More Christmas, 2012

Christmas Eve, Mimi and I went to the twins' house for dinner and presents. Jennifer prepared awesome talapia fish and a salad and rice. I felt so healthy after eating it, I enjoyed several cookies for dessert! It was delicious, and I think even I could fix that fish. Jennifer's Dad Grady and his wife Carrie were there, along with both her sisters and their families, and me and Mimi and Grandma Hayslett.  It was a house full of folks and everyone having a good time with each other and watching the kids.

Grandpa Grady tries to convince Jake and Claire to tell him all their secrets.

 Jennifer had activities for the kids too, including decorating gingerbread men cookies. Allison and Travis join Jake and Claire in the decorating, and even older cousin Christian enjoyed a cookie.

 All 4 little kids climbed onto the tire swing, and had a grand time. The yelling and screaming you hear in the video later in the blog are squeals of delight. Note Jake's blue lips, he really liked the blue icing!

Allison opens presents. She is so festive in her red Christmas dress.

Travis and Jake got harmonicas from JanMa. They both knew immediately what they were and were able to make noise with them.

Claire got a beach mansion doll house. It was all set up a few days later and she liked playing with it.

Aunt Jamie and Uncle Jason work on putting presents together after the kids open the boxes.

Jeremy had to figure out Jake's new electric train. Jake opened it, immediately started hooking the train cars together, and cried when Jeremy asked if they could put it together the next day. Jeremy, good Dad that he is, focused on Jake and got the train going very soon.

Claire loved the easel, and had a great time playing with it that night.

Christmas Day was sort of off-kilter. We were to eat dinner at Bill's but he lost power from a severe storm that came through that morning. So he brought his part of the dinner to my house, and Mimi and Bill's son Brent and girlfriend Cindy and Brent's Mom Linda all joined us at my house for Christmas noon meal. I had made the green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with marshmellows and dressing. Bill brought turkey and ham, everything was delicious.

That night Bill and I joined Jeff and Jaime and William at Jaime's parents house, along with Brent, Cindy and Linda. More tasty food, prime rib, twice-baked potatoes, corn casserole and several kinds of pie for dessert. William was the star of the show, and he loved it!

A few days later I visited the twins again to see what Santa had brought. One highlight present was an airplane seesaw.  See the video below to get an idea of how it works.  Jake loved it, you can hear him laughing in the video.

Christmas 2012, pre-activities

The 3 weeks before Christmas, I worked at the reception desk in Conroe ISD Human Resources department. Fun cause I've made friends with everyone there, Christmas luncheon, and Christmas money.

Luncheon Day, just before Christmas break.

 During that time, Mimi had a family gathering at her house. She likes to entertain, and this was her first time in her new house. The food was great, beef filet tenderloin, ham, shrimp, lots of fruit and cheese and crackers, homemade candy for dessert, and especially for the kids, yogurt and mac/cheese.

 Wyeth and Ainsley on the left, children of my cousin Michael and and Laura; color with Jake and Claire.  Mimi had crayons and paper, PlayDoh and rubicks cubes for the kids to play with. I took the Lincoln Logs down there also. This was the first time these 4 had met each other, and they were a good group.

 Blaine and Erin, Laura and Michael, Bill behind Laura. Jeremy joined the guys and discussed each other's jobs, football, and whatever else guys talk about.

 After dinner, Mimi played the organ, and that got all the kids' attention.

 Claire and Wyeth try out their fingers on the keys.

The weekend before Christmas, Mimi and I drove up to Dallas. I had a slumber party with John and Taylor Friday night while parents had a get-away night, dinner, a hotel, and breakfast. They were still back at home before 9:00 a.m. I had fun with the kids, and Taylor was very good about Mommy and Daddy being away.
Even though it was cold, it was OK to bundle up and play outside for a few minutes. We spent about 30 minutes outside after their naps. We played chase for about 10 minutes which warmed us all up.

Back inside for dinner, and NO, JanMa does NOT have a scary movie on the TV. It was Tom and Jerry cartoons, which they love.

 After dinner and baths, the kids each opened a present from JanMa.

I put Taylor to bed about 7:10, she was getting tired and fussy. Five minutes later she came out of her room and announced, "I wake up!" I let her stay up longer, then put John and Taylor to bed just before 8:00. Five minutes later, Taylor comes back out and announces that she is awake! "Oh no," I said, and showed her John in his bed, and then put her back to bed. I sat in there with her a few minutes and she was sound asleep. Taylor woke up about 3:00, I heard her and ran to meet her coming out of her room, loaded with all her stuffed animals and a blanket. She had to go potty, then went right back to bed. John woke up about 6:00, and I let him crawl into bed with me and we played on the iPads. He taught me how to play Angry Birds. I now have 5 Angry Birds games on my iPad, but it was still several days later before I figured out different birds have different capabilities (one can accelerate, one drops bombs, one can split into 3 smaller birds, etc.)

 That night, we all met up at La Hacienda Ranch for dinner, Mimi and me, Diane and Richard and Blaire, Blaine and Erin, and Jason, Ashley and the kids. The animals were dressed for the season.

 My nephews, Blaire and Blaine

 Santa and Mrs. Claus found John at the restaurant, and we got a quick picture and scored some peppermint candy canes.

 John, Jason and Taylor. Taylor carried her purse and had some of her special treasures inside it.

 John and Taylor were enthralled by a wooden Indian, and had a great conversation with Blaine and Erin. Maybe Blaine and Erin like kids and will have some in the not too distant future.

 Back in Conroe, at Walmart, I just had to take this picture in the parking lot. Walmart parking.

 And here are live animals dressed for the season also.

 And finally, this Christmas cactus was sent to me and Mimi last Christmas by her friend VH, who is no longer with us. But the Christmas cactus bloomed again, even after sitting outside all summer long.

All Aboard the Polar Express

Saturday night Mimi and I drove to Palestine, TX, and met all my children and grandchildren for a ride on the Polar Express.  The Polar Express is a book, made into a movie, about a kid that rides the train to the North Pole. The Texas State Railroad has a seasonal train ride from Palestine to the North Pole and encourages riders to wear their PJs. On board, the kids are served hot chocolate, a cookie, hear the story read aloud, ride to the North Pole and watch Santa and the elves from the train, then Santa boards the train for the return trip and gives each child a bell cut from a reindeer's harness. Only those who believe can hear the bell ring.  I'm a believer, I heard lots of ringing bells!

 We all met up at a park in Palestine so the kids could play after a long car ride.

John climbed the steepest tallest slide he had ever been on. Claire and Jake also enjoyed this slide.

Pre-train ride dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Palestine.

Uncle Jason taught Claire how to blow the paper off a straw.

 Waiting to board the train, the kids in their PJs.

 I did see quite a few families wearing matching PJs, including the adults.

 On board the train. We were up in the dome car, comfortable seats and good view.

 Jake and Claire waving goodbye to the train station.

 The chef serving hot chocolate. On the return trip, the chef and steward picked up our mugs, rinsed and packed them in bubble wrap and returned them to us to keep. Very nice.

 The steward serves up cookies, oatmeal chocolate chip, very good.

The kids' parents had wisely brought sippy cups to pour the hot chocolate into.

 Arriving at the North Pole, note the lights through the train windows. When the announcement was made that the North Pole was in sight, the kids all jumped to the window to look out.

 Mimi joined the kids to catch a glimpse of the North Pole. 

 I bet she heard all the bells too!

 Santa boarded the train with an elf for the return trip, handing out bells and posing for pictures.

On the way back, we sang Christmas carols.

Some of us got sleepy.  Bet John slept most of the way home!

I like this photo, lucky to get Jake's reflection in the window as we approached the depot on the return trip.

It was everything I hope it would be. No accidents, no meltdowns, fun time with the boys' and their families and Mimi, and the excitement from all the kids of seeing the North Pole, Santa Claus and a train ride in their PJs. They may not remember it when they get older, but I have a LOT of pictures!