Christmas Week

One day before Christmas, since we were sick at home with colds and couldn't have playdates, I decided to make sugar cookies (and homemade bread for dinner). I am so thankful for a kitchen with lots of long counters!

On Christmas Eve, I dragged my sick boys over to my parent's house. It was great to see my Uncle Tom. But I was sad that Ephraim snuggled and napped in my arms almost the whole time.

 Both kids perked up for present time!

 

Christmas Day, Heather came over and spent a few days with us. We opened presents from the Gunns and from Santa. It was nice to be together as a family again.

My Aunt Sharon came over the day after Christmas and we stumped her with a maze ball.

On Thursday, while the boys were in Sacramento with Heather, I had a mini reunion with my girl friends from high school. We giggled and couldn't stop talking from 6pm to 1:30am! It was so great to feel young and old at the same time.

On Saturday, I met up with Heather and the boys for some Christmas and snow at the Clayson house. There was about 4 inches of snow and Ephraim couldn't get enough. I wasn't expecting it, so I didn't bring our gloves and such. They had so much fun anyway!

Ephraim by himself:

Gabriel by himself:

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas, from us to you!

Pre-Christmas Activities

Earlier this month I put the bunk beds back together. The plan was to get Gabriel to stay in his own bed more often AND have the boys be able to share the one space heater I have. Now that it is a few weeks later, I think I can say it is successful.

I tried doing a little Christmas photoshoot on Sunday. Gabriel refused to sit still long enough or smile or look at the camera. These were the best I got. Still adorable boys!

While out shopping, I splurged on a box of Christmas-themed foam stickers. Best buy ever! The kids and I had so much fun making little scenes on construction paper! I love doing art with my boys.

Breakfast Challenge

So breakfast has been a challenge for Ephraim for a couple of months now. I wanted to record this morning's experience while I still remember it. It is typical of our start for the day. It is also typical of a lot of meltdowns he has around perfectionism.

We usually have Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast. I asked Ephraim if he wanted cereal. I poured myself a bowl of plain Cheerios with sliced bananas while I wanted for an answer. Yes, he wanted Cheerios. I confirmed he wanted it with milk (knowing from past experience to ask). Yes, milk. OK. We sit at the table together and I start to eat. No, it's not enough Cheerios, he wants more. I pour a few more. He sees my bananas and wants some too. No, not from my bowl, his own bananas. OK, fresh sliced bananas go into his bowl. He whimpers that it's not enough, he wants more. I say, it's plenty. He melts down into sobs. I let him cry a minute and then suggest we count how many slices there are. 13, wow, that's a lot! He is better. He takes his first scoop trying to get just a banana. Ack, there is a Cheerio stuck to the banana. Meltdown begins again! I help him get just a banana. He is frustrated he can't do it himself and the Cheerios keep getting in the way. "They taste good together." "No, they don't." Several more meltdown frustrations later, he finally eats the last banana. He's done. Aren't you going to eat your Cheerios too? Nope, he's done. *sigh*

School Play and Bowling

Gabriel's school had a holiday program on Thursday, December 6. I was extremely disappointed that his class sang "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" but they were trying to be funny and entertaining. Here he is before the program starts, sitting with his class (and his teacher directly behind him). (I have some video, but it is too long to post. I'll see if I can trim it down.)

Grandpa and Grandma McMillan came too. Ephraim sat on my lap ...

... and fell asleep before the program even started!!

On Saturday we drove down to San Jose for a good friend's birthday party. It was at a bowling alley!! Both kids were very excited. Gabriel soon found out that real bowling balls are a lot heavier and harder to throw than the ones in our Wii bowling video game (which he loves). But he had a blast, he even got THREE spares! The pizza, onions straws, and gingerbread ninja cookies were a highlight too.

Both kids got a stomach flu that went around our church and were very sick Sunday night through Monday. I am so thankful for a washer and dryer in my house that work well. I was constantly doing laundry on Monday while the kids lay like limp vegetables on the couch watching movie after movie between naps. By Tuesday Gabriel was better but it has taken Ephraim more time to get his energy back. Today, Wednesday, I spent the day scrubbing down the house to get rid of the germs. After school, Gabriel and Ephraim were happy playing with toys again.

My parents noticed how Ephraim likes to do the splits while sword fighting. Not sure where he got that, but it's funny.

Also, lately Gabriel has been saying "read my lips, N-O, no!" Not a nice attitude and little brother has picked up on it but with a twist. I can't help but laugh when Ephraim says, "N-C, no!" or "N-D, no!"

Ephraim is working hard on developing his sense of humor too. He asks me throughout the day, "dat funny, mom?" Tonight I was getting him ready for bed and he said, "I love you. I love your brain, mom. (pause) That's a joke, mom. Dat funny?" Yes, my precious, it is!

Jedi Academy Videos

As I said, I am so mad I didn't charge my camera before the trip!! Oh well, here is some video anyway. At least we captured the experience in some way, even if it's not perfect.

Training. Gabriel is in the back on the stage.

Stormtroopers came out! Ephraim was tense in my lap, not sure if he was scared or just really excited!

Gabriel got to fight Darth Maul!!

Disneyland !!

On Thursday, all four of us drove down to Disneyland!! We met Heather's family there and had a great time!

FRIDAY, we explored Disneyland:
We rode the new Star Tours ride, the classic Peter Pan and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Snow White. We took the kids on Buzz's AstroBlaster ride. Both kids loved interacting with the ride and shooting the alien monsters. The ride emails the pictures to you for free. Cool!

 

The whole park was decorated for Christmas. It was amazing. There was a gigantic Christmas tree at the start of main street.

 Mickey!

The castle had "snow" on the top

My princes trying to pull the sword out of the stone.

It rained all day Friday at the park. We spent a good time in the morning with a small crowd and short lines. Around noon we were drenched and rode the train around the park and met Heather's friend for lunch.

 

 Then we went to the Lego store. Giant wizard made of Legos!

 Aladdin and Jasmine and the Genie hanging from the ceiling made of Legos!

Life-size Hulk. We bought the kids each of set of Legos and spent the rest of the rainy day at the hotel. We watched Cars 2 at the hotel, ordered spaghetti and meatballs (Gabriel's favorite dinner), and played with Legos. The kids loved it!

SATURDAY, we started the day at California Adventure park. Not really crowded first thing in the morning. We went to the Cars Land and the kids loved seeing Red, and Mater, and Lightning McQueen. He actually talked to us!

 Radiator Springs

 Luigi's ride. Hover-car tires that you steer by leaning.

We saw Sully and Frozone. We went to see Talk with Crush. It was amazing to see the 3D animated wall-size screen and have Crush come out and talk to us. He picked Gabriel out of the crowd and talked with him personally!!! Gabriel got to ask questions that Crush answered too. We went to the Bug's Life land and watched that show too.

There was a part of the California Adventure park that had a huge play structure of ropes and stairs. Gabriel really appreciated the free play (and not being dragged all over the park just to stand in a line for 20+ minutes to ride a ride for 2 minutes).

Ephraim LOVED seeing Dug the dog from the movie "Up." He was all smiles.

We had lunch at Ariel's Grotto. I've never spent so much money on a meal before!! But it was worth it. Four princesses came out and talked with us. The meal was amazing! Beautiful appetizers, elegant main course, and delicious dessert. While we were there, we saw the water show (Goofy conducting a concert set to water fountains).

The bread rolls were shaped in petals of a flower.

We rode the new Ariel ride several times too. You sit in a clam shell and see the movie briefly as sets of the songs.

Then we went back to Disneyland and my camera ran out of battery!! I was so mad! I bought the camera only a couple of months ago and didn't even think to bring the charger. The rest of the trip I had to use my phone camera. Ugh!

We went to the Jedi Academy show. By far the highlight of the trip for Gabriel. He was chosen from the crowd to train to be a padawan. They let the kids wear a robe and learn to use a lightsaber for the show.

Then Darth Vader and Darth Maul and two stormtroopers came out. Each kid got to fight with them personally. (I have a video of Gabriel's battle around here somewhere.)

We spent a short time with Heather's family here (Lynnessa & Jon & Everett, Linda & Clayton, Jason & Danielle and kids, Robb & Steph & Griffin, Josh & Jenna & Alisa). That evening, we met with Cindy & Marco and Michelle for dinner. By luck we got on the updated Pirates of the Caribbean ride with a short line! We ate dinner and stayed there to see the Fantasmic light and water show and fireworks afterward! That made our trip complete!

SUNDAY
We went back to California Adventure to try to get on the Cars ride. The ride had been shut down when we tried on Saturday. Heather went first thing Sunday morning to try to get Fast Pass tickets (first of the line tickets). When we went back to use them the ride was shut down again. So we gave up. We did splurge on the kids' first taste of cotton candy.

Gabriel was so spent. He had lost patience for this trip and was super tired. We rode the rocking ferris wheel (which produced big smiles!). We rode a few more rides, went back to Disneyland and bought a few presents and started the drive home around 1pm. The kids were asleep before we left the LA area.

 

Leftovers

On Thanksgiving Day, we had a relaxing morning at home. Then we went to a local park in the afternoon. There were lots of people and families out for a walk (before the big meal, I'm guessing). We enjoyed the fall colors and Ephraim happily scooped up some leaves for our nature collection (to go with all the rocks and pine cones and now-dead flowers). Gabriel enjoyed running on the grass and climbing the giant rope tower. (I'm just sad I didn't bring my camera. My phone is terrible at pictures. We'll have to go back for better photos soon.)

On Sunday we left Thanksgiving at my parent's house early because the kids were so sick. The next day, Ephraim fell asleep at 4pm (not unusual if he decides to take a nap), but he then slept for four hours! So around 9:30pm he was hungry. I got out a plate of food including some leftover turkey that my parents had brought over. He loved it! He usually just eats carbs. That night he only ate the turkey. (Funny to note that tonight he only ate lettuce.) He's a happy little guy!

My next goal is to take some great pictures of Gabriel!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After school on Tuesday, I got out the construction paper and we made turkeys. Each of the boys is pointing to his own turkey and pointing to you saying, "You can be a turkey too" or something like that.

We had a very relaxing Thursday. We all slept in, played around the house, watched a few movies, went to the park and saw soooo many people taking walks and playing, and came home to spaghetti with ground turkey meat sauce. Friday and Saturday the boys will be away with Heather (Paul is going full time now) and that extended family for Thanksgiving. While they are away, I am excited to make a few Christmas gifts (we'll see how they turn out). They'll be back Saturday night, and Sunday we'll have a Thanksgiving dinner with my parents and brother. Happy Thanksgiving!

Toothless

Gabriel lost his first two teeth exactly a week ago! The two adult teeth have been coming in for a while, then the two front ones got wiggly. I wanted him to lose them at home so we could save them for the Tooth Fairy, so I made him work on them every day. Last Thursday, I see him biting and sucking on his sweater sleeves when I pick him up from school ... and there's a tooth missing! It must have fallen in his classroom somewhere. Oh well. We wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy explaining that. Later that same afternoon, Gabriel and I were on our way to the doctor's office (he is fine). I had a small bag of M&Ms as a reward. As he was eating the candy, he thinks he swallowed the other tooth! So he lost his first two teeth and I have nothing to show for it. (As a side note, Gabriel got a tiny TinkerBell snowglobe from the Tooth Fairy. Sadly, Ephraim dropped it the next day. No more snowglobes for us!)

Yesterday, as I was pulling dinner out of the oven, the power went out of the whole city block. The kids froze while I scrambled for the flashlight and candles (thank goodness those got unpacked!). We had a blast eating by candlelight, telling stories surrounded by candles, and brushing our teeth with the brightest candle on the bathtub. The highlight for me was when I grabbed our shoes and jackets and ran out to the backyard to look at stars. No streetlights or porchlights made for a spectacular view! ... Of course, that part lasted about two seconds for the kids as they decided to explore the backyard in the dark instead. But we had a great time. The power went back on just in time to hop into bed.

A happy memory: Ephraim fell asleep early in my arms on the couch tonight (not unusual). I put him to bed and Gabriel and I watched the end of "Mirror Mirror" (a Snow White story). During the credits, she sings a song to dance to so we got up and danced. It wasn't enough for Gabriel so I found an old mix CD and put it on. We danced and laughed for a good 15 minutes! So much fun. Such a sweet boy!