Start of Holiday Seaston

We started the holiday activities at Mr Kringles Inventionasium.  That was one of our favorites last year.  This year it was a little different but still cool.  The kids meet Mrs. K at the beginning.  Austin wanted Daddy's camera so he told a picture of us with Mrs. K.  It was really cool.  During the hour tour they got to build and imagine different things. They played with putty to mold something.   They made puppets and named them.  They also built some toys.  They made some snow too.

We went in to see Mr. Kringle that is really the best Santa Claus.  It's great because we were in there for about 5 minutes with him.  Brian got some good pictures.  Sydney told him that she wants a doll house and a baby doll.  Austin wants a compass so he can go camping.  At the end, Mr Kringle let the kids pick out something to bring home.  They each got a bucket of snow to make at home.  We knew what to expect this year but nevertheless it was a very cool experience.

The next activity we did was Santa's workshop at Lake Farm park.  They offered breakfast with Santa this year. We decided to try it.  We had a pancake buffet breakfast and then Santa and Mrs. Claus came around to each table and gave the kids a little toy.  The picture Brian took was awesome and it even became our Christmas card this year.  While there, we took more pictures with Santa.  Mrs. Claus made special snowflakes for the kids.  Austin and Sydney really liked it and placed them on our tree when we got home.

Then we went to our favorite part of Lake Farm Park which is Santa's workshop.  The kids get to build a toy.  They have over 20 different toys to select from.  This year Sydney picked flying princess and Austin got flying superman.  It's fun to watch them make the toy with the elf.  They love to paint it and of course put glitter on it.

After we were done, we decided to leave so we could go to my mommy's group holiday party.  We got there and the kids made a craft.  Then they saw Santa again.  We had some lunch.  We talked to some of our friends we know that we don't see too often.  Then there was a story time with milk and cookies.  It was a fun time.

We went home to relax a bit before it was time to go to dinner with Santa at the rec center.  They had a pasta dinner with crafts.  Santa arrives via fire truck which is the coolest part.  After pictures with Santa are done Santa leaves on the fire truck.  Not many people watch him leave.  Austin, Sydney and Kaitlyn were out there waving good bye.

Once we got home, we celebrated my birthday.  My dad had made a cake.  The kids made me over 30 cards.  Austin requested I get him a new bundle of construction paper which i did so he could make all of these cards.  It was sweet.  Our day was crazy busy but it was fun to say the kids had breakfast, lunch and dinner with Santa that day.

The next day we had gingerbread tea at a local theater.  I didn't know what to expect but it was really cool.  We had cake and apple juice before the play.  Then there was about 30 minute play where they sang a lot of Christmas carols.  At one point the kids could even go on stage.  We were pleasantly surprised that Austin and Sydney went right up there.  They sang 2 songs.  Then after the show, we went on stage and the kids got there picture with Rudolph and Santa Claus.  And outside they got their picture with the snowman.  The weather was so nice, we let the kids walk over to the playground and play for a few minutes before heading home.


Lock 3 in Akron had Santa and crafts on Thursday nights in December.  We decided to check it out.  The crafts were not that great for kids.  They used so much glue and it was a gluey mess.  However Santa was nice.  Kids enjoyed decorating a cookie with icing too.  They also had putt putt golf.  Austin has asked about doing that since we left Myrtle Beach and unfortunately we haven't had time to take them.  So they had a lot of fun doing that.  Then Austin asked if they could go ice skating.  We said yes.  They had an area for beginning skating that parents could still wear their shoes.  We rented skates for the kids.  Austin was so grateful we allowed them to do that.  He isn't always the best at saying thank you but he did for this because he was so surprised we said yes.  They did very well with it.  They had a lot of fun too.

Our school offers parents night out once in a while.  We don't do it often but December seemed like a good month to do it.  The kids go and play and watch a movie.  We went shopping.  It was nice to shop without kids for once.  We got some dinner and came home and at it while watching TV.  That is what we used to do before kids.  Now our TV rarely comes on.  The kids had fun but wanted us to pick them up sooner.

Another fun activity we did was the polar express.  I really enjoy this holiday tradition.  It is expensive but they are only young once and it's a fun night.  The weather has been warm however I had winter pajamas for the kids. Our train car was extremely hot.  In fact some families were taking the pajamas off their kids it was so hot.  The kids still had a great time.  We sang songs and the kids listened to the story.  The kids even got up and danced in the aisle when it was requested.  They are no longer as shy and reserved.  They are willing to go and do things with us not being right there.  At the north pole, they saw all the elves dancing around.  And Santa came on board.  We didn't get a family picture because Santa was rushed since we on the last train car.

One activity I wanted to do however it did not work out was to visit Stan Hywet and see Christmas lights.  We have been extremely busy and running the kids all around and they decided (verbal and behavior) they wanted to stay home.  It was 70 degrees outside and it's December.  We stayed home and the kids collected firewood.  Brian started a campfire and he set up the movie stuff for the kids to watch Curious George's Christmas.  Austin and Sydney really enjoyed that.  It was nice to stay home for once too.

Austin and Sydney had their last swim class for this session.  This was the first time they were together and I always assumed it would be the last for awhile again.  However Sydney has impressed all of us.  She can swim.  She can do some things better than Austin like treading water.  But Austin is better on his back and can get his arms out of the water better.  With that being said, I strongly felt they can continue to be in the same class.  Austin was technically advanced to the next class and I just enrolled her in the same class.  Their friend Kaitlyn will be in there too so it should work out.

My mommy club was looking for a crib and we decided to donate Sydney's crib.  Sydney did not sleep in it much.  She loves her new bunk bed.  I love it because I no longer sleep on the floor when she needs someone to lay with her.  It was emotional for me to get rid of her crib.  Again I am totally happy with her new bed but I know I will never have a crib again.  I love the age the kids are now but there is something about not having a baby anymore that is emotional.  The kids did a great job helping donate the crib.  They would carry pieces from my van to the man who was delivering the crib.

Our community offers Santa coming in a fire truck to your house.  This year again the weather was great and the kids were outside riding their bikes waiting for Santa to come.  Our neighbors came over too and watched.  Austin and Sydney were so excited.  We saw Santa in the ambulance on the next street over and they waited so patiently for him to come to their house.  Finally Santa arrived to our house.  The kids got a gift, coloring book, and candy cane.  We got a family picture too.  Once inside Austin and Sydney opened their gift.  Austin got a fish game and Sydney got Jegna.  They both loved it!  They are getting into playing games and having fun with it.

We had opportunity to see Rudolph the Red Nose reindeer musical.  I got the tickets but it was other rushed night after work to get down there to see it.  It was a cute show and we liked it.  It was a good experience but I am not sure we will see it again.  The gingerbread was better for our kid's age.  It also maybe that we have done so much this year we were all a little maxed out.

The kids had their annual Christmas party as school.  This year while I was shopping with Austin, I ran into a box of 6 puzzles for $5.  I couldn't believe it.  It was a great deal that I got for gifts for all of their classmates (which was 45 total).  Austin decided all of his friends at school needed Christmas cards by him.  He saw me doing Christmas cards and he wanted to do his own.  I took him to the store and he picked out his own cards.  He wrote his name inside of them and his friend's name on the outside of the envelope.  It's a so cute!  We were so proud of him especially it was all his idea!

This year the kids basically stayed in their own rooms at the Christmas party.  In years past Sydney would usually come into Austin's room.  With their class sizes being so big and each having own friends they like their own room.  Santa came into Austin's room first.  Austin went right up to Santa when it was his turn.  He told him he would like a compass.  Austin and Sydney have no fear of Santa.  When Santa came into Sydney's room, she was so excited too.  She couldn't wait to go see him and let him know she would like a doll house and a baby doll.  The kids enjoyed their party.

We also checked out Glow at the Botanical Gardens.  They had some cool gingerbread houses to see.  The kids did a craft.  They watched a train.  They couldn't ride the train because of weather.  We walked around the inside of the Botanical Gardens.  Honestly we were a little disappointment in it.  Next year if we do it, I would want to try at night to see if the lights make it cooler.

We took the kids to my parent's club Christmas party.  It was different than years past.  It was downstairs.  They had lunch but we had eaten before since they never had that before.  There were not that many kids there.  Santa arrived.  Austin got a Trouble Minion game.  He loves it!  Sydney got a paw patrol game.  They like it.  They played it at the table for a while and another boy came over to play too.  It was a fun afternoon.

The last Christmas activity we did was at a local police station.  I thought it was going to be a party but actually the kids just went inside to meet Santa Claus.  The setup and background was fabulous.  We had about 5 minutes with Santa.  Then the kids got a goody bag with coloring book, crayons, and a cookie.

We had an extremely fun and busy holiday season.