Yesterday, it was candy, candy, candy. The now traditional first activity for the kids is to raid Gommie's belongings and pester her until she forks over pounds and pounds of the sweet stuff that she has bought and lugged up here. It's quite a joyful ritual, and, even though they rarely eat much of what they're given, they wouldn't stop it for the world.
There was also a continuous stream of "Look at this, Gommie" and "Watch this, Pop" as the kids showed off everything that is important to them right now, from their usual critters to the train under the tree to their new big kid beds and the finished basement, regardless of whether it is the first or fortieth time Gommie and Pop have seen them.
We also opened a couple of packages, a great book from Aunt Banana and Uncle Soccer, on a little dog who roams the city at holiday time (I'm forgetting the exact title, Pooch on the Loose, I think). Their favorite page: the "Rockheads" in their chorus line at Radio City. Gommie and Pop tried hard not to giggle at that, and all the "yights," "yove," "yook," "yamb," repeated over and over. There was also Elf on a Shelf, a new tradition that Gommie introduced us to, at the suggestion of Granny Q (hi Granny Q!). The kids weren't that interested in the naughty-and-nice-spy story but loved playing hide and go seek with the little toy elf. Sure, the book says they aren't supposed to touch it, but we're making this one our own so everyone spent an hour or so hiding "Elvis Yahooti Amy Tango," our elf. I think I might go move it right after this post. Keeps everyone on their toes.
For dinner, we had the kids favorite "school soup," no beans and no tomatoes, just lots of corn and carrots and noodles. I think it was the first time I actually cooked the day that Gommie and Pop came! It helped that they were so late, actually gave us yet another activity to do (well, I cooked. The kids made Christmas-themed welcome posters). And bedtime happened, well, eventually, with them talking to each other until about 9. Long after Gommie and Pop had headed to the hotel for some shut-eye.
Today started earlier for us than for Gommie and Pop, with Sis and Bud bounding out of bed not long after 6 a.m. in search of the (insert favorite expletive) elf! So we moved it for Gommie and then waited til Gommie and Pop showed up. About three hours later. Ugh. We managed some more "cookie tv," this time about the national gingerbread house contest ("let's make one of those now!"). And called Gommie and Pop a few times, with Sis plaintively asking, "Where are you, Gommie?" They got here eventually (which isn't fair to them, really. It was "eventually" to us, but early for them). And we played inside for awhile, making candy for neighbors, counting days on the calendar, running the train under the tree.
But our main activity today was the snow. For a couple of hours this morning, the kids took them through their snow stations: snow angels, the snow fort, snow ball fight, sliding onto the snow from the slide, building a fairy house, going on a nature walk, climbing a snow bank. We substituted delivering candy to neighbors for the sledding we did the other day, mainly because all the kids are still in school today (at least this morning). At the end, Gommie added her own twist: climbing the branches of the "polar bear cave" bush, about which both kiddos were very enthusiastic.
Then we went to lunch at the hibachi restaurant, which has Sis and Buddy nervous until the initial flames and the volcano are over. But then they inhale all the soup and rice and noodles and chicken and veggies, forgetting completely that they were scared.
Before they can play hibachi, though, they are having a mandatory rest time, watching all the holiday Imagination Mover shows upstairs. Down, I can hear Pop snoring on the couch.
What's next? Gommie and Pop are babysitting tonight, complete with dinner and tuck-in, while Mama and I go on our first wedding anniversary/belated birthday dinner.
And then it's the night before Christmas . . . .
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