CHRISTMAS IN WARSAW ~ Part 1

While most people might think Thanksgiving is celebrated with turkey, this year we traveled to see Dad's family in Warsaw and celebrated by having Christmas. Who would turn down opening gifts a month early? Not me. So it was a double holiday.

Grandma Anita got me some really cool dinosaurs & a dinosaur mountain! The dinosaurs growl really loud and have wings and mouths that move! They haven't left my side for very long since I opened them. We also got to go see a movie with her.

She really liked the hens & rooster we got her. I tried to get the dinosaurs to eat them!

If you look in the middle of this pop-up book, you'll see a dinosaur head sticking up. This cool book has all kinds of facts and information on dinosaurs.

Dad got a cookbook that Grandma Anita made him with reciepes from family and friends. She typed them all up and put them in a book for him. Some of his favorites are in there.

Mom & Grandma ended up buying each the exact same book, which was too funny. They should start a book club. She also got a really neat glass vase from a unique cut glass company in Warsaw.

**Merry Christmas & Thanks For Everything!!**

CHRISTMAS IN WARSAW ~ Part 2

At Grandma & Grandpa Snipes we visited with family on Thanksgiving ~ including my Great-Grandfather Leonard. They gave me a NEW Buzz Lightyear (my only one broke) and this Buzz is extra cool because he has wings to fly! I also got some really cool toys from the CARS movie and a plate, bowl, fork & spoon from CARS. On top of that there were two neat cups. But Dad’s favorite gift was the new laser gun that makes a really annoying noise!! (For some reason it’s currently in our basement?)
OH – And what 4 year old doesn’t love underwear? I sure do!
Dad got a set of huge golf umbrella’s for when he & Dude go out golfing in the rain. I guess Mom can’t call them crazy anymore. Mom got some really neat Christmas decorations for the house, including a silver angel.

Thanks for the gifts & the memories!

The Big Question......

I knew it would come one day, just not at age 4. This was our conversation:

Ethan: Mom, how will Ho Ho get in our house?
Me: Well, Ho Ho has a lot of special powers and...
Ethan: No Mom, he's not special. Christian (from school) says he comes in our "chimmy". But the TV is covering it so how will he get in?

{side note - our TV is on a stand and sits up on the ledge of our fireplace and covers all of it but the mantle}

Me: Well, like I was saying Ho Ho is magic and...
Ethan: No Mom, he's not magic. Ho Ho has to land on the roof and come down the hole.

Me: After he lands Ethan he can use his powers to come through the roof and into...

Ethan: No, he's not a ghost so he can't come through walls. Daddy can move our TV right?
Me: How about we just leave a door unlocked?
Ethan: Ok.

WOW. At least I didn't have to explain whether or not he was real.

Happy Turkey Day (early)!

We are headed up to visit my grandparents & Dad's family for Turkey Day, but I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Leaves

WELCOME TO FALL

This afternoon I helped Dad with the leaves in our yard. Mom says the neighbors love Dad because of his unique "leaf raking" strategy. While others spend a lot of time mulching and bagging, Dad takes another approach.

He blows them all out in the street. Sounds like a smart idea and it does work. However, what happens is that as a car drives by the wind just carries them a house or two and they end up in another yard. That is why the neighbors love us so much!!!!

I ONLY WISH I'D HAD A CAMERA........

I promise in 6 months to take a camera to Ethan's 2nd dentist appointment, only to prove the following is true. Yesterday was Ethan's first visit. On the recommendation of his pediatrician, we opted for a specialized pediatric dentist office that caters to children. I thought it might help ease any fears. It did that and more.

Upon entering this Disneyland office, you'll find a glass enclosed toy room, visible for parents to watch their kids play while waiting, only they did it quietly. It was sound-proof! Wow! The chairs in the waiting room were reclining, which I admit was nice considering I sat out there for 2 1/2 hours. Flat screen t.v.'s with video games hooked up for kids to play was the icing.

We were given a tour of the office, including the luxurious patient rooms with individual flat screen t.v.'s & headphones for each child. There are plush consultation rooms for after the exam & cleaning is completed, where the dentist will meet with the parents. Looking past all that, was a basketball court, where kids shoot baskets with the dentist and win prizes. For the record he watched The Incredibles.

Ethan had absolutely no problem telling me to wait in the waiting room. I was a little surprised, but not after seeing the set-up. Who wouldn't? No fear here. He came to the consultation room with his new dentist carrying a ball and a balloon. Whatever happened to just getting a new standard toothbrush?

Good news is he is brushing well and his teeth look good. Six months from now, we'll do it all again. I'm even thinking of asking if they will accept a 29 year old patient.