A Christmas surprise

We got tickets to Holiday out with Thomas and decided it would be fun to keep it a secret from the boys. We had our Christmas party last night so we had everything packed in the car beforehand.

We went to the party and headed up to Santa Cruz afterwards. We stayed at a hotel right across the street from the boardwalk.
We got there about 1:30 am. They slept the whole way up so when we got there the boys were all Huh? and Wha?  Of course once inside the room they were all "lets play"  Dad and I  not so much.    They were raring to go at 6:30 (oh jeez,someone shoot me) so I got up and we watched some cartoons for a while.  This is the view from our window.

We headed over after a quick pick me up in the hotel lobby.  Coffee, coffee where for the love of God is the coffee?  The boys only thought we were going to the Boardwalk to ride the rides.  While Dad was parking the car we waited and Logan noticed a sign.....

I quickly Shhhhhhhh'd him and he did not spill the beans to Ronan.

While we were waiting at will call for the tickets Ronan said "they are playing Thomas music".  Then cue Thomas, he rolled up right after that.  I picked Ronan up and said look here comes a train.  He saw Thomas and was practically vibrating with excitement.

We went inside, the whole boardwalk was closed except for the Thomas activities.  We were on the 2nd run so we had time to check everything out before the mobs of other kids arrived.  It was WAY less crowded than at Roaring Camp.

With the tickets came 4 tickets for the merry go round and 4 rounds of mini golf, laser tag or 48 tokens for the arcade.  We hit the merry go round.  Ronan and Logan were the only riders.  The attendant gave Ronan  a brass ring to try and throw in the clowns mouth.  (After 4 tries he actually hit the clown but no where near his mouth)

There was ornament making...

and a Thomas made of Legos.

This was the car we got to ride on.  Car # 2.

Daddy and Logan

The inside was decorated and there were elves and even Santa!

They even made it snow!

The ride was short and quite loud but pretty comfy.  It was a beautiful day and there were lots of people to wave at.

Santa handed out candy canes.  Neither one wanted to have their picture taken with him.

The one and only Thomas

and of course they had to pose with the Santa Cruz sign

They had some fun in the bounce house but the problem with bounce houses is you can't always control your bounce and there are sometimes noggin knocks.  Another little boy bounced right into Ronan with his head.

He's got quite the mouse.  It must have really hurt as it took him a good 5 minutes to stop crying and another 10 before he was ready to go back in.

All in all it was a fun day and a good holiday surprise. We had our photo taken with Thomas and they made us this little holiday keepsake.  (sorry its a photo of a photo)

Santa Surprises

My friend Hope turned me on to this website.  Ronan was astounded that Santa knew his name and that he wanted Ninjago and went to Legoland.  It was priceless watching him watch it.

Tonight we are headed to the CBO Christmas party then on up to Santa Cruz for a special holiday ride on Thomas tomorrow. Haven't told the boys so hopefully they will enjoy it.

I can't believe Christmas is only 10 days away.  I'm totally NOT ready.

Tis the season

to make stuff.
Bottled my vanilla

Made some coffee vanilla bean liquor, sweet and salty almond bark, and apple cider caramel.  Cut out the pieces for hand warmers.

Not bad for a Saturday.

Still have not purchased any gifts yet and time is spiraling out of control.  I really just have no idea what to get anyone.  I do have the "santa" gifts for the boys and a couple of stocking stuffers for Ronan but other than that I have zip.

The thing I want to get for Logan is out of stock EVERYWHERE so it may be a New Years present.

Found out will be missing the Christmas performance at Ronan's preschool, which I'm super bummed about but I'm trying to convince him to perform it for me anyway.

Haven't spilled the beans about Thomas.  Our Christmas party is that night so we will go for a few hours then drive up to Santa Cruz and hopefully the boys will be sleepy enough not to question where we are or what we are doing and we can walk across the street to the boardwalk to Thomas with them none the wiser.

Light Parades and decorating

Saturday it was time for the Paso light parade.  Ronan's preschool had a float.

We started decorating about 4.

Adding candy

Lights going up..

Its a winter wonderland!

The homies,  Ronan only made it about 45 minutes and he was sacked out.  Logan did an awesome job of waving and shouting Merry Christmas.

More than half frozen and starving we went to Denny's for some grub.  Ronan was awake long enough to mow through a plate of Mac and Cheese and then zzzzzzzz.

Today we broke out our decorations.  The boys were thrilled to find their stockings but a bit miffed there wasn't anything in them yet.

Hung by the chimney with care

and a little cheese

I can almost reach.

So cute.

Mac was delighted!  Sparkly, crinkly stuff.  for me for me for me!

Ronan pretending to be a stuffed snowman

Helping Daddy put the lights up.

Really, a new climby for me?

I think I look best right here.

We only put up the ones that were not breakable

Whew, decorating is hard work.

Back to the grind tomorrow.  Be interesting to see how the tree fairs during the day.

Its nearly been a month

since I added anything new.  How sucky am I?

We really do the same thing over and over and over so I forget.  Anyway what have we been doing this past month?

Ronan had a birthday party to go to for his friend Sophia.  She is his BFF Parker's girlfriend according to him.  It was at a gymnastics place and he had a ball.  On the way to the store to shop for Turkey day supplies we saw this.  It was amazing.  We could see it for miles and you can faintly see it but at some spots you could see double and quadruple rainbows.

Thanksgiving came and went.  Ronan had his Friendship Pizza day and Performance.  I did not get any photos or video however as he was in the back and I couldn't see him.  I've been trying to convince him to sing them for me here but so far he just laughs and laughs and laughs.

Cheeeesing as we had lunch

 Enjoying his cupcake.  Looks fascinatingly gross.

My dad and James came down for a few days.  I got no shots at all except this on on Thanksgiving day.
Looks comfy....

On Friday we went up and checked out the seals.  I pretty much felt like this yesterday.  Mostly weaners here now.  This month and next the females will come to give birth and the big males will come to fight for their rights (this is a family blog after all).  That is some craziness watching them fight.  When they bellow you can feel it in your bones.

 Logan and Grandpa.  All those driftwood looking things in the background are seals.

 Then we hit the park.

 My favorite people.

 Logan showing off his reading assignment

 Mac looking crazed as usual

 We had a HUGE wind storm the Thursday night (you can see one of our lanterns there in the background)  We were just turned on to Hwy 1 and I decided I would cruise through the "holiday" neighborhood so we could get a preview of the Christmas lights.  We start up the hill and I think "wow its awfully dark"  It was Hospitality night but it was more than people not being home with lights on.  Pitch black  darkness.  Both sides of the road were black, we continue on and still no lights.  The ENTIRE town was black.  Told the boys the electricity was off.  We pull in the driveway and park and when we start to get out Logan completely looses it.  I tried to explain it was just dark, still our house, still our stuff nothings changed but there are no lights, just like when we are camping.  NO DICE.  He was freaked out.  Ronan seemed perfectly fine.  We get inside and I'm trying to find the lanterns and flashlights then Ronan starts freaking out.
AWESOME
Two screaming kids and no lights.  I finally get enough candles light and flashlights and lanterns on that they calm down.  **Note to self, be sure to check your battery supply prior to winter.  Several of our flashlights and lanterns were dead and needed D cell batteries.  Of which I had none.  Every other freaking size of batteries but no D's.  More awesomesauce.

We pull out the fold out couch, snuggle in and read stories for about an hour and yee ha about 8 the power was restored, at least in our neighborhood.  Some parts didn't get it back on till late Friday.  We have a huge drift of pine needles, pine cones and small branches all over our deck and driveway and stairs.

Last night we went to a holiday light parade with the cousins.  Ronan enjoying his candy cane

 Logan braved the Santa house with London and Pressly.  I wasn't sure he'd go in but I think with them there he was secure.

Ronan was not overly impressed with the parade.   He barely made it through half.

 This is Logan and his afterschool friends.    The little girl on his lap he just loves.  He is so patient with her and plays with her everyday.  She is 2.

 Ronan pretending to do homework.

We have another parade today.  I'll go decorate at 4 and the boys will come over to ride at 7.  Ronan's preschool float.  I think it will be much colder tonight, they are calling for frost so we better bundle up.