Reindeer still with us

Nana gave Henry a reindeer necklace via one of her friends who Henry met and impressed at Nana's birthday party back in September.  He wore it the whole time that he opened all of his gifts from Cory's very generous family, which took quite a while since he needed to read each book and discuss individual toys before moving onto the next package.

Back during Advent, our Sunday School leader suggested that we pick a Christmas decoration to leave out year round.  I was thinking that the olive wood nativity ornament would be perfect, so it was intentionally placed in our living room.  I didn't consider that it would be necessary to leave out Henry's dancing Christmas tree since it was a gift from Santa, and it didn't seem decent to swoop him up to be boxed away and forgotten in the attic.  We also have a rouge king from one of his nativity scenes still lying down on an end table, rescued from under the couch.  Plus, there are some new Christmas stockings sitting in the garage waiting to be carried up to the attic.  Now, since Henry pulled his stepping stool up to his chest of drawers and opened the top drawer, we have a reindeer necklace that can be worn in the snow.

I would say that the spirit of Christmas is still around us.  In fact, Henry and I played "Christmas" for about fifteen minutes yesterday morning.  Thank you fair-trade nativity scene, single wise man, dancing Christmas tree, clearance-priced stockings, and reindeer necklace for your reminders to keep Christmas on our minds and in our souls.

So. Much. Snow

Taken around 9AM...

Headed out...

First time on a real sled, maneuvering was tricky at first...

Not pictured is the time that H and I spent actually sledding unassisted down our somewhat steep road.  He LOVED it!  Then he wanted to try out the disk:

The disk was mine growing up, and I can still remember the jarring pain of sledding off a steep bank into the snow covered rock-ridden gully.  So worth it, Grandjoe.  (If memory serves correctly, it was his idea to use the disk to go off the bank during that great snowstorm of '88 off Carrick Creek Road.)

Henry grew cold and grumpy after about an hour, and we went inside and re-warmed with hot chocolate, a blanket, and The Incredibles.

 Happy snow day!

Bon Voyage!

Poor Elizabeth... poor Grandjane and Grandjoe.

Just when Snowmageddon 2011 was rounding the bend towards the southeast, the Atlanta airport saw fit to bump their trip to the Bahamas to today rather than try to leave tomorrow.  Grandjane and Grandjoe are going on their first Caribbean vacation, and Elizabeth is embarking on her Semester at Sea, the highlights of which are 11 countries in 104 days, temperate weather, and lots of transferable credits from the University of Virginia.

We were invited to an emergency going away party yesterday evening where Grandjane's manicotti and Grandjoe's milkshakes were liberally pushed upon our small group of invitees.

For most of us around here, this forecast is going to lead to a messy week and one that is, realistically, full of intermittent snow play followed by recovery and drying time.  But for Elizabeth, Grandjoe, and Grandjane, it means an extra day in the Bahamas.

All jealousy aside, I'm glad that my parents are taking a long overdue vacation, and Elizabeth, you know we are always proud of you.  It doesn't surprise me that you wanted this adventure for yourself, and I am taken aback at the way you own your desires and fully pursue them to fruition.  Now, God Speed!

According to Henry...

His eyes will turn green on Thursday.

I'm sure going to miss those beautiful blue eyes.

Looking out for me

We had a better day today.  It took Henry quite a while to take a short nap this afternoon, but it paid off.  He was in a great mood when we to friends' house for dinner, and he and his buddy Ella ran laps which made for a mellow exhaustion before bed.

I was wondering if we were going to have some issues, though, when he got up from his bed to go to the potty and seemed to meander some when he was walking through his room to get back in bed.  I thought he was just stalling.  But when I got up from his bed after the allotted five minutes of snuggle time, he whispered, "Watch out for Penny's bone.  Don't trip over it, 'cause I did." 

Sure enough, Penny's giant butcher bone was lying smack in the middle of his floor.

Sweet boy.  Thanks for the warning.

I'm saying it here, people

I am baking the third cinnamon pie of the week, and I am saying it now.  It's the last pie for a month.  It's the last dessert for a month, too!  (At least until Henry's cupcakes.)

Starting Off

Well, it happened on January 1, 2010, and it happened again on January 1, 2011... no schedule, late night, and a very late nap all equaled a cranky, defiant, and full on difficult Henry.  Why didn't we learn our lesson last year?  I guess because it's been a full year since such a rough day.  Poor kid.  I finally pulled out one of the tricks that works best with him--shock.  I looked him in the eyes and said in my sweetest, motherly voice, "Henry.  You are a sweet boy.  I know you can be sweet right now and stay in this bed.  I just know you can do it!  You can be sweet!"

It worked.  And he explained, "but I'm sad and I'm still angry."  We talked about how it's OK to be sad and angry, but that he still cannot hit and needs to listen to us.  He understands, but I know he's beyond reason when he's that tired.

Perhaps we'll start 2011 off with a valuable lesson.  Again.  Sufficient naps and a regular bedtime are of the utmost importance for our boy.

Here's to January 1, 2012!