Happy Holidays!

So much going on, so little time to get a post up! Christmas was fun, as usual, this year and was also a little more laid back thanks in part to spreading out the visits. We did Martinson Christmas on the Sunday before Christmas and then went to Seth's parent's for Christmas Eve and my parent's Christmas Day. Alistair was definitely more into Christmas this year than last. He understands opening presents yields something for him and was very anxious to get the ball rolling on that activity everywhere we went. Once he got something that really piqued his curiosity, the remainder of presents was more like pulling teeth to get him to open. He understands Santa, kind of. We didn't explain the whole milk, cookies and chimney thing, but he knows his new race track came from Santa! Alistair and the tree. He did well not touching it, or only touching ornaments with one finger. The novelty of touching the tree wore off after a day or two. He tells the tree lights goodnight every night before he goes to bed. I don't know what he is going to do when we take the tree down soon!Alistair got a new race track from Santa. He is really into racing. In addition to that, Jeff and Michelle gave him the Helmet Heroes Racing Helmet. He will wear that while playing with his race track or while we play Mario Kart!Grandma and her grandchildrenMy parents gave Alistair a play kitchen for Christmas. They put together the BBQ so he had something from it to open. He spent the rest of the day making cheeseburgers and hot dogs for everyone!

In addition to the excitement of Christmas, we had the "excitement" of snow to contend with. All in all we got 15 inches total at our house over the course of numerous snowfall. Our neighborhood, aside from the bare street where they finally paved on Friday, still looks quite snowy. We have quite the snow boulder field outside on either side of our driveway and down the street where the snow plow and accompanying tractor put all the snow the scraped off the street. Alistair enjoyed the snow in small increments, but he wasn't obsessive about it. Usually he went to go play in the snow if we suggested it. Sadie LOVES the snow! She is like a kid. She goes out and runs and rolls and tosses her ball and tackles it. It is quite amusing to watch!Alistair's first snow angel!

What terraced retaining wall?

Tis the Season to be Jolly...

Happy Holidays to everyone! Hopefully the season is going well for you so far and isn't stressful. We are finally fully engulfed in Christmas at our house. We have the tree up and decorated, the house decked inside and out and the Christmas cookies have been made...although a few more might be made later on. Christmas shopping is even mostly done!

Alistair went to go see Santa last week. We walked up to his area at Northgate fully expecting to look at Santa and turn around and leave. I had no expectations of getting a photo this year and I certainly wasn't going to torture him! So we looked and asked him if he wanted to go say Hi and he said, "No." So we said, "ok let's go" and turned to walk back down the mall. Alistair leaned out of his stroller, gesturing behind him, "No No No No!" "Do you want to go see Santa?" "Yes." So we turned around, parked the stroller and let him out. There was no line and one other kid that was visiting Santa. After she was done, we walked into the corral. Alistair was staying glued to Seth's leg and eventually wanted up. Santa suggested we kneel next time him so he could read a book. So Seth, Santa and Alistair read a book together. Then Alistair got down and wandered around a bit, pointing out the tree lights, etc. Then Santa asked if Alistair wanted to read another book with him. Seth and I were flanking Santa, about 3 feet back or so. Alistair walked over to Santa and proceeded to rock back and forth on his feet at a distancre close enough to see the book, but not next to Santa. Every once in a while Santa would ask where something was in the picture. Alistair would think for a minute and then rock his way closer to Santa and point in the book. Snap went the camera. So we got 3 shots of this and that was good for us! It was as close and civil as Alistair was going to get. We spent probably about 20 minutes or so with Santa, he was very nice and patient!

The weekend after Thanksgiving, we headed out to Cox's Tree Farm out by Northwest Trek for our Christmas tree. My parents, Seth's parents, Ann and Bob and my brother and family all came. We practically had the place to ourselves and the pick of the litter. Although this is the second year we have been and it took everyone no time at all to find our trees. It is a bit of a drive to get there, but their selection is great and there is no wandering around for hours only to settle on something just to not feel like you totally wasted your time! We've done that in past years! Having a walking little child in a tree farm requires many pairs of eyes. He had fun though and of course his favorite cousin was there, so anything is more fun when Natalie is around!

Alistair "helping" Daddy cut the tree down.

The official Christmas Card pose
Cousins!

In other news, just to follow-up with some stuff mentioned in the previous post, Alistair is going to have surgery on January 12th. However he does not have a hernia, but a hydrocele. This is similar to a hernia, but the hole is much smaller and the swelling comes from fluid in the area and not bowel protruding. Usually if boys get this before 2, they let it go because most times it will close on it's own. But because Alistair is now 2 1/2 (!!!) there is a less likely chance it will close up on its own and it needs to be done surgically. The procedure is an outpatient one - it seems to be minimally invasive and his recovery time will be short. Next week he has an appointment with the anesthesiology department to have a complete physical to be cleared for surgery. It is a little complicated since Alistair has his heart issue. But to me, the fact that he is so active and healthy and is not on medication tells me he would be fine. But I guess we will find out next week. They will also evaluate him post-op to and decide to either let him go home or stay over night for observation.