Christmas Day, Hourly Photo Style

Andrea, over at A Peek Inside The Fish Bowl posts a Challenge on special occasions such as Christmas and Thanksgiving where the day is documented with a photo taken every hour on the hour. Participants are encouraged to tweet or blog their photos through the day.

This is the second time I have participated in the Hourly Photo Challenge. At Thanksgiving, I used Instagram to tweet my photos. Yesterday, I did the same but have decided to post my photos here as well.

8:00am. Ripping paper.

9:00am.  My new coat.

10:00am.  Making stuffing.

11:00.  Playing with new play dough on a new table.

12:00pm.  Turkey, ready to go in the oven.

1:00pm.  Birthday Cake decorating time.

2:00pm.  Still decorating Birthday Cake.

2:15pm.  FInished Birthday Cake!

3:00pm.  Taking advantage of early Boxing Day Sales to order computer parts.

4:00pm. Grandma and Aunties are here with more presents.

5:00pm.  Please can I have some turkey?

5:00pm.  Darn, I forgot to make the cranberries.

6:00pm. Happy Birthday Liam!

7:00pm.  The aftermath.

8:00pm.  Trying to convince Mommy that he's not tired.

9:00pm.  Mulled cranberry and amaretto and then bedtime for the grown ups!

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

For the past month or so, Liam has been obsessed with Christmas.  He is constantly talking about decorations, Santa and presents.  We've been doing everything we can to satisfy his need for all things Christmas.  We've been to see Santa, we've written to Santa, we've been to Christmas parties where he got a gift from Santa, we've done Christmas baking, we've decorated and we've watched Christmas specials on TV.

Over the past week, since first watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on TV, Rudolph has been at the forefront of his obsession.  He sings Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer at every opportunity, from the time he gets up in the morning to the time he goes to bed at night.  (I think he's even fallen asleep singing it a couple of times.  He is singing it in his bed as I type!)

On the weekend, he announced, "Mommy, I want to be Rudolph for Christmas."

When his Daddy told him to get a tissue because he had a runny nose, Liam replied, "I don't want a runny nose.  I want a red shiny nose."

And on the way to work and daycare this morning, he sang Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer to me and then said, "When I grow up, I want to be Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer."

I think a trip to the dollar store for some reindeer antlers is in order!

Chocolate Surprise

Ever wondered what you would get if you combined chocolate chips, butterscotch chips and rippled potato chips?  No?  Me either, but somebody did!  

And since discovering the recipe a few years ago from a co-worker (thanks Elan!)  It has been top of my list for Christmas baking and pretty much any event where I have to bring something sweet!  Not only are they delicious little candy goodness but they are super easy!  So easy that Liam and Daddy can make them!  (Henry is a great cook, but not much of a baker!)

First you melt a package (300 grams or 2 cups) of chocolate chips and a package (300 grams or 2 cups) of butterscotch chips in a double boiler.  (I've been told you can also do this in the microwave, but have never tried that method.)

While that's melting, throw some ruffles potato chips in a ziplock bag (fill a large ziplock about 1/3 full) and give it to your little help to crush.  You need to end up with about 2 cups of crushed potato chips.  You don't want them crushed to dust, but you do want them fairly small.

When the chocolate and butterscotch is all melted, stir in the potato chips.  Spoon mixture onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.  Put in the fridge to set.

After about 20 minutes, they will be firm enough to remove from the tray.  Try one, they are scrumptious!  

I haven't met a person who hasn't said thought this is a strange recipe, but I also haven't met a person who doesn't love them once they try them!

They are so quick and easy to make that they are perfect to package up as gifts or to make for a cookie exchange.  (We made 15 dozen yesterday for Henry's work cookie exchange!)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

We jumped into the Christmas season with a bang last weekend.

First night we attended a community Christmas event called Christmas in the Gower.  It is a great night for socializing, enjoying homemade cookies, music and of course, Santa!  I've been attending this even for years as the North Gower Brownies, Girl Guides and Pathfinders always sing a couple of songs to entertain the crowd.  But what I now realize is that this is the perfect place to visit Santa.  He arrives on a fire truck, you don't have to go to an insanely busy mall and standing in line for hours.  Liam told Santa that he wants a train set and tools for Christmas and we even got a couple of nice pictures!

Saturday night we all sat down together on the couch to write Liam's letter to Santa.  Although he doesn't quite get the concept of writing to Santa, he did enjoy talking about what he wants for Christmas (a train set, tools and a big Bumblebee Transformer).  Daddy and I did most of the composing of the letter, but adding stickers was exciting for Liam!

Sunday was Henry's work's Christmas Party for the kids.  It was held at a bowling alley.  Liam's new favourite thing to do - bowling!  He didn't care if he hit any pins as long as he could keep rolling balls down the alley!  We had to fight to get a turn!

After bowling was lunch and a visit from . . . you guessed it, the big guy himself, Santa Claus, and he had gifts!  Apparently bowling makes little boys VERY hungry because our Christmas obsessed Liam had little to no interest in Mr. Claus or the other kids with their wrapping paper and gifts . . . lunch was much more important at that moment!  When his name was called, he was shocked to get a present!  He got right to work on the wrapping paper and was thrilled to find the big Bumblebee Transformer that he wanted.  (We had to provide the gift.)

Sunday evening, we gave into Liam's pleas for a Christmas tree!  (He'd only been asking for three weeks!)  He could hardly contain his excitement as we assembled the tree and put on the lights!

Then, I couldn't put hooks on the ornaments fast enough for him!  The tree has never been decorated so quickly, but it has also rarely been this fun.  When he couldn't get a hook on a branch, he hung it on another decoration.  When we suggested that certain decorations should go up higher he showed us where to put it.  Now, every morning when we get up and every day when we get home he turns on "his tree" for us all to enjoy.

I love that we are starting to build these family traditions together.  I love that at almost 3 years old, Liam actually gets it this year.  He is so excited for Christmas and it won't get here fast enough for him.  

Snow Dragons

Life with Liam becomes more and more interesting as he can communicate more and more things.  And now, it is getting to be even more interesting as he is starting to develop what we can only assume is a very vivid and creative imagination.

Right now, it is Snow Dragons.  What is a snow dragon, you ask?  That's exactly what we wanted to know!

Liam has been talking about Snow Dragons for a week now and we have asked everyone he has been in contact with recently if they know what a Snow Dragon is and no one has a clue.  The incredible thing is the amount of detail he has come up with about these creatures that he has imagined.  

Through countless conversations with Liam about these creatures, this is what we have learned, all quotes from the expert:

What do snow dragons look like?

"Like dragons but snow dragons are white.  They have big wings and they fly far and fast. They roar like a dinosaur."

Where do they come from?

"They come from the sky, but not this sky, a different sky."

Where do they live?

"They live in caves."

Do they have friends?

"Yes."

Are their friends people?

"Yes, girls, I think."

Are they big or little?

"They are big, but sometimes little.  The big ones have little ones."

What do snow dragons eat?

"Sometimes bugs because snow dragons don't like bugs.  Snow dragons don't like juice.  They drink water."

On Wednesday morning, when we woke up to the first snow of the year, we learned more about the mysterious creature.

"Liam, it snowed last night."

"Did the snow dragons come?"

"I don't know, why?"

"Snow dragons bring the snow.  They come with the snow clouds.  And they play in the snow."

On Friday when the snow was all melted, this is what he told me.

"The snow is gone.  It melted into water.  But it's OK because the snow dragons will come back and bring more another day."

I have no idea where this sudden surge in imagination came from, but I love it and I hope that it continues!  

Conversations with Liam

It really doesn't seem like that long ago that Liam's only word was "Ada" for Daddy.  But a lot has changed.  Since he moved to the preschool aged program at daycare this summer, his language has exploded.  And although I miss the toddler talk days when I was "Nonny" instead of Mommy and before bed he said "Lu Lue" for I love you, it is so much fun and (often funny) to have real conversations with my boy!

Some of these conversation just need to be recorded forever!!

While driving in the truck . . . 

Liam: "Mommy, what is this road called?"

Me: "Prince of Wales Drive."

Liam: "Is the prince of wales a whale?"

While out with Grandma on Remembrance Day . . . 

Liam: "Gabba, what's that?" (pointing to her poppy)

Grandma: "It's a poppy."

Liam: "Why?"

Grandma: "Because it is Remembrance Day.  It's to honour all the men and women who were in the wars.

Liam: "And the Dinosaurs?"

At bedtime . . . 

Liam: "I love my blankie.  Where did you buy it?"

Me: "Your Grandma L made it for you."

Liam: "Why?"

Me: "Because you were a little baby and needed a blankie to sleep with.  She made two, one for your bed at home and one for daycare."

Liam: "I don't have a blankie to sleep with at preschool anymore."

Me: "Why not?"

Liam: "It's broken." (looking very sad and disappointed)

Me: "What do you mean it's broken?"

Liam: "I don't know.  It's just broken."

Me: "What happened to it?"

Liam: "Sometimes blankies just break." (getting sadder with every word)

Me: "Do you want mommy to talk to Terri tomorrow and find out why your blankie is broken?"

Liam: "Yes.  And dragon too."  (dragon is his sleep toy)

Me: "OK, I will talk to Terri in the morning."

Liam: "Thank you Mommy." (big smile and hug)

**I did talk to Terri the next morning at drop off, Liam's blankie and dragon are both completely fine and he sleeps with both every day.  I have no idea where this conversation came from, but it was cute!

In the bath . . . (This one may get me some spam comments, but it is too funny not to share!)

Liam: making a funny groaning noise

Me: "What are you doing?"

Liam: "Just this." (he was holding his penis up and poking his testicles.

Me: "Why are you doing that?"

Liam: "Because.  Mommy, what is this?"

Me: "Umm, your testicles."

Liam: "I don't like it, please take it off, mommy."

Me: "Pardon?"

Liam: "I don't like it.  Please take it off."

Me: "I can't take it off, it is part of you."

Liam: "Why?"

Me: "It just is."

Liam: Silently continues to explore, then after a minute looks at me.  "Mommy, I think it's just dry skin. I think it will go away by itself."

Stay tuned for more Conversations with Liam as I am sure that there will be many more that I just have to share!

Trick or Treat!!

Liam had been talking non stop about Halloween for days leading up to October 31.  It seemed as though he actually got the concept this year.  He wanted to be a dinosaur, we found a costume at Value Village, it was a little on the small side, but Grandma altered it so that it would fit nicely. We were all set.  About a week before Halloween, he even insisted that we decorate!  He enjoyed helping Daddy carve a jack-o-lantern.

Pumpkin Carving Time!

The day before Halloween, we tried on the costume to decide what clothes he would wear under it and a melt down happened.  He didn't want to wear his dinosaur costume.  He thought it was too small.  Monday morning, as we left the house to go to daycare, he freaked out when he saw the costume.  He said he wasn't going to wear and told me to leave it at home.

I wasn't sure what Halloween night would bring.  Would we actually go trick or treating?  Or would we stay home with an upset little boy.

Fortunately, when we got to daycare, he was happy to put his costume on.  He wore it all day.  He came home excited to go trick or treating.  And insisting that Mommy dress up too!

I'm a dinosaur!  Roar!!

Mommy is a witch!

We set out, going to Gabba's house first.  Where he insisted that Grandma coming trick or treating with us!  And then we were off, to what I expect would be a few houses, maybe out for half an hour or so.

Trick or Treat

Let's go to people's houses!

But we kept going and going and going.  Our little dinosaur was a very good little trick or treater, knocking on doors, saying Trick or Treat, saying Thank you and Happy Halloween and giving lots of dino roars!

After each house, he asked to go to another house and another and another.  We finally had to stop him after an hour when he was literally getting too tired to walk.  And fortunately too tired to protest!

Let's go to another house!  I want to go to that one!

The best conversation of the night was at our final stop was at the Marlborough Pub.  It is a favourite place for all of us to eat.  The staff have been making a big deal over Liam since he was a newborn.  

The conversation went like this.

Waitress: "You are such a cute dinosaur.  I have a chocolate bar for you."

Liam: "I don't like chocolate."

Waitress: (jokingly) "Well, would you like a french fry instead?"

Liam: "Yes please!"

Waitress: "Here you go." Handing him a Mars bar.

Liam: "Is this like a french fry?"

Waitress: "Sure."

When we got home, Liam was still holding the Mars bar and talking about it being like a french fry.  So, we opened it up and let him try it.  Ever since, every time he sees a Mars bar, he recognizes it as being "like a french fry".  And the boy, who really didn't like chocolate, now likes Mars bars!

Checking out the loot after a fun night of trick or treating.

Since Monday, Liam has been asking if Halloween is over.  And making me promise that it will come back next year.