Some artwork

My big gift which feels very frivolous is an iPad. I am typing on it right now. I downloaded a drawing app and both boys have played with it. Harry who is usually shy with the controls of electronic things instantly started trying out using the camera and stored pictures as backgrounds. Robert is in here "watching" television - really exploring Christmas gifts and now sitting next to me because he is waiting to draw.

This is baby Jesus from the creche

a monster

Merry Christmas

Dancing Santa at the pizza parlour

exchanging gifts with friends

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

Making Christmas Eve Sugar cookies

Making Santa's snack - a tradition

A cow in the pageant

The Inn Keeper

The cow did not make it through the whole pageant :-)

the view Christmas morning (there were peacock feathers sticking out of both boys' stockings)

Harry was ready to go and Robert was a bit disturbed to be woken so early 

He cheered up quickly

Harry's favorite gifts - Star Trek communicator & DS game

The aftermath

time to play

Christmas through the years

Harry's First Christmas

Harry's Second Christmas

Harry's Third Christmas and our last in Hickory

Harry's Fourth Christmas and our first in Jamestown

Harry's fifth Christmas

Robert's first Christmas

Our Second Christmas as a family of four plus :-)

Last Christmas we had lots of snow before and after Christmas  - 2 little boys knew what was coming - much excitement

Oh Christmas Tree

Harry has had some kind of virus for about a week now.  He is on the mend and has been back at school, but he still is a bit tired and not quite himself.  Unfortunately the poor soul was sick for the annual Christmas tree hunt.  He stuck in for all the festivities, but looked a bit peaked and was cold despite the unusually warm weather we have been experiencing.

Here we are choosing our tree this year.  We have cut down our tree for the past 3 years.  It is a fun tradition.  Usually we stop for lunch before or after and make a morning/afternoon of it, but this year given our sick child and a midday vestry meeting (on a Saturday) we went late afternoon.

The tree is perfect for the space we have in the living room.  Hopefully I'll get some pictures of it decorated up sooner rather than later.

wandering the tree farm on the hunt for our perfect tree

Yeah we found it!

jackets, hats, etc. it is hard to see everybody's faces

Now it is Mom's turn - note it the Christmas wand in Harry's hand

That's our tree in its natural habitat :-)

Cub Scouts

I often wonder at parents whose children do many activities.  We have enough with regular life most days.  However, something Harry has especially enjoyed in cub scouts.  Each fall they sell popcorn and this year Harry was the top seller in his pack.  His goal was to sell $600 worth and he sold more than that.  We have now taken delivery of the popcorn and this weekend we will be delivering it.  Robert comes along for the ride sometimes.  So the first few pictures are of the Veteran's Day ceremony and the last is Harry, Kevin and our pack master, Mr. Tuttle as they picked up the popcorn the other day.  

As top seller, he gets a special patch (I think) and he also won a special toy.  He is very pleased about that since it is a toy I probably wouldn't have bought him (it shoots something).  Anyway, some pictures, enjoy!

Robert was fascinated by the base of the flags and how they were put in the ground.  He went around and made sure that each cap was upright and right next to each pole.

The boys holding up the sign at the Veteran's Day ceremony

Our proud popcorn seller :-)

Santa Visits the Island

On the first Saturday in December, our little island gets the Christmas spirit going.  The day starts with bazaars at all three churches and a craft fair at the elementary school.  There are also specials at the shops in town.  I ran out of camera batteries at one point and we found out that the pharmacy had cider and Allies donuts!  Both boys who had already had sweets at church had a big donut with sprinkles.  It was a very sugary day for them.  They also got candy canes from Santa!

In the early afternoon Santa comes into the harbor on a boat, escorted by 2 coastguard boats.  It is very exciting and then we walk up the street to the marina store where the kids can go sit on Santa's lap and the parents can take pictures.  Each year they also have pictures from the previous year.  I looked at my boys last year and was amazed at how much they have changed and grown - especially Robert, he's not a baby anymore.

So here are the pictures from Santa.  I am going to try to post some of Harry's cub scout pictures later this week.  It has been a crazy and I haven't been a good blogger.  Maybe I'll be better soon.  I hope so and that it isn't just that the novelty has worn off and I am going to totally slack off now.

Looking for Santa

It is nice to be small enough to be held above the crowd

Here is the jolly old elf and his spouse - looking fit and ready to face a few score of the island's children

The thumb in mouth isn't new, but it has been more prevalent recently - it signals sensory overload, I think

Both boys had ideas of what they'd like for Christmas, but mostly just liked seeing Santa

The thumb did come out when it was time to get down to business

Robert's current favorite hat is his Santa hat, he's worn it everyday since it came out of storage on Friday