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December 22, 2003
Dec 18 to Dec 22
Just a quick update on what's been going on. We'll be headed out of town in the morning so I won't be able to put up a new entry for at least a week.
I cannot tell you how excited I am about seeing my family tomorrow. We'll be staying by my folks house the entire time instead of my older sister's. Her house is about 40 minutes further. We'll be celebrating Xmas at my folks anyway so there's no point in transferring from house to house. We'll just settle in at my parents and that'll be that.
** SANTA AGAIN **
On Saturday, we went to a local strip mall that has free carriage rides with Santa. They have the Santa in a horse-drawn carriage, which just does a short route from one end of the mall to the other. Even if it was short, it was well worth the 40 minute wait. Paul took Sebastian around and did some casual shopping. I guess more than a couple sales ladies were goggling all over Sebastian. Of course, my boy eats that kind of attention up. He must have been in 7th heaven!
Anyway, Gabby and I waited patiently in line. I could tell she was a little nervous about the whole thing because she kept a tight hold on my finger. Yes, she holds onto one finger on my hand. She's done that since she learned to walk. Even when we try to hold her hand like people usually do she adjusts our hands so that she's got one finger.
We finally got into the carriage with another Mom with three girls. It was about 5 minutes but Santa talked to all the girls. Gabby told him she wanted a bicycle and a scooter. He said is that all and she said yes. He seemed a little surprised by that one but he said he'd try really hard to get the gifts all the girls asked for. Then he gave each girl a pair of reindeer sunglasses and the ride was over. We took quick snapshots of Santa with each girl and it was over! But it was a memorable experience for Gabby. She's been bringing it up every now and then each day since.
** FIELD TRIP **
I forgot to mention that I took the kids on a little field trip the day our playgroup date fell through. I brought them to a local farm where they had some activities set up. We got there about 30 minutes after the place opened up. After we paid the guy told us to go on in because the hayride was about to take off with a group of 1st graders! I was SO happy to find out there was a group of older kids there...this way we wouldn't be the only ones there. The hayride was short but extremely fun. The gal driving the tractor went over bumps and the older kids were oohing and aahing. Gabby just smiled and giggled with me at their silly behavior. Sebastian was just wide-eyed at all the kids! It was a cold morning so I was glad I had the kids hats and jackets in the car.
When we got to the end of the hayride they dropped us off where the farm animals were located. They took out some grain and gave it to each child so they could feed the animals. They had ducks, pigs, a cow, and a bunch of goats. Gabby was so brave when she stuck her little hands out to a goat and he just lapped up the grain from her hands. She even went back for more feed and fed another goat.
The kids then were shown a hay maze and they all took off running. I got Gabrielle to run off and walk along the hay bales. She had a blast running as far as she felt comfortable and walking back on the bales. She did it about 5 times!!!
After about 20 minutes of playing there I got her and we walked back to the entry. They had little goards set out with markers. Gabrielle painted her own goard while I painted Sebastian's. Both kids had a good time so I was glad I took them out for that little trip.
** PARK TIME **
Our little playgroup was able to convene on Friday! Yeah! We hadn't been able to all get together since the week before Thanksgiving! It's been ages since we've been able to spend time together and it felt good to touch base with each other.
I was running late that morning so I called one of the gals on her cell and said "Hey, where are you?" She was like "I'm so sorry! We're just heading out now." I was like "No, it's okay. We're running late too. I'm going to the drive-thru Starbucks and wanted to find out what you wanted." She said "Oh my gosh! I had a cup of coffee here at the house this morning and it was awful. I would LOVE some coffee." You should have seen her relax when she took that first sip of her Gingerbread Latte at the park. It's so funny how something small like a coffee can make our day more tolerable. You know?
Anyway, Sebastian had a blast walking all over the play area. Because of the cold, I had to put a pair of shoes on him. Luckily I'd found Gabby's old pair of Nike's and they fit him. Yahoo! It was so cute watching him walk all over the sand and the padded area. He was checking everything out without a look back at me. I had to chase him down many times to keep him within eye distance. At least he knows that when I call him a certain way he needs to stop (this is successful about 75% of the time). Of course, he wanted to climb the slide steps and climb up the slide and throw the sand. I had to watch him constantly!
Now Gabrielle was my little angel. I took out her sand toys and she set them down. She got a shovel and pail out and started to play. Then these two little boys came over, sat down next to her, looked at her and the toys, and then proceeded to just take them from her little plastic bag. She kind of looked at them and waited for them to say something. The boys just chatted with each other. They didn't even ask her if they could play with the toys! They were her age too! I couldn't believe it. You know what my little girl did? She just kind of shrugged her shoulders and picked up what she had and went to another section of the sand.
Gabrielle then made friends with another little girl who was probably about 6 months older (at least). She got Gabby to go up the rock wall! The girl had scampered up the wall and then encouraged Gabby to go up. Gabby got about halfway before she called over to me. I just backed her up and then I looked up and the little girl had her hands out at the top ready to help Gabby get onto the platform! AH! So she and Gabby played nicely for a while. It makes me recall how easily kids at this age can make friends.
** WHAT DID YOU SAY? **
Yesterday (Sunday), we met Paul's side of the family to celebrate his Mom's birthday (which was on Friday). When Paul spoke with his Dad about where we were all meeting we were a bit confused. It was going to be at a restaurant neither one of us had heard of. Well, we drove up to the place and it was a little hole in the wall place. It turned out to be okay Italian food but the service was great. The gal was friendly and very attentive.
Anyway, I had spoken to Paul's Mom earlier in the day and told her that we'd be opening Xmas gifts at our house at 11pm on Sunday (12/28) after we return from visiting my family. Well, at the restaurant she turned to Paul and asked if we could have the gift opening at our house a little earlier -- like at 10:30am. What? Earlier? We would just be getting back from a 6 hour drive the day before! Paul asked her why she wanted it earlier and she just sat there and rolled her eyes. He then said "why is there a game on?" She said "The Bears are playing so great!" Oy! There is a football game on that she and my FIL wanted to watch. Paul said in a way joking way "if you don't want to come over then don't." What's funny is that he was totally serious about that statement and he knew that I was thinking the same exact thing. So a football game is more important than spending time with your only two grandkids and watching them open gifts? FINE!
On that last note...I'll have to sign off for now. I've got to pack my clothes and the kids' clothes, get the minivan seating all arranged, put the bags, gifts, pack-n-play, and other junk into the minivan. What's Paul doing? Reading the paper! Alas, I do believe he thinks all he has to do is pack his bag and put that into the car. ARGH!
I do hope each of you has a wonderful holiday! Be safe!
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