Imagination...

I bet when your kid has a big box to play with they make a house or a rocket ship. My kid makes a sewer.

He had the sides folded just like this and asked me to grab the tape. I taped it where he asked, asked him what it was, and was very impressed when he said sewer. It really does look like one!

Then he asked me to loosen the tape so he could climb in his sewer.

I'm thinking a future as a civil engineer?

I'm that crazy mom that takes her kid to Walmart 5 days before Christmas and lets him buy a toy. I must say he was so good in the cart while I shopped.  He wanted Candy Land. I had visions of picking up piles of cards all over my family room and nixed that idea. I don't think he's ready for it anyway. ;)  I let him buy Hungry Hungry Hippos. He loves marbles, and the game involves lots of action. It's also something I knew he would enjoy playing alone.

Did you notice his face? He has fallen down the steps onto the wood floor twice this week...hitting the same cheek both times!!!  I don't understand it!  I guess he is just too fast, and I know he doesn't pay attention. Now Dan and I are insisting that he either hold our hand or come down on his butt. I told Dan that Jake takes 10 years off my life every time he falls down the steps. I can't take much more!

Jake was doing really well while we were playing the game, but he decided he didn't have enough marbles. He took matters into his own hands.

We took turns counting our marbles when the game was done.  Jake's counting went something like this...
"...6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 34, 45."
I thought it was pretty comical especially since he knows how to count to 20.

In addition to the game, Jake got another new toy today. What was I thinking? This one was suppose to go in his stocking. I bribed him with it. I was busy cleaning his room and closet today to make room for whatever Santa might bring. I needed cooperation, and the bribery worked. I gave him this cute fountain for the bathtub. It was such a hit. He loved it!

Kate comes home tomorrow night! We are so excited!!  She has her Calc 3 grade, and we are so proud of how well she's done. It's been a tough semester, and she really rocked it. She has 2 more finals tomorrow, and then she's finished. She's ready for a break, and we are more than ready to have her home. I'm looking forward to lots of fun together over the next few weeks.

Our tradition continues...

Every year we take a trip through Santa's Magical Kingdom and then grab dinner at Steak 'n Shake.  We were trying really hard to find a date before Christmas that would work for Kate also, but she has finals through next Tuesday night. We were running out of evenings. We are hopeful that we can get back there the week after Christmas so Sissy can see it, too!

Jake climbed up front by us for the best view.

 In the past couple of years, they added a gift shop. Jake saw Santa there, and then we told him he could pick out one toy. It was a very long search.

 These crazy spinners played music, too...not nice Christmas music. It was some kind of bizarre noise. I could not bear to think about the ride home.  I didn't want that thing in my house! I discouraged him, and Jake is easy like that. He decided on a super ball with a frog inside.

We finished the light tour and jumped back on the highway to head to dinner. I casually mentioned to Dan that I wished Steak 'n Shake served alcohol, and that was all it took. We decided to search for a new dinner location. We found a Bandana's, and Jake ate very well.   I got my drink...which I really needed after listening to those gift shop spinners.

We always end our Magical Kingdom night with a trip to Krispy Kreme.  I loved watching father and son discuss the fine art of donut making.

I have no idea why his cheeks were bright red. We noticed it just after the light tour. He felt fine. He found a fun way to play with his new super ball.

What's on your Christmas list?

Let me share Jake's list with you.

water gun
bubble wrap
iPhone
jingle bells like at school

This might be one of the craziest lists Santa has ever heard! Jake has a water gun. In fact, Jake has more than one water gun thanks to Aunt Kathy.  Jake gets bubble wrap all the time. He plays with Mommy's iPhone whenever he wants.  Jingle bells?  Right...like I need that in my house. I guess this is a boy who has too much already!!

We had Jake's school Christmas party this morning. His behavior was much improved from last year's party. He actually sang the songs and participated appropriately. I loved his reindeer ears. He loved his cookie...cookies!

This was Mommy's gift bag.

This was inside.

He also made this ornament for me earlier in the week in his Enrichment Class.

I love adding these treasures to the tree with the treasures that Kate made when she was little.

Jake has really been busy at school lately. Receiving a piece of art use to be a treat. Now he brings something home for me almost every day.

This evening the fire department brought Santa to our neighborhood. We saw him last year, so I didn't expect any issues this year with Jake. Was I ever wrong! I spent nearly 30 minutes trying to convince him to go with me to Church...Santa's stopping point.  He refused. We even had tears.  I decided just to let him wait outside for Santa to drive by.

He had a blast throwing snowballs at our house and garage.

We heard the sirens, but Santa and the firemen never came down our street. After waiting about 15 minutes in the freezing cold, I convinced him to hop in the car so we could head to Church to see what was going on. We got there during a lull in the activity. Jake was the only kid approaching Santa. One after another the firemen encouraged Jake to climb up on Santa's sleigh.

Jake refused over and over again. It then occurred to me what the problem was. Jake was worried that the sleigh would take off for the North Pole with him in it! I promised him that he wouldn't have to get in...we would just get close enough to talk to Santa.  Santa stood up and asked Jake his name. He gave Jake a high five and kept calling him "Big Jake".  He invited Jake up one more time, and Jake refused. Santa sure surprised Mommy when he said, "Then I'll come down to you!"

Santa asked Big Jake what he wanted for Christmas. He understood the part about the water gun, but Mommy had to clarify about the bubble wrap. Santa thought he meant a gun that blew bubbles.  Jake is now very happy that Mommy talked him into seeing Santa tonight!

I've been a busy scrapper lately. Here are a few things that I've been working on. All products used are available at DesignerDigitals.com.