A Whole Lotta Santa

We had quite the busy weekend over here!  It all started on Saturday with the Santa Clause Parade.  I don't typically go to the Fergus Santa Clause parade, but we missed Elora this year and our good friends were going, so I figured it was a great opportunity for a baby meet up.

 

The parade was fun and it was awesome to spend some time with a friend for me and a friend for Parker.  Ok let's be honest, Parker was more into his mum mum than the parade.

In the past, Parker hasn't really been able to defend himself against Declan who is definitely large and in charge!  These two babies are on opposite ends of the spectrum.  Declan is very big for his age and Parker is clearly very tiny for his age.  But he is finally at a point where I don't feel like he's completely breakable and so there was a bit more interaction between them.  Declan did try to pick Parker up a few times though, which I found hilarious.  He's only 17 months old and he could get my 10 month old off the ground! (Don't worry, we shut that one down quickly.)

Then we sat Parker in a dump truck that shouldn't have fit him and Declan promptly dumped him out of it.  Oh I love these babies.

Saturday night was Ryan's work Christmas party which is always a good time.  The food was amazing and it was so nice to have a night out.  Parker hung out with my sister and went grocery shopping and had a bath.  So everyone had a great night!

Sunday was another busy day.  But the highlight was the Santa train.  The santa train is a train that kids go on to meet Santa, instead of going to the mall.  There were two cars, so while Santa was on the first car, we got hot chocolate, cookies and there were a couple singers who went through and sang Christmas carols.  It was a lot of fun and Parker loved looking out the window.

Then it was time for Santa!  Of course Parker doesn't really know what's going on yet, but it's always fun to take a Santa picture anyways.  He seemed pretty unsure of him and seemed to like the elf and Mrs. Clause better, but he didn't cry.  

I just love weekends in December!  They are busy and crazy and you have no time to just sit down and relax but I wouldn't want it any other way.

I'm Old Fashioned

I have a feeling that my kids are going to think that I'm a huge loser.  Because while all of the other kids are out playing with their ipads, my kids are going to be getting things like this for Chistmas:

Which by the way they still do actually sell in stores.  Not only do kids today rarely know what a home phone is, but a rotary phone?  They must be so confused.... And yet at playgroup they have one and the kids do actually play with it...

Anyways, for Christmas or his birthday Parker is getting this:

Because I had one as a kid and I remember playing with it and get all nostalgic when I see it.  So I just had to buy it for him.  Remember how it moos when you open the barn doors?  Or is it just me who remembers that.

So I'm sorry Parker, while your other baby friends are playing with their new tablets, you have to deal with old fashioned farms that don't really do anything.  So I really hope you have a good imagination.

He's been playing with his stacking rings for a couple of months now and hasn't gotten bored so I'm thinking we will be ok.

Little Fishy

This week was Parker's second week of swimming lessons.  So it was time for daddy to take him in the water!  

I loved watching my boys play in the pool.  They were both so happy.  I spend so much time with Parker and I feel like I get to have all of the experiences with him because Ryan is at work all day.  So it was important to me to be able to share this experience, to give Ryan the opportunity to watch Parker learn and grow.  

And yes I was that crazy mama taking pictures from the sidelines.  

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Oh December, we meet again.  It seems like just yesterday that it was Christmas and I was all pregnant and thought that I had over 2 months until we would have a new baby in the house.  (We had about a month.  Good thing I didn't know that or I would of been way more stressed.)

The next few weeks are full.  Full of activities.  Full of family and friends.  Full of Santa Claus and Santa Claus movies.  Full of shopping.  Full of laughter and eating and drinking.  

I love traditions.  We do the same things every year and I look so forward to them.  And I'm looking forward to starting our own traditions with our little family of three.  Christmas is a magical time, and it's especially magical for kids, so looking at Christmas through Parker's eyes and teaching him the joys and the meaning behind this season is what I'm looking forward to the most.

It's a busy time of year, but it's so important to step back and look at what really matters.  Don't get caught up in the rush and the hustle and bustle (although that might be tough).  Look around, watch the kids light up and the families come together.  Before we know it, it will be January.  (And nobody likes January.)  So embrace this time of year and the happiness that it brings.  I know that's what I plan on doing!