Christmas Eve Train Surprise

We had no family commitments today, so we thought we would take advantage of the free time and take Jack and Amelie to the Museum Center to see the holiday train exhibit.  We tried to tell them that we were just running to the store but had to change it it to a "surprise" after ten minutes in the car when Jack noticed we were headed toward downtown. The boy is too clever for his own good.

We made it a pretty short trip since both kids were already worn out, and we did not want to exhaust them too much before Christmas. Jack was disappointed that we did not stay longer (and go to the Children's Museum while we were there), but he still had a great time--though it is hard to tell from this big fake smile.

This one actually has genuine enthusiasm behind it.

Of course, it was next to impossible to get pictures of them, since both Jack and Amelie were enthralled with the trains. Most of the ones I took were back of the head shots.f

Or they were "fine here is smile, now leave us alone" pictures.

In the caboose.

Amelie was excited that we found Thomas, coming out of a tunnel.

Look at how serious little boy is about his trains!

Amelie was having fun looking at her reflection in some giant ornaments.

Union Terminal is such a beautiful building. I forgot to get pictures, but we broke away from the crowds and went up to the tower to check out the freight train yards.

An Argument

Jack wore a Santa Hat to school this morning. While we were walking down, I commented that he looked like a Jolly Little Elf. Then things got...ugly. It was the most bizarre fight I've seen in a while.

Jack: Yeah! I'm one of Santa's elves. And you are Santa!
Amelie: Me too! I'm an elf too!
J: No Lil', you can't be an elf.
A: Yes, I am an elf!
J: You can't be, you aren't wearing a Santa hat.
A: (screaming) I'm an elf, too!
J: No!
A:...Den you are an elf, and I am...Michael Dackson!
J:Well, then I am a Michael Jackson elf!
A: No! You just an elf! I AM MICHAEL DACKSON!
J: But...
Me: Stop! Jack you get to be the elf. Amelie, you, um, get to be Michael Jackson. Now let's stop fight--
J: (whining) But I wanna be Michael Jackson too-oo.
Me: Look, the neighbors are giving us weird looks. Just be an elf, or give me the hat.

Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast

Jack had his "Thanksgiving Feast" at school this morning. Kate volunteered us to make some of the Turkey sandwiches for it, and I went in to help. Actually, Jack made the sandwiches. He was pretty disappointed, though, because we were under strict orders about what went on them because of nut allergies in the class.

Jack: Mommy, uhhh, what about cheese?
Kate: No, no cheese.
J: Well, where is the mayonnaise?
K: Just turkey, no mayo.
J: So, we can't put cheese or mayonnaise on them? And it isn't nut and seed bread?
K: No.
J: Ew.

He still had a grand time and enjoyed it. All of the kids were dressed up like either "Pilgrims" or "Native Americans." Jack chose to be a Pilgrim, which kind of surprised me. Amelie went with me and she was mad because she did not get to dress up. She kept asking where the "Tanksgiving Mermaids" were, and that was what kind of costume she would pick. (I don't remember Mermaids in the Thanksgiving story. Disney version, maybe?) She was really good, though, because the other Moms kept sneaking her treats, like Oreos.

Jack is still young enough that he thought it was cool that his Dad and little sister were visiting him at school. He kept showing us off to his friends, with his chest all puffed out.

At the end, they sung a little song. (I'm breaking my rule of putting other people's children without their consent on here, but it's too darn cute.)

Surprise!

The Little "Mommy"

Much to the chagrin of grandparents, etc., Amelie refuses to play with dolls. She will not touch them. Anytime she has hold of one, she gets a very distrustful look on her face -- almost like someone just handed her a snake. Well, a snake may be a bad example since she actually loves to pet them when we go to the zoo. How about...a cheeseburger. She despises those. So, for the sake of this story doll = cheeseburger. But I digress. Badly. Anyway, she does not like dolls. (Or cheeseburgers.)

Even with a dislike off dolls, almost everything she plays revolves around there being babies and mommies. We have a Mommy Thomas and a Baby Thomas (The Tank Engine), a Mommy Mikapeen (Lightening McQueen) and a baby Mikapeen. Whether she is playing Ponies (as in My Little Pony) or even Transformers with Jack, there are babies to be taken care. Jack gets so frustrated when his Transformers are preparing for battle and Amelie's start discussing plans for a birthday party for Megatron. (Of course, Jack usually gets his revenge later when Transformers start attacking the My Little Ponies. Never a dull moment)

For once, Amelie let me take a video of her playing. It is pretty darn cut to see her acting like a little Mommy and tucking in Pup-Pup and New Puppy.

Oh, and for the record, she picked her own outfit.
Also, when we tuck her in we usually leave her face uncovered.

This Is Halloween

We survived the insanity that is Trick-or-Treating in our new neighborhood. And then we were informed this was a "quiet" year.  The kids had a blast. Amelie did not last very long, as she was getting cold. Jack lasted a little longer, but he loves handing out candy more than getting it, I think, so we had to hurry back so he could distribute. I learned that next year I need to get Amelie to walk faster so we can keep up with the big kids on our street (Jack's age through 10)--their Dad's apparently pack a mobile beer cooler to take along.

This is the view from the bottom of our street as things were just getting started.

Jealousy (Warning! Contains Pets and Me, No Kids)

I think Frankie enjoyed being the only dog for a year...