kate wanted to be next to me; I made sure I was. We pulled out our peanut butter sandwiches (yum!) and ate lunch. It was only 10:30, but it felt later and everyone was hungry. One girl said she had to go to the bathroom, the others didn't, so I took her. Got back 10 minutes later, the other three had to go. Of course. We trundled off again. 1, 2, 3, 4, yup, got 'em all.
During the show, I was a little bit sympathetic to The Grinch. I mean, those Whos were kind of loud. Kate got a little scared at the scene of the Grinch riding his sleigh, because the lights were lowered and the music was roaring and the wind and fake snow were whipping around. Kind of cool! But Kate was nervous so I hugged her and reminded her of the cartoon version where the dog was riding the sleigh and stuff. She cheered up.
Kids and adults alike sang along to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." We all made it back to the bus, and this time Kate grabbed a seat and saved me a spot next to her. Tallest person on the bus, me, ended up sitting over the wheel. Sigh. But it was OK, and we talked about the show all the way home.
As we got off the bus, she hugged me and held my hand as we said goodbye. Christmas Day is in our grasp, as long as we have hands to clasp.
Friday, December 05, 2014
Fourth day of December
On the fourth day of December, Kate had gymnastics in the afternoon. I brought Jack with me; he hasn't had to go much lately because Kate has a friend in the class whose older brother is friends with Jack, so we trade off hosting playdates and giving the kids rides. That friend was away, so Jack came, not too thrilled about it. Yes, he conveniently overlooks how many of his baseball games and swim meets Kate has had to go to.
Anyway. We dropped Kate off and I had brought along the Nerf football so we could throw it around a nearby park together. The park also had a baseball field which Jack refers to as Magic Field, because he's had a couple of the best games of his young career (it sounds weird to say that) at that field.
So we got there with the Nerf football, but there was a basketball court. And a few basketballs left behind. No one was there, we had the place to ourselves. We played Around the World and Horse and Jack beat me when I said I had to make all my shots as hook shots. I can't make hook shots. He showed me different dribbles he had learned in an afterschool basketballs skills class/program he'd done. We tried half court shots, talked about possible versus impossible shots, passed the ball back and forth. One of us might even have made a hook shot.
After a while, cold but refreshed and happy, we picked up the football from the side of the court, got back in the car, went to collect Kate at gymnastics.
Anyway. We dropped Kate off and I had brought along the Nerf football so we could throw it around a nearby park together. The park also had a baseball field which Jack refers to as Magic Field, because he's had a couple of the best games of his young career (it sounds weird to say that) at that field.
So we got there with the Nerf football, but there was a basketball court. And a few basketballs left behind. No one was there, we had the place to ourselves. We played Around the World and Horse and Jack beat me when I said I had to make all my shots as hook shots. I can't make hook shots. He showed me different dribbles he had learned in an afterschool basketballs skills class/program he'd done. We tried half court shots, talked about possible versus impossible shots, passed the ball back and forth. One of us might even have made a hook shot.
After a while, cold but refreshed and happy, we picked up the football from the side of the court, got back in the car, went to collect Kate at gymnastics.
Tuesday, December 02, 2014
First Day of December
On the first day of December, the kids set up their Lego advent calendars, gifts from Nana and Baba. Jack cleared off all the stuff on his nightstand and laid out a nice, open space for the calendar to sit. He knelt there taking care to have plenty of room for it to open up, and for all the little Lego pieces to go.
Kate did the same in her room, clearing off the top of her dresser for the Lego Friends calendar to sit. She opened up the front door and seemed pleased with her work.
After opening each door, they brought the Legos down to show us. Jack showed how he had turned his little Mailbox into something else, already; a snowplow. Kate showed us the little girl she'd received.
What do you like best about your calendar, Jack? I asked. "That it gives us Legos every day," he said. "And it's fun." Kate? "Playing with them!" she said.
That was the first day.
Kate did the same in her room, clearing off the top of her dresser for the Lego Friends calendar to sit. She opened up the front door and seemed pleased with her work.
After opening each door, they brought the Legos down to show us. Jack showed how he had turned his little Mailbox into something else, already; a snowplow. Kate showed us the little girl she'd received.
What do you like best about your calendar, Jack? I asked. "That it gives us Legos every day," he said. "And it's fun." Kate? "Playing with them!" she said.
That was the first day.
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