Holiday Fun (2.9 and 15.9 months)

During our trip to Myrtle Beach I was sick and then on my birthday Brian got really sick.  He came home from work with a fever and basically needed to go to bed.  I was a little sad, but understand that with the kiddos we are getting sick a lot and there is nothing we can do.  The night before I went to Giant Eagle because I wanted a cookie cake.  Brian was with Austin in the store so I took the cake to the bakery and asked for it to say "Happy Birthday Mommy".  The women asked if I was buying my own cake and I smiled and said yes.  I fed the kids dinner and then went to our friends Lisa and Keith's with the cookie cake to celebrate my birthday.  My parents came over on Sunday and we celebrated my birthday with dinner and a cake.

One of the more popular holiday activities around here is the Polar Express.  It is a 45 minute ride aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad that takes you to the "North Pole".  Then the train takes you back. Brian and I never went as a kid so we didn't know exactly what to expect.  We definitely wanted to try it.  Because Sydney is under 2 she was free which is always a bonus.

When we arrived at the train station, we gave them our tickets and then Austin starting running to the train screaming "I love it" over and over while dancing towards the train.  Austin loves trains and I think seeing a real one so close was really cool for him.  We went inside the train car and they sat us down.  Because of how the seating worked Sydney had her own seat even though we did not pay for her.  It worked out great.  On the way to the North Pole the elf's read the book "The Polar Express".  Then they gave out hot cocoa and a cookie.  Austin really liked his cookie.  We also sang Christmas carols.  During some of the songs the kids got to dance in the aisle.  When we arrived at the North Pole there were elves dancing outside.  It was decorated nicely.  There was a huge Christmas tree and Austin said "That is the biggest Christmas tree I have ever seen".  Then Santa arrived by a smaller train car.  Austin said there were no reindeer driving Santa because reindeer don't have arms to drive.  Santa then came inside the train and got his picture taken with everyone on our way back to the train station.   It was a really fun night.  They were both good. It was a great night with awesome memories.

Another one of our favorite activities with the kids is Santa arriving to our house in a fire truck.  Our city does it each year.  We stand outside our driveway and then the fire truck comes with Santa in the back of it.  Santa gets out and gives the kids a present.  It is fun to watch.  This year Santa came in an ambulance so it wasn't as cool, but still was fun.  Brian had the tripod with cameras set up but because it was a little different this year he didn't get as good of picture as he hoped.  But I think it's still a good picture.

The local mommy group that I belong to had tickets for a Christmas concert for kids at Severance Hall.  We thought that would be something different to take the kids to.  They both really love music.  It was a nice concert with 6 people playing brass instruments.  They both listen fairly well and Sydney enjoyed dancing on occasions.  They will probably enjoy it a little more as they get older.

My parents best friends have a Christmas party every year that we attend.  It is really cool because Santa comes and bring each child a present.  It is nice to see everyone there too.  They had dinner and we talked with people.  Austin and Sydney had fun walking around the place.  They were not too sure of Santa but they did enjoy the present they received from him.

At school the kids have a Christmas party.  It started at 3:30 pm.  They invite the parents to come and celebrate with the kids.  During the school parties we bring Sydney into Austin's room.  It is amazing how Sydney fits right in. She will sit on the chairs and eat the food like all the other kids at the table.  Then she will play with toys that are in the room.  We always make sure we can attend the parties.  The kids have fun.

That same night we had tickets for Lake Farm Park.  It was a 45 minute drive away so we had to leave the kids Christmas party a little early before Santa arrived.  Lake Farm Park has so many fun activities for the kids.  First we went to Santa's workshop where elves help the kids make a toy they got to pick out.  Austin picked a helicopter and Sydney picked at bus.

 The elves helped them hammer the toys together.  After the toy was together, we took the kids over so they could paint it and put glitter on it.  It was messy but really cool.  Then we went on a horse and carriage ride though the park looking at Christmas lights.  It ended in a barn were there were animals and toy trains.  After we visited there we walked back  to the main attraction area. The kids decorated a Christmas cookie with icing and sprinkles.  Then they played in the play area while I went and got their toys that were drying.  It was a great night. It was probably my favorite activity that we did this year.

The weekend before Christmas there was a holiday party at the club my parents belong to. They have an annual Christmas party.  I went every year as a child and really enjoyed it. My parents took both kids this year.  Brian took them down there while I was getting my hair done.  Then Brian and I had the entire afternoon to ourselves.  I cleaned the house then we went out shopping and to dinner.  It was really nice to have some adult time.  My parents brought the kids back before bedtime.  Since they did not have a nap that day they were a little cranky. Luckily they went to bed easily and all was well.

For most of the month of December before Christmas Brian was really sick. He would have mostly a sore throat.  For several days he could not open his mouth wide enough to put in his pinky finger in it. It was bad. Brian felt horrible.  I was busy with the kids.  We had all these activities that we wanted to do.  Luckily Brian got to go to all of them and finally went to the doctor and got an antibiotic and felt much better.

Austin is pretty funny.  The other day I was in the kitchen and I whining "Why is it so cold?"  And Austin answered "in the wintertime mommy it's suppose to be cold".  Austin is right, it is suppose to be cold.  It has been a cold and snowy winter for us, but that makes it fun because both of the kids like to play in the snow.