eternally chaotic

Last night I had the pleasure of dictating a story while Jacob thought it up.  This was an assignment from school that he started but wasn’t able to finish during class, so together we completed it last night.  I love story telling from all different angles but I have usually been the story teller not the audience.  Getting a chance to hear Jacob’s story about his “Lonely Snowman” was intriguing.  His idea throughout the story was that the snowman was lonely and wanted some friends to play with.  The snowman and his friends did whatever they could to ensure they continued to have fun – including the annihilation of planets and alien species in the process.  Fun.  You have to love boys.  His story was all over the board but the general idea remained the same.   (more…)

Halloween has come and gone.  The loot has been categorized into various zip lock bags and put into deep freeze for behavior based distribution.  The kids had a month of various Halloween activities: Netflix provided movies, Carol provided the arts and crafts and I provided labor for scooping out pumpkin guts.  Costume selection happened about a month ago and the kids are already planning what they want to be for next year.  The costumes were fun.  Jacob was Ninja, Isaac was a Special Ops Soldier, Piper was Silvermist and Violet was Ariel.  The all looked great and the got to pick their own costumes – thank you Internet Gods for not making us drive all over creation looking for the perfect costume.

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Christmas is always fun and has been more than ever as the Girls start learning about giving and receiving gifts…  Who am I kidding!!! Piper couldn’t contain herself to start tearing into presents.  Piper seemed just the right age for starting to really grok opening gifts and watching others do the same.  Violet was a fast learner as well (and had a good teacher in her older sister) and didn’t waste any time tearing off paper and claiming what was hers.

The big gift this year for the girls was a train table.  Complete with all the trimmings this table took nearly two full hours for three adults to assemble and “test”.  It was much to big to wrap so we just put it in the middle of the living room floor with a big bow on it.  Both girls saw it the instant they came into the room and after a moment of asking “did santa bring that for us” they dug in and starting driving trains – a good distraction while coffee and cinnamon rolls were made.  I think for a short while they even…dare I say it…shared!  (more…)

Piper and Violet were delighted to see Mamma and Pappa for Christmas.  We prepped Piper for about a week prior to get her worked up and anticipating them coming to town to celebrate Christmas with us.  Each year since the we have had the girls they have been in town, insisting on spoiling them moreso than they already are.

Mom and Dad whisked the girls away for a few fun filled days either running around town or looking at the various creatures in the aquarium.  Piper absolutely loves going to the aquarium and Violet is just at the right age where she is, for the most part, easy to manage with an extra pair of hands.

Christmas Eve we spent building a gingerbread house that we never did actually end up eating.  Violet certainly got her fill of the candy though.  Every two or three pieces that made it onto the house were eventually picked off and deposited into her mouth.  (more…)

Piper and Violet both had Christmas parties today at daycare.  As a part of the festivities we painted a snowflake purple, were showed the decorations done by the kids, now proudly dispayed throughout each room, at some good finger food, mingled with the other parents and got a chance to watch the kids sing and dance.  In past years at school the kids weren’t old enough, or coordinated enough to do a rehearsed routine.  This year that all changed.

Piper has been constantly asking to hear “Jingle Bells” or in particular “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” but we hadn’t figured out why other than that particular song was also a main them in an episode of “Mickey Saves Christmas” that she watches now and then.  So when kids lined up in the gym to perform we were in for a treat.  Not only did they sing and dance but they did so in the three year old equivalent of “in sync” which equated to marching in a rectangle while making various arm, leg and body gestures.  They sang several songs, a few in Spanish and a few in English each good in its own way.

While shopping tonight at Discover Mills for Christmas gifts we walked past a Santa booth that was empty of patrons.  Piper waved at Santa and he smiled and waved back.  We asked if she would like to visit him and tell him what she would like for Christmas.  Of course the answer was an excited “Yes!!!”.  After a bit of shopping we made our way back, stood in a short line and watched the people in front of us as we waited.  Soon it was our turn.  Having just recently visited a Santa at Lake Lanier Islands and seeing the quick-in quick-out, how many pictures can we take this hour, rush to get kids through, whirlwind that was a “Lake Lanier Santa Visit”, this trip was refreshing.  The Santa was a typical greying elderly man with a long white and grey beard and an ample lap for the kids to sit.  This Santa took Piper and sat her on his lap and for what seemed an eternity asked her question after question about what she and her sister wanted from Him.  Movies and Toys and Princesses.  After a few minutes she sat in awe, answering only “Yes” to each of his questions, humbled but not quite sure why.  When he was done with the questions he offered her a lolly pop and wished her a very merry Christmas.

As we walked off we couldn’t help but contrast our experience here, similar to what we recalled as kids, and to what the “expected” visit should be to the sub-par experience at Lanier Islands where they were more concerned with queue length and pictures per hour than they seemed to be with the kids coming to see the main christmas man.