Mario races upstairs

We got Z a cool Mario Race Track for Christmas and they finally set it up last night. I had to get some pictures of them playing because they were just having so much fun and laughing so hard! I even got some video of them playing. It is mostly laughing though Enjoy the pictures.

On your Mark....Get Set....Pose for a Picture....GO!!

I never thought this would be so much fun!

OOPS, he came off the track again. I guess I am just too fast for Mario!

I am going to win.....but first I am sure Mario will go off the track again....

I am laughing so hard I may pee my pants!

Special gifts for Mom and Dad from Z

On Dec 21 Hubby and I took Z to shop for us without our help. How did we do that you ask???? Since Z really likes Crocs and since we all have a pair, we thought he could pick out a couple Jibbits for us and pay for them on his own then wrap them on his own. So that is exactly what we did. The Crocs Outlet is near out house and is a really small shop so we figured he would be safe to shop on his own and pay without our input. This was such a proud moment for our Z! He kept telling us not to peak! After he selected the perfect Jibbits, he stood in line for his turn. He paid for his stuff all on his own, well with the help for a very sweet lady in line ahead of him. (Thanks very sweet lady!)

We also had accumulated a few gift items from Z as well, but the Jibbits were all on his own without Hubby and I knowing what was selected. We told Z he could wrap all the gifts for us and family the following morning so we hid all the packages in his closet. Of course right after breakfast the next day, he was ready for wrapping. Hubby and I helped Z wrap some items but we let him alone to wrap our Jibbits. He was so proud of his wrapping job as well. This was such a special thing for all of us and can’t wait to do something like this next year.

Proud Mr. Z after purchasing his gifts for Mom and Dad.

Daddy got a Woodstock from Peanut's dressed up as a turkey and a Thomas the Tank Engine train.

Mom got a Tweety Bird and the lady from the Bee Movie

Christmas 2008

After much anticipation, Christmas Day finally came! Z was so excited to see that Santa came while he was asleep. He noticed the stockings right away then the fact that the milk and cookies were gone, then he noticed the gifts under the tree. It was so much fun listening to him squeal and shriek with excitement! With each thing he pulled out of the stocking he was even more thrilled. Just the idea of Santa being in our home is so totally cool! We even had to run outside to see if the reindeer ate the food we put out on the lawn. And of course they did!

We had a wonderful Christmas Day! Of course after opening the gifts, we ate a quick breakfast so we could start playing with toys. Then we prepared for family to come enjoy dinner with us. Hubby and I make our traditional dinner of spaghetti with meatballs and a nice salad and garlic bread. We have been doing this for years! It was nice to get to share our tradition with Hubby’s family this year. We had a house full and it was so nice to see the kids open their gifts from one another then to see what the kids picked out for the adults. After dinner we of course got to eat my brother in law’s yummy cheesecake while watching the kids do “shrinky dinks”.

Z got so many wonderful things from Santa, Mom and Dad and family members. I will not ramble about all the things he got or post pictures of each item so I will just post a few pictures I enjoyed. Mainly for the expressions on Z’s face.

SANTA CAME! And he filled our stockings.

Checking to see if the milk and cookies were eaten.

Santa left a thank you note for the artwork Z gave him personally at our playgroup on 12-23-08. What a nice touch Santa!

THANKS SANTA! This is super cool! I wanted a robot!

This is not all of the photo greetings we recieved this year. Some came after I took this picture. Thank you to everyone who included us this year!

Now we don't have to borrow this book from the library. Z also got the Gruffalo's Child. These are wonderul stories by the way!

Dad goofing around with the 6 foot rubber snake Santa left for Z.

Gee thanks Mom! I love my stuff!

Looks like Z scored BIGTIME!

Dad is so silly!

SItting down to eat dinner.

Santa hats – Just had to share

These pictures were taken on Dec 22 before I left for a mom’s night out party. Z has my old digital camera and is quite the photographer. He took this photo of me before I left for the evening. Yes, I wore that hat the whole night. And the other picture is what I took with his camera on my way out the door. Too bad we don’t have a picture of Daddy in a Santa hat also.

Say cheese Mom!

Your turn Z. Say cheese!

Christmas book tradition is underway – Post #4 – FINAL POST

It is Christmas Eve and we are now done opening all the books I had wrapped. It was a fun experience and I know Z will want to continue it in the years to come.

Dec 19 book

Dec 20 book

Dec 21 book

Dec 22 book

Dec 23 book

Dec 24 book

Christmas Eve!

It is finally Christmas Eve! We had lots to do today. I must start by saying that Z got a wonderful video email from Santa himself. What a joy it was to see the gleem in his eye watching the video from Santa on the computer. Then we built a Santa House, baked cookies and put goodies out for Santa and the Reindeer. Z couldn’t go to sleep fast enough. Meanwhile hubby was in the kitchen preparing for our traditional dinner of meatballs and spaghetti. He made 130 meatballs. I will make the rest of the meal tomorrow when family gets here. It is going to be a great day tomorrow!

Getting the stuff ready to build

This is fun!

I am so proud of the Santa house

Cookies and more cookies!

Cookie and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer

Now more reindeer food for the yard

Finished house

Making the meatballs

This is only 100 meatballs

Making a Gingerbread house

Dec 23 hubby and I decided it was time to construct our gingerbread house. Of course Z was THRILLED to do it. We built mini ones last year so this year I splurged for a big one. I don’t know what was more fun for Z, to decorate the house or to eat the icing. You decide…. Oh, and this kid can’t wait to eat the thing. We told him he had to wait until his family got to see it on Christmas Day. I imagine the first thing he will say after they get to the house is LET’S EAT THE HOUSE!

I LOVE THIS!

YEAH, I am eating the icing....so what?

Daddy and Z did a great job making the house. I just took the pictures.

Breakfast with Santa at Playgroup

Dec 23 our playgroup had another visit from Santa. We met at D’s house and she had milk, coffee and donuts for everyone. The kids brought pictures or a gift for Santa and those who didn’t have something for Santa took some time to color a picture before he came to visit. But before he came, the kids enjoyed playing and then we played some silly games. Reindeer Reindeer Rudolph (AKA duck duck goose) then we played a game of what I want for Christmas having to repeat everyone’s wish. It was cute. Anything to kill time until our visitor came Once Santa got there he read the kids a story, handed out goodie bags, and collected gifts from the kids. He couldn’t stay for long since he had to rush back to the North Pole. Thank you Santa for visiting us again.

Eating breakfast of course!

Coloring another picture for Santa

Reindeer Reindeer Ruldoph!

Santa reading a story

The kids are giving Santa presents

White Elephant for mom

Dec 22 was our playgroup’s Mom’s Night Out White Elephant Gift Christmas Party. There were 12 of us that met for a wonderful dinner at Z-Tejas and we had a blast! The food and conversation was great but the gift exchange was side spliting funny! I haven’t laughed that hard….well….since the last time we all went to dinner. I ended up with a lovely gift of bubble bath, breath mints and lip balm. Let me explain why, #12 person took my gift leaving me to steal or take the last gift. I took the last gift and #1 person did not want to steal from me. Thanks for that K! There were some decent gifts there but I must say, some were HIDIOUS! Doesn’t that make it more fun anyway? I think so….

Merry Christmas Ladies!

WOW! A Letter from Santa!

Dec 22 was a great day for the  little red head in our house. He got a letter in the mail from Santa addressed to him! He was thrilled! Z read the entire letter to us – he is such a great reader! Santa even mentioned that in his letter to Z. Anyway, I just had to share the look of complete joy from my 4 year old today!

I am the luckiest boy ever! I got a letter from SANTA!

Z reading the letter to mommy and daddy all by himself! We are so proud of him! So is Santa!