Trying out the Christmas presents

For Christmas, Muddy and Guppy gave Addie and Ben rollerskates that adjust for four sizes!! Such a smart idea. Here's the videos I was sent today from their basement!

As you can tell, she is more hesitant than Ben.

I think the thing that shows Ben's fall-down-and-get-back-up-spirit are his knees! See the dust marks? LOL.

MomMom and PopPop got them ice skating lessons for Christmas, which they'll start next weekend!

Christmas Eve other stuff

Don't know what's going on here, but it makes me laugh

That is the "Pass the Parcel" package of wrapped gifts in between layers of wrapping paper. It was huge.

Doesn't he look so grown up?

This was Ben's expression when Aunt Kim explained that she and Uncle Tom are taking Ben to the Franklin Institute's Walking with Dinosaurs exhibit in March. Very cool.

This is Addie showing off her Cupcake Tornado gift.

Addie and Ben both got Nooks! And really cool fiber optic bows. Thanks Pam and Victoria!

During the Pass the Parcel game, Guppy got the coveted gift from Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Amanda. Just look at Richard and Brian's expressions-- you can tell this was so funny.

Amanda was keeled over in laughter. It was really funny. (Thanks to Bub and LouLou for their fine photography skills too, which made Kenny even better!)

Richard got the package which consisted of this Christmas light necklace, which flashed in five different patterns! He wore it with pride! Rock it, Richard!

Christmas Eve family snapshots

In our true fashion, here are the Christmas Eve family photos.

Jeremy and Amanda

Wendy and Richard

Muddy and Guppy

Newlyweds Kim and Tom

Onkteb, Ben and Addie (I have the exact same shot with him giving them bunny ears)

Jeremy, Amanda and the kids

Kim, Tom and Ben smooshing Addie

The four of us

Awww shucks, how cute are we still after all these years?

Guppy, Ben, Addie and Muddy

The whole gang picture.

Christmas Eve ringing

Well there were no television news cameras there this year, but man did Addie have a successful Christmas Eve bell ringing for the Salvation Army.

The Major is calculating total collected right now, and I can't wait to hear the final tally. Some people put in $20 bills, others wads of ones. It was awesome. Clearly Addie was the reason for the donations, as most people said something along the lines of either 1)She's really talented or 2) I couldn't resist not giving when she's singing so lovingly.

Great-Grandmom has passed away

Great-Grandmom died yesterday at the age of 91 1/2 years. I am so happy that Addie and Ben got to know her and vice versa. Not many people get to meet and have a relationship with their great-grandparent.

Brian and I went to the hospice last week during a really rough night and while she was in and out of sleep, she kept asking to see pictures of "the little red head." She always loved Muddy's red hair and when Ben was born with red hair- well that just sent her over the moon.

Addie has always been all about loving on a relative. She hugged the woman before she really knew who she was etc. Ben used to be scared of her, since she was so little, but he warmed up to her.

The kids knew that Great-Grandmom was really old and not going to live much longer. When I told them last night that she has passed away, their immediate response was "I'm going to miss her" which was really sweet.

This morning Addie wrote about her in her journal for school. She wrote something like "yesterday I had an adult in my family pass away. She lived to be 91. I will miss her. She was a small measurement." She told me that she used two of her weekly "amazing" words-- adult and measurement. She said she meant that Great-Grandmom was short.

I'm putting together a photo collage of her over the years right now for the services which will be on Friday evening. It's nice to see pictures of her holding a brand new baby Addie, then see her at Addie's 1st birthday, at a visit when Ben was 4 months old, when Great-Grandmom turned 90, then a few months ago with the kids.

Years ago Brian and I realized we didn't know much about her life, so we went to her house and video recorded interviewed her so we learned more about her. Really glad we did that.

Gingerbread contest

It's that time of year again....time for the hospital's annual gingerbread contest. For the past two years, Addie and Ben have both submitted entries. In the past, we've gone straight to the gingerbread house kits and let them have fun-- which resulted in entries that resembled a gingerbread house kit with random spots of icing and candy on them.

This year, I suggested they draw out their designs, so they knew what they were doing. I can't even begin to explain how impressed I am with what they came up with!

Here's a sneak peek at the mess that was The Great Gingerbread Design 2011....

Ben was really impressed by New York City's cityscape. In fact, as we boarded the train, he threw a minor fit because he wanted to live there.

So it was a welcome surprise that he designed tall city buildings.

To the right is "a Christmas tree field" which is on gumdrop risers "so everyone can see them."

Addie went with a castle theme, in a very creative manner. The front

Right side

Left side

Back. She insisted it needed two back doors.

Note the "moat with Swedish fish swimming around since it's a castle."

Overall, I'm really impressed by both of theirs and I hope they both win!

I take them in on Wednesday and the entries are voted on until the winners are announced on the 20th.

She can't help it!

She's just drawn to it!

I love how the guy gave her his hat to wear. She (not so secretly) really wanted the microphone.

NYC sights

One of our first stops was to the M&M store in Times Square. Ben and Addie were so excited to see all the varieties of M&M's.

Really. More M&M's than one could imagine.

We found this cool walkway between buildings. You literally walk through a waterfall, and it's totally clear all the way around.

We stopped by the American Girl Store and Addie posed by Addy.

We went to FAO Schwartz and danced on the Big piano. (Video too)

We went to Central Park, after walking past The Plaza hotel and discussing how that's where Kevin stayed in Home Alone 2. When we got to the boulders in Central Park, we talked about the scenes in Elf (Buddy the Elf, as they call it) and Home Alone 2 that were shot in Central Park.

Then we walked back to Rockefeller Center to see the tree at night. We picked up our daytime pictures too. I will have to scan them in.

After an exhausting day, Ben couldn't even make it through when his dinner arrived. Literally, that's his food all waiting for him and he couldn't lift his eyelids enough to take a bite.

Funnily, but not funnily, when we left dinner I had to carry him out of the restaurant down three flights of steps and by that point he sort of woke up. I put him down to put his coat on and he was relatively awake. I said come on Ben and started to walk out the revolving door. Well Ben watched the revolving door and was still not fully awake and proceeded to walk smack into the revolving door frame, which was also clear. I mean a fully committed pace right smack into the door. It was so loud that everyone in the restaurant heard it and turned to see him. He had a knot on his forehead like nobody's business. It really hurt him. It was one of those parenting moments where I wanted to console him and make him feel better, but I also wanted to laugh because it was such a unreal experience. I've seen birds fly right into a window before and that's essentially what Ben did!

Friday on our way to Macy's, again it was a looong walk, we walked past this gorgeous courtyard and decorations. Ben said, "can we stop for a picture?" So I was happy to oblige.

Dylan's Candy Bar on 60th and 3rd Ave

Our waitress the night before asked if we had gone to Dylan's Candy Bar. It's a three story building of all things candy, created by Ralph Loren's daughter. We headed there first thing Friday morning.

This big fella is even dressed in foil!

The third floor is a cafe and ice cream shop. We got an ice cream treat and got to sit in this adorable cupcake booth! Look at this!

The table was made out of gumballs.

Ben was quite happy with chocolate all over his face.

Look at the adorable wallpaper, ala Willy Wonka, and the candy stairs! They are actually pieces of candy shellacked into stairs. The landing's logo is made from candy too. The words are created be licorice sticks. It's really a neat place and it smelled delicious!

Seeing Santa at Macy's on 34th Street!

After walking 30 blocks and 5 Avenues, we made it to Macy's on 34th Street at Herald Square! We were there to see the one and the only real Santa Clause!! We hustled and bustled through Macy's to the elevator and rode it to the 8th floor. We got in line and started waiting. It was a little Disney-esque, with divided sections of turning rope. It was really neat because all along the way were pictures of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade over the years, along with little facts. For instance, 1989 was the first year the parade was held in a snowstorm. There were pictures of the Rockettes over the years in various stages of kicks...

So my little Rockettes had to get in on the action too.

The hallways we waited in are usually closed to customers, except for the holiday season where they act as the line for Santaland.

In order to get to Santaland, you have to ride a train. Here's Addie and Ben in front of the train.

Here they are getting on the train. The bell above their head gets rung each time a new family enters! In the next section of the train, you could feel it moving and tracks beneath your feet.

Once we arrived, we got to see Santaland and all it had to offer.

We got to meet the real Santa!!! Ben asked for a Foosball table and Addie asked for some surprises.

This picture made me laugh. Just as they were saying goodbye, Ben started to get off Santa's lap, but Santa was still hugging! Just a funny moment that I captured on camera.

Overall, we waited less than one hour to meet the Big Guy and it was awesome! We each got pins commemorating our trip to Santaland too.

Hershey Park Christmas

We surprised the kids this weekend by going to Hershey Park's Christmas Candylane, which is just Hershey Park rides with Christmas decorations, Christmas music, etc.

The ride up consisted of Ben, Graham and Addie watching The Santa Clause.

The first stop was the astro ride. Ben steered my rocket and Addie steered hers and Brian's. Can you see the smile on her face? She had that thing herking and jerking like no body's business. Brian thought he needed the chiropractor after that ride.

Then they went on the swings

Then the tea cups.

We went on the train ride around the grounds.

And then went on the Pirate Ship. They LOVED this one.

Us grownups got to go on the Claw. Two of those people up there are Scott and me. That was really a fun ride.

We drove sports cars around the track.

And then we came home. A nice afternoon with great weather for fun.

In case anyone ever needs a gift idea for my kids...or just wants a gleaming endorsement of The Pirate Ship, watch below.

I love that I have two adventurous children, who go with the flow, are willing to try new things and like to have a good time.