New Year's Eve

This year for the New Year celebrations, we had over Shaunasee's family to join Lindsay's family and us for some late night celebrations. I thought we'd celebrate "East Coast New Year" and do the countdown at 10:00pm our time, but the kids were troopers and stayed up until midnight. We played games, watched movies and lit fireworks outside at the stroke of midnight. The next morning all the kids at our house slept in to make up for the late night celebrations. Kevin and I may have done so as well.

Happy New Year!

The boys decided to snuggle together to watch the movie.

Christmas 2019

This year we had Christmas celebrations at our house. We had Trace and Liam team up to deliver the gifts to the name on the appropriate tags. It was funny to watch Trace read it, give it to Liam and watch him take it to the wrong person over and over. It was cute to see who he thought was who. Trace got a really cool Spiderman PlayStation 4, a funny goblin creature he wanted and a "real" cowboy hat. Another joyful holiday in the books!

Trace was so happy to show his Dad that he picked out a Star Wars shirt just for him. 

I guess it's safe to say he liked his "Black Suit Spiderman" costume!

Nothing like a little wrestling after dinner!

Tamara gave Trace a HUGE Nerf gun!

Trace gave Papa a singing lump of coal

No Christmas is complete without a poop board game

We bought Liam a "veterinarian" doctor set and he loved it!

Even Raven got a new toy!

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve, the Chipman kids joined Trace and I for cookie decorating for Santa. We ended up eating as many as we left for Santa, but it was worth it. Off to bed so Santa can come!

Feel the wind through your hair

Trace and I were running errands one day and we were commenting about how dogs like to put their heads out the window. We weren't sure what the appeal is, so Trace decided to try it. Yes, it is December and yes, his eyes started to water almost immediately, but he did get his question answered. Sometimes I let that kid do crazy things.

Charlie the Elf

As Charlie was doing different things throughout the season, I found it so funny when Trace woke up one morning and found Charlie doing something "bad" and Trace exclaimed; "Oh! So now Charlie is a criminal?!"

Wizard of Oz

I got free tickets from a client to attend a Hale Center Theatre production of the Wizard of Oz and I decided to take Lindsay Chipman since they live in my basement now and I haven't spent a lot of time with just her. I ended up liking the show so much, I bought tickets for Trace, Kevin and I to go see it together the next weekend. We also got to see the nephew of my co-worker, Liz Cole, who played the Tin Man in the production we saw. He was great! We've seen Addison before and he always does a good job. I'm so grateful that Trace likes live theatre and that Kevin tolerates it. Can't wait for the next show!

The new theatre is so nice! They have two theatres, we were in the "round" this time. 

Cool because you can see the whole show from any seat!

Elf on a Shelf

This year, we got a special project to do in conjunction with the Elf on a shelf. There was a book that described how the letters that kids write to Santa Claus are too large for the Elf to carry and fly to deliver them to the North Pole. So, included was a special kind of paper that the kids can write their letters to Santa on and then, they shrink down to "Elf size" so that the elves can carry them and deliver them to Santa. They reminded me of the old "shrinky-dinks" that I used to play with as a kid. Once the kids wrote the letters, they were placed in the oven and they shrunk down to the size of and density of a Christmas tree ornament.
Since the Chipman kids are here, we invited them to participate too. After Kevin read the kids the book, each kid wrote what they wanted from Santa for Christmas. When I checked on Trace's progress, I was so touched to see that the first thing he wrote was his wish for his parents to "get better". I think he's been so tired of seeing us in various stages of pain and recovery, I thought it was so sweet that we were his priority. When I saw what he had written, I hugged him and told him he was okay to ask for a gift or two, only then did he add that he'd like a Lego set. When I talked about it later, he said; "Well, Mom, Christmas is about being with your family and sharing special times, not presents." I'm not sure what I did to deserve such a sweet boy, but I sure do love him.

Letter Translation: "From Trace Carrell Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is my parents to get better. I hope you can do that for Christmas. Is it okay if I have a Lego for Christmas. Thank you so much for all you can do."

 After Trace's Elf (named Charlie) took the letters to Santa, he got into some shenanigans with some of Trace's other toys. I'm so grateful for Trace's enjoyment of all things "magical".