Holiday Dump ...

The holidays, as always, are a busy time of year so instead of breaking all of our activities, festivities and celebrations into separate posts this is going to be a 'Holiday Dump' of sorts ... our apologies :)

 

Mom and James worked on putting a Gingerbread House Kit together this holiday season and James had a blast doing so ... though some of the icing and candy ended up in his stomach rather than on the house.  Go figure!

We were greeted by an early December snow storm - enough to get out and play in and make a snowman!  James was pretty excited, as you can see - Henry wasn't so sure about it!

 

 

James made an Advent wreath at Sunday School this year and each week we lit and shared the meaning of the four candles.  

 

 

Henry attended church's Baby's First Christmas event and took his turn sitting the the manger.  He got another turn on Christmas Eve when he played the role of Baby Jesus.

 

 

We ventured out in the cold at night in mid-December to see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train.  James is still asking when we get to go see it again.  It was a pretty cool thing to see and James was so excited to see it pull up into the rail yard all decked out in holiday lights!

 



 

James was a great helper in the kitchen this holiday season.  Grandma Dar Dar and him made some ornaments for the tree and he helped top off our peanut butter blossom cookies too!

 

 

 

Per tradition the Atkinson and Clark families headed down to see the Macy's display, visit Santa and watch the Holidazzle parade.  James and Elliot waited patiently to see the big man and as luck has it not all the kids are looking at the camera for the Santa picture.  It wouldn't be tradition if that didn't hold true :)  Sarah gives James a boost so he can the lit up floats on Nicollet Mall.

 

 

In an attempt to get some holiday pictures of the boys Auntie Megan came over and shot some good pics of the boys doing their thing ... these are my amateur shots of them in action ... and below is Henry literally caught in the act!  Naughty Santa!



 

 

Great Grandma Clark was in town for the holidays and spent some time at our house during the day on Christmas Eve.  Her and James put together his train set and had a nice chat! :)

 

 

Here is the Clark family portraying the Holy Family at church on Christmas Eve.  Both boys were troopers and James was the star of the show with his 'angelic light up shoes' making tracks on the way up to the alter during the service.  Henry was pretty cute too!

 

Christmas Eve celery - that's what every kid wants for Christmas, right?

 

James was truly Santa's helper all season long.  He distributed gifts and helped Henry open his, since he proclaims, "he's too little."  Henry got got the biggest kick out of the bows and ribbons, tearing them all off of the packages under the tree prior to us even getting to opening the gifts. 

 

We all crashed near the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.  James was pretty excited about Santa coming and set out special cookies and egg nog for him.  He slept like a rock ... which I guess isn't surprising since his nap earlier in the day resulted in him sleeping on the floor in his room.

 

 

Opening gifts - too much fun!

 

 

So many holiday memories this year that we won't soon forget.  Momma and Papa are amazed at you boys and all the joy and happiness you bring to our lives and those of others.  We are incredibly blessed to have you in our lives and can't wait to continue to create these memories with you!

 

On the Ice!

James donned a pair of skates for the first time a few weeks ago (after some Christmas cookies for energy of course) - and he loved it!

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He was a little timid at first and fell a few times, but then got more comfortable on his feet the second time we went and Dad went out on the ice with him.  He still needs a lot of help, and a new helmet due to his ever growing noggin' but and he's already looking forward to his next time on the ice ... hopefully sometime soon! 

We figure it won't be too long before he's skating circles around us, but for now we'll just let him take the lead on the speed he wants to go!

 

Ralph the Elf

The Elf on the Shelf made a visit to the Clark home this year for the holiday season and we will admit it did work wonders in encouraging good behavior from James - which is it's purpose we suppose.  The notion is that the Elf is sent as Santa's little helper to watch over kids and then each night he flies back to the North Pole report to Santa each night if they kids are behaving or not.  Upon returning to the house each morning he appears in the house in a different spot.  The kids are not to touch the Elf as he loses his magic. 

December 1st marked Ralph's arrival - he brought hot cocoa and powdered sugar (snow) donuts from the North Pole.  We read the book together and then asked James to name his Elf - after several retreats back into his bedroom to think about it and several name ideas that were dismissed (Target and Chair) he came back and told us, "his name is Ralph because it rhymes with Elf!"  And so it began ... each morning James would rush to find us and then work to find Ralph in the house right after he woke up.  It was pretty fun to see his reaction each day.  Here is a picture timeline of all of Ralph's antics at the Clark household in 2012!

Ralph reading to his Christmas friends.

Ralph managed to get James' bike inside the house for a joy ride in the living room.

Just hanging out in the chandelier.

Ralph loves peanut butter just as much as James does.

Ralph took a sick day and hung out in the Kleenex box.

Marshmallow bubble bath with his friend Rubber Ducky.

School bus driver Ralph at your service.

Ho Ho Ho, Elf had to go potty too!

Even Ralph wishes the NHL season was "on."  Let's play hockey boys!

Eating some Cheerios for breakfast.

Ralph watched over Henry in his crib one night too!

Ralph made a mess in the bathroom trying to brush his teeth.

Snow angels in sugar and sprinkles!

Egg nog anyone?

Gone fishin'!

Running off some holiday cookies!

T.P.ing the Christmas tree!

Hanging out in James' stocking.

Driving the train just like James!

In honor of Unca Dan and Auntie Aimee's bungee jump this fall - Ralph took the plunge too!

Conductor Ralph makes his way around the tree on the Lego Train.

In true rookie fashion, Mom and Dad forgot to send Ralph with Grandma and Grandpa Clark when the boys spent two nights there over the weekend leading up to Christmas, but we kept Ralph's antics up so James could see what he was up to. 

Here he is sleeping in James bed, crying because he's wondering where James is.

Upon the boys return, a note from Ralph - I miss James and his farewell letter was attached as well. 

James bid farewell to Ralph on Christmas Eve - and finally got to give him a hug and touch him (up until then you couldn't touch him or he lost his magic!) and we worked to explain to him that he'd be back next year but that he was flying back to the North Pole for good that night until next year.  James still isn't convinced he's gone and keeps asking when Ralph is coming back or when he himself can go to the North Pole.  We think the notion of the whole elf watching over him worked pretty well to keep his behavior in check over the holiday season, one mention of Ralph and he would reply that "Ralph would be telling Santa that he was a good boy."  We keep joking they need Easter Elf, 4th of July Elf ... etc.  We're guessing he'll be back next year as well and hopefully we can come up with some new ideas and antics for "Ralph the Elf" to partake in.

We  know this will be something fun to continue in the years to come and can't wait to see Henry enjoy it too.