Christmas at the Cole's

Katie and her My Little Pony. Ryan has really enjoyed playing with this. My Little Pony has a walker and will move all around talking. Ryan will either follow her or let her bump into him. It's great that they all love each other's toys.

Logan's favorite toy: Ryan's talking Eeyore. Logan did get a new piano keyboard and he was loving it. He tried to smash at the box it was in. This boy loves his music!

Marie's wish came true, sort of; a Disney Princess laptop instead of a Barbie laptop. She's decided she likes this one a lot more!

Ryan and his very own Mickey Mouse! Katie's Tigger is almost as tall as she is and yes Logan grabbed him to play with as soon as her back was turned. Logan decided he liked all the big stuffed animals and took them into the recliner where he was sitting. He had no room left after he added Katie's Tigger, Ryan's Elmo and his own Batman!

The children chomping at the bit; ready to see what Santa brought them. Can you believe that they let Mommy and Ryan sleep until almost 8:30?!?!

Ryan and Katie

Ryan and Katie playing with an awesome toy that they bought with their gift cards from our friends Karen and Alex. Thank you!!!!!!!!! These kids love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so it was a no brainer on what they were going to choose.

A little funny

The kids all had a very enjoyable time at the Magic Kingdom yesterday. We took them all in (since Ryan was awake this time even he got to enjoy it) to Mickey's Philharmagic. It was a little too loud at times for Logan but he was a trouper. When Aladdin was on his magic carpet flying through the air, Logan was saying "AWEEEEEEE" and giggling. He refused to even try on the 3-D glasses so it wasn't as good as it could have been for him. Ryan kept his on for a little while and kept trying to talk to the different characters. Katie would reach for things as they would pop out. They all wanted to ride the carousel so we all jumped on once and then I took Marie, Katie and Logan back on a second time. Logan and Katie both loved sitting on their horses. Logan was smiling and saying "AWEEEEE" again while Katie gripped hers and grinned from ear to ear. At one point she said, "look at me Mommy, I'm riding a pony".

They were able to catch the end of one of the shows that the characters perform at the castle. I used that time to grab the little ones one-by-one to change diapers. They were able to see most of the show and Marie told me about everything I missed. "Mommy, you missed the fireworks while you were in the bathroom!" I believe we may have been able to get a picture of them on the camera but will have to load those few pictures a little later. They all (except Ryan and I) went on Buzz Lightyear. Logan's favorite Toy Story character. He was in total awe of the huge larger than life Buzz that was in the waiting area. When they came back from that ride even Katie was talking non-stop about it.

We left a little early as Ryan was tired and fussy as was Ms. Katie. On the way out of the park Katie was singing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song. Only her version was just a little off. It sounded like, "Mickey Mouse Craphouse, come inside it's fun inside. It's the Mickey Mouse Craphouse." She said she wanted to take a picture with "Gooty and Puto". She had us in stitches for most of the ride home. When she wasn't being cranky she was cracking us up. She was able to get a nice nap towards the end of the ride. Logan didn't get a nap at all so he was a very cranky little man later on. He was fine when we got home but around 1:30 this morning he was not being nice Logan anymore. I think he had way too much feedback yesterday with all the neat rides and shows. I'm hoping that he will sleep better tonight so I can too.

Marie didn't want to miss school because she was afraid she was going to miss some exciting Christmas thing. By the time we got to the park she was happy she came. Who would have thought that anyone would rather be in school than go see Mickey and friends???

Is it over yet? or Are we there yet?

School only has this last week before they get out for the winter holiday. We are going to take the kids to Disney tomorrow so they can see Mickey and Pals in all the Christmas decorations. We can only go through this week and then it's blackout days until after New Year's. Our passes don't expire until the beginning of February so we will have a little more time after the holidays to take them. Sea World is having a nice Polar Express thing going on at their Wild Artic exhibit so we hope to hit there too. I believe those passes expire at the end of the year so we need to get there this coming weekend or next week. The Polar Express exhibit will only be there through Christmas Day so we need to go this weekend or miss out all together. Since they all love the movie (especially Logan and Ryan) we really need to try to get them there.

I have the sound track from Polar Express in our stereo. Whenever I turn it on the kids all come running. Ryan and Katie stand at the gate just staring at the stereo while Logan runs around saying "Po Spess". Marie always joins in the fun too singing at the top of her lungs and manages to get the others to follow suit. It's quite histerical to watch; I may need to tape it one of these times and put it on here. I laugh so hard my sides hurt. That's what kids are for; to make you laugh, cry and just about every other range of emotion.

Katie should (should) be just about out of her terrible twos as she turns three at the end of January. The other day they (Katie and Marie) were in their room watching a movie as it was too early to be up and out of bed. I walked by their room to hear Katie telling Marie to "go stand in the corner RIGHT NOW!" Apparently Marie had done or said something she didn't like. She also loves the word NO right now. She tells me that all the time especially when I'm telling her to go stand in the corner for time out. It reminds me of Marie at her age and I have to tell myself she should be growing out of that nasty stage soon. Ryan should be hitting that when she gets out of it. (at least I hope and pray he waits until she's done before he starts!)

I'm looking forward to Christmas and then it will be over and done with until next year. By the time it gets here I'm so tired of it all that I'm glad it's done and I know I can't be the only parent who feels this way. We still have to take them to get their picture with Santa. That's another stop I need to add to this week's list. Here I thought I was almost done with getting ready. Oh well, at least there are only 7 days 8 hours and 25 minutes left. :)

Outside; DONE!

Well, Curtis took the day off yesterday and spent it getting all the outside decorations up and looking pretty. (He had already put the lights on the house but he took a break from the yard decorations) I wanted to get a picture of everything last night but the dew pretty well obliterated anyone from seeing the snowmen in their snowglobe. He had everything on when Marie got home from school yesterday and she was so excited!! She had to go check everything out and make comments and say thank you to Daddy for putting them up.

Logan didn't go to school yesterday or therapy either. He was up like normal and dressed and just about the time I was going to put his shoes on he ran in and said "diaper". I grabbed a diaper and the wipes and knew we were in for something when I changed it and found just a "squirt". I bagged it up and had Marie take it to the garbage so I could wash my hands and here he is saying it again. I dried my hands and did it again. This time nasty stuff but I still thought okay, he went and now we can get him ready for Daddy to take him. (Daddy had volunteered to take them for me so I could have a break. What a great Daddy he was trying to be!) I start to wash up from that one and here he is saying it again. It happened one more time like that and I said forget it. I called the school, attendance and the therapist to say he wouldn't be going anywhere. Poor little guy! He wanted to go to school so badly; he came up and put his backpack on and was saying "bus!"

Of course, after I cancel with the therapist and call him out of school for the day, he went one more time and it was normal. I'm glad I kept him home as it would have been bad for Daddy to try to deal with that at the hospital or on the way to school. Here he was trying to help me out and he couldn't. I say it's the thought that counts. It made my day that he wanted to do this for me so I gave him a big hug and said thank you anyways. He was able to devote the rest of the day to getting the decorations done and all the kids loved that so it wasn't a bad day after all.

The poor neighbors woke up this morning to discover that all their belongings in their vehicles (that weren't part of the vehicle) were gone. Some lovely person took everything from them. They had left their vehicles unlocked and that is how they were rewarded for being very trusting people. What a horrible time to have it happen! It's a violation anytime it happens but it just seems so much worse during the holidays. We have always locked our vehicles; habit from where we used to live. It paid off for us this time but a year or so ago it didn't matter that we locked them. Some lovely bored teenagers went through the neighborhood slashing tires. They got both back tires to the van to the cost of $200 give or take. Thankfully the neighbors were missed that time.

What is wrong with people these days? Why do they have to do stuff like this especially at this time of year??!

Inside, done! Outside, not so done.

The very first thing to get put up was the tree. I almost gave up after that as it took a couple of hours to get it all done. Thankfully Marie and Katie helped me. (Ryan supervised)
Should have put a sheet down on the computer table so you don't get the background. Will remember this for next year (or this year if I can find a plain white sheet that's cheap!)

I love this sleigh set. Can you see where the reindeer's antlers are missing?? It's called check the box BEFORE you leave the store.

Our first Christmas decoration from when we were first married. It has issues but we still love it! (Notice girl at top of the stairs is missing her legs?!?!)

Our stuffed Christmas bear/Santa collection. (most of it)

Kids favorites; Mom's nightmares. (That's why they are the very top shelf where no child can get to them)

Our Disney sets that we have bought the day after (or whenever they go to 50% off) Christmas.

Need more batteries and another electrical strip to get these working. Marie likes the town on the left. (Ice skating)

Our stocking holders; note no stockings?! I had to pull them back off when we figured out Ryan can pull them down now. Will save the stockings for Christmas Eve.

More stocking holders and some singing Santas.

I love this set but I don't want to lose the little pieces so I left everything in the box.

It's not all that we have but it's enough for now. I'm tired just looking at the pictures. I was almost done when Curtis came home from work or so I thought. He did the Disney scenes all by himself and it took him at least an hour to get it all done. I love those; looks so real especially with the lights off. I did try to get pictures of the tree and those items the light up but I can't figure out how to get the flash to not work so it all looks like I took them during the day. One day I will learn the ins and outs of the camera and then we'll probably buy a new one.