Christmas Day part 2

So going back to Christmas Eve, we had Christmas at my Aunt's house and Santa came.  Both the boys got footballs, which was number one on their list for Santa.

In the past, there have been bags and bags of gifts for the kids- one gift per child.  This year there were 4 kids so 4 gifts.  It was sad to see that not so many people came to the family Christmas.  each year it gets less and less since Grandpa Joe died.  So sad.

The boys and auntie Lulu opening their presents.

We also saw Santa on the 23rd at the Bass Pro Shop.  The boys were quite happy to finally see the big man.

Mam, opening a present from Japan.

My presents from Japan: socks, a clutch type purse, and hat and scarf.  very nice gifts.

Pablo also got a big chew bone in his stocking.  He does not get wrapped presents since he would chew through all wrapping.

Uncle Darrell opening his gift from Japan- very nice drinking glasses for him and Auntie Lulu. Lulu has threaten everyone with death if the glasses get broken.  I think she really likes them

BB holding the chocolates from Japan- YUMMM

The boys at Aunt J's house.

Jason had to work on Christmas Day (because heaven forbid the company that owns the Aquarium actually closed down for one day), so he brought his gifts for the boys to the Christmas Eve celebration.  Bug got a new drum pad

A gift card for BB

Christmas morning, playing with Legos

BB, Christmas Eve, on Santa's lap

Love and hugs,
Deb

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Part 1

I have pictures on multiple cameras and it has taken almost 2.5 hours to get these to the point where I could post them.   Words coming tomorrow.

 

The boys decorated the gingerbread cookies on the 23rd.  it was very intense work.

 

Of course it was fun too.

Milk and cookies for Santa.  Bug would not believe that Santa wanted chocolate milk instead of white milk.

Waiting in the hallway until Momma says they can go into the living room.  I was up about an hour before the boys.  Bug was up next and he would not wait another 2 hours for BB to wake up, so I woke BB up at 8 am so Bug and he could have Christmas.

filled stockings, including the one for Pablo.

Pablo's new baby, it lasted all of 30 minutes or less before the squeaker had to be taken out because Pablo had gotten to it and was chewing it and the nose was chewed off.

Santa came!!

BB wanted some superhero shirts and Momma came through for him.

Bug got one too, along with some movie shirts.

BB got a chess/checkers/backgammon set so he can continue to play these games in Japan.

Bug got the book he has been wanting.

and the family got some movies

Pablo got a new baby from Japan- it is soooooo cute

and some doggie treats.

I received a hat and scarf along with some socks and a purse from Japan.

 

Closing with the opinions from the boys "Christmas was AWESOME!"

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

December 22 baking cookies

First- I posted a total of 4 days of pictures, so if you have not seen anything since St. Nick's Day (06Dec, go back and look at pictures from 07, 14/18, and 20 December).

 

First real day of Christmas break- the boys are off school until 02Jan, going back to school on 05Jan and I am off work the same time.  Today, we started the day by baking cookies.  3 types, candy cookies, sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies.

 

 

Bug helped me make the dough for the gingerbread and then while that dough chilled in the refrigerator, BB and I made the sugar cookie dough.

The boys decorated the cookie candies- dip the cookies in melted chocolate and then into chocolate sprinkles or nuts.  Unusally I have coconut too, but apparently I forgot to buy the coconut.

They each got to roll out the gingerbread dough.

They decorated the sugar cookies before baking them. 

 

I think they had a good time.  Tomorrow, they will decorate the gingerbread cookies with icing and then I think we are set for Christmas.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

December 20 Holiday Trains and Flowers

Saturday, 20Dec, I took the boys and Mam to the museum center to see the holiday trains.  The museum center used to the train station back in the 1930-1970s, then it was a mall and finally now is a train station (2 trains a day) and the museum center. 

This is what it looked like in the 1940s

Bug, enjoying some down time in the first class train seats.  Bug was not having a good day at this point.  I am not sure why, but he was very grumpy

Mam and the boys

hanging out with the revolutionary war soldiers

On the river boat- from the 1830s in Cincinnati

Looking up river

Trains.  These trains started in 1946 (The year Mam was born).  She remembers going to see these trains when she was child and I remember seeing them after we moved back here to Cincinnati.  Now Bug is seeing them.  3 generations enjoying these trains.  I hope this display is around for many generations to come.

They had packages set up to look like local buildings.  Too cool.

Me and my bug

Pogie and Patter from one of the old store displays in Cincinnati.  I remember seeing these when I was younger.

Outside the Hall of Justice (the Museum center).  If you have ever seen the cartoon show "super friends", the hall of Justice was modeled after Union Terminal, which is Museum center.

After Museum center, We headed over to Krohn's conservatory to see the holiday display there. all the buildings are local landmarks made out of natural materials. 

My handsome boys

The Taft Museum

World headquarters of Proctor and Gamble (P&G)

The Tyler-Davidson Fountain from Fountain square

The old incline- Mam remembers this, though it is long gone now.

Museum Center from the side

 

The elephant house from the zoo.

throwing change into the waterfall

They even had the balloons.  We were looking forward to seeing the balloons (the big ones) this year, but it was cancelled for the 2nd year in a row.  they are now talking about doing the balloon glow another time of year- not in November like they usually do.

Butterfly Mam

Butterfly momma

Butterfly BB

Butterfly Bug, who is definitely not having a good day at this point

Love and hugs,
Deb