More Christmas Cheer....

So last week we decided to do a follow up on our Roper Mountain Holiday Lights drive. On Wednesday night I packed the boys up and met Tom at work (right around the corner from the lights). We headed up to check out the Winter Wonderland. We walked through paths lined with lights and came up to a little snack shack selling "s'more's kits" and other goodies and then there was the big garage with Santa in a 100 year old sleigh and an elf making balloon animals. Jack was a little skittish about Santa, but very excited for a balloon animal. He and I got in line and Tom and Will went to stand in line to buy some s'more kits. 45 minutes later, Jack and I were still 10 or so kids from the front of the line, Jack was starting to cry and wanting to be held (AKA-It was bedtime). Tom and Will were patiently waiting outside with our marshmallows (roasting marshmallows was all Jack had talked about all day). Will started to fuss because he needed to eat again. The night seemed to be unravelling before my eyes. I had pictured us having a festive evening and getting some great pictures and taking in some awesome Christmas-ness. What I had was 2 crying kids, 2 uneaten marshmallow kits, 2 parents that were ready to go home and very little Christmas Cheer. I made an executive decision to abandon the balloon animals and try to do s'mores. I was hoping that the meltdown that would follow would be small and sort lived with a bribe of marshmallows. There were tears, but we got over it pretty quick! Jack thought roasting marshmallows was so cool and he thought eating them was even better. Christmas cheer restored!

Roasted marshmallows make us forget all about balloon animals. 

I ventured out with the boys for a quick stop at the mall to pick up a few last minute things and there was Santa in the middle of the mall. Jack exclaimed "Look it's Santa, Can I sit with him?". So of course I said yes, thinking he would not really want to sit with him once we got closer. He surprised me and after being lured in by a gingerbread man cookie went and sat on a stool right in front of him while Will sat on Santa's lap. They both even smiled for picture. Too bad they were both dressed in everyday play clothes and Will had the remnants of lunch on his outfit-oh well...I got it emailed to me for free. :)

On Saturday, Jack and I made a big jar of reindeer food to feed to Santa's reindeer. Jack had fun using a scoop to fill a jar with "flying power" (flour), Oats (for energy), Chocolate powder, Crushed graham crackers (Jack's favorite snack, so it must be a favorite of the reindeer),  and Christmas spirit (red glitter). Shake and it is ready to spread for the reindeer on Christmas night. I LOVE HAVING A PRESCHOOLER! :) And then it was just fun to mix all the ingredients together and pour and stir.

Last night, we attended our first virtual Christmas party. Tom's Aunt Kathy (Kiki) has a Christmas party every year the weekend before Christmas and we were not able to attend. It was our first time missing it and we were very sad to have missed it. We set up a skype date to "attend". Jack and I made Rice Krispie Treats and Tom bought a bottle of wine. We were able to say hi and give a little tour of our place over Skype, but the connection was not great so our conversation was cut a little short. We hope everyone had a great time and know that we missed them all very much. Maybe next year we will be able to attend.

Sunday morning homemade waffles from scratch. 

Even Rhody wanted some Rice Krispie Treats. That crazy ELF! :)

And so we are now in the get ready to travel phase again. I will be busy organizing and packing us up for our flight on Wednesday back to RI.