Day after Christmas and a million toys later.  What do they play with?  The after Christmas sale storage box.  We sure could have saved a lot of money.

The New Year traditionally says out with the old, bring in the new.  With new toothbrushes in their stockings from Santa (and a recent visit for a cleaning at the dentists office) in our house it’s out with the old toothbrushes and in with the new. 

There was one condition.  Before tossing the old Power Ranger toothbrush, a photo to memorialize it had to be taken.  And while we were at it, photos of the two new ones, Spider Man (courtesy of Santa Claus) and a new, albeit manual, Power Rangers (how did Dr. B know?).  Each has its’ own appeal.  And lest we forget Francesca’s new Dora toothbrush.  Every time she passes the bathroom she wants to brush her teeth.  I could think of worse things.  

So now, without further ado…. I bring you….. TOOTHBRUSHES, The Post!

farewell fond Power Ranger friend.

Hello Spidey!

and a new Power Ranger - thanks Dr. B!

Now if only I could get them to floss.  Come on all you marketers -  how about some character-based, licensed kids floss?  And now if you’ll excuse me, I have an old toothbrush to dispose of.

Presents, presents and more presents,

Hope you and yours had a Merry Christmas.  Have a Safe, Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Cousins

Happiness is a new bike!

Pretty princess

oh so heavy!

“No, Moose - it’s mine!”

Cookie break - sugar plum fairies and sweet dreams to all!

Waiting to see Santa

More flour on his shirt than on the board……

Francesca gets in on the action……

the fruits, er… cookies of their labor….

mmm, which one do you want?  I see mine right there! Save some for Santa!

It’s so cold outside - I can’t tink of anything better to do than some holiday baking.  Think they’ll last until Christmas?

What’s that you say?  They’re tree nuts.  Most of us remember laying under the Christmas Tree looking up at the magical world of lights and ornaments.  But, didn’t we lie the other way, you know…on our backs looking up?

Francesca does this.  A lot.  She just lies under the tree - head down, butt up.  Ross was just along for the ride.  She just likes it there.

And we have a winner!  Good thing too, because after the first few shots Francesca had had enough and wanted her pacifier in her mouth at all times.  She also preferred her backside to the camera so she could face the tree and pickat the ornaments.  I should have photographed the fight that ensued afterward as Ross knocked over her lego tower and Francesca chased him and smacked him.  Now that would have been a more accurate  Christmas Card picture.

My brother has wonderful neighbors.  I do to, don’t get me wrong, but his neighbors are a close knit group of folks who really enjoy each others company.  Each year as they have for many many years, (if I recall correctly well over 25) they have the Na Wa Ta No-brainer Christmas Party. 

In the beginning it started with neighbors getting together and caroling with their families door to door; hot chocolate for the kids, something a little stronger for the adults.  As the kids grew up and the parents got older they moved it indoors.

Each year the party moves from one home to another, with the “host” home providing a spiral sliced ham or some other main dish and the rest of the neighbors bringing a signature dish or drink.  Potato pancakes are made by the Scandanavian neighbors, the Judge makes his famous eggnog, my brother (a bachelor) brings cut and bake chocolate chip cookies every year! 

The only pre requisite to being a host, it seems, is that you must have a piano.  Every year they break out the pre-printed Christmas Carol packet and the bells, reindeer antlers and other music makers for the kids and everyone sings Christmas carols accompanied by those accomplished, talented, piano players.

My family and I have had the pleasure to be included in these parties over the years that my brother has lived on Na Wa Ta.  It’s so nice to get together with such a wonderful group of people.  Over the years we have met new neighbors, watched children grow into adulthood , celebrated births, reminisced about loved ones lost, and enjoyed catching up with friends and neighbors.

I look forward to joining my brother again this year with my own family.  This may just be the type of community gathering that might work on my block. If I bring it up though, I’d better get a piano.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Nicole and Brandon, Ashley and my brother Ray came over to our house for dinner.  Nicole announced her big news - IT’S A GIRL!!!!!  We are all so very happy for Nicole and Brandon.  Nicole looks so cute pregnant too.

Turkey with all the trimmings was enjoyed by all.  On Friday Sam and I  took the kids and did some Christmas shopping over at Toys R Us.  While looking at the V-Tech items, I noticed one of the games had a video playing as a demo.  Ross did a shoot for V-Tech Create a Story in April and the video was to be in Toys R Us stores this fall.  I walked over to the V-Tech Disney Create a Story and pushed Demo and TaDa! - Ross in all his glory!  What fun for his dad and I.  Ross was less than impressed and wanted to look at the TOYS.  Francesca spyed a Yo Gabba Gabba Guitar and held onto it the entire time in Toys R Us - we just had to buy it for her, she LOVED it!  Oh well, other things will be for Christmas and her birthday. 

Sam took one cart and I had the kids in the other.  I think Sam had more fun shopping for toys than Ross did looking around.  The cart was overflowing and hard to keep out of sight from the kids.  Sam is a funny shopper, he buys things and takes them home and ends up returning a portion of the items all the time.  I don’t shop that way.  When I choose something I choose it specifically for that person.  He just sort of loads up and then decides who would like it.  Either way, we made headway at Toys R Us and JC Penney. 

Now we are exploring  what type of game system to purchase.  Sam wants to buy one for “us” as a family and for Ross, “ahem” read - daddy! I am in the Wii camp and I think Sam is leaning toward X-Box.  Nicole’s thoughts are that X-Box is more shoot em up and Wii is more family orineted.  I like that Wii is more active and you can get the Wii FIT for it too.  We’re going to have to look into the game offerings and decide. 

Saturday was a little quieter.  Nice weather here so I headed outside to decorate the house with lights for Christmas.  Sam took Ross to Safari Land, Francesca napped and I ”decked the halls”.  I wanted to finish just before the boys came home so I can see the delight in Ross’ face when they came home to a house all lit up.  I was outside staking Rudolph into the ground when they pulled up and eagerly waited to see Ross’ expression.

He got out of the car, looked at the house, walked up to me and started crying and screaming “you were supposed to wait for me.  Take it down, I want you to take it down!”   Not exactly the response I anticipated.  Mind you, we had not had a conversation about decorating the house together or anything like that. The inside we always do together but I am on my own outside.  I unplugged the lights then and there.  He later calmed down and we were able to keep them up (like I was really going to take them down and then put them up AGAIN) with the promise that we will put more up outside later, together.

At least Francesca was excited.  After her nap, I bundled her up and took her out side to look.  She squeeled and yelled “Mom!” (the dominant word in her limited vocabulary) and kept pointing at the lights and decorations.  She was so excited.  The rest of the day was quiet, and then Francesca drank toilet water.  That’s right, Toilet water.  Yum.  Someone left the bathroom door open and she was playing with a bowl from her kitchen set.  She came walking out of the bathroom drinking water from the bowl.

A quick call to her pediatrician confirmed that there was not much to do but wait.  Fortunately there were no cleaning products in the water or anything else for that matter.  Doctor said to call if she gets loose stools in the next 3 or 4 days but likely nothing to worry about.  I don’t know what it is about the toilet that is so enthralling to this child.  That and the dog bowl for water.  She just loves water and the fact that those two places have it all the time is just too much for her!  The lady from the Doctors answering service found it quite amusing especially as she could hear Francesca walking around and babbling/singing, sounding quite happy with herself.

Sunday was quiter, I took the kids to church and we pretty much vegged the rest of the day.  Read the newspaper, did some laundry, played with the kids, a good quiet day.  It is supposed to snow - it started out flurrying but now it seems more rainy.  We’ll see in the morning if anything changes overnight.

 I am secretly hoping we wake up with snow on the ground.  I love the way it looks and at night it’s so pretty with all the lights.  I’m not fond of driving in the first snow, but tomorrow is only pre-K and T-ball, short trips for sure.

Hope you all had a safe and happy Thanksgiving!