Hooray! The holidays have arrived. We spent the day after Thanksgiving decorating for Christmas. Kaden is now old enough to understand what is going on so we've had fun finding ways to make the season magical for him. That started with allowing him to help us trim the tree! I was a little nervous about leaving it out where he can reach it, but he has been very good about not messing with it too much. His one temptation is wanting to play with the ornaments that resemble musical instruments!
pulling the tree out of the box
A couple of years ago, a good friend of mine held a workshop where we hand-made advent calendars. So many of us feel like this season is so busy and rushed that we don't make time to slow down and really enjoy it. So these calendars were meant to get us to intentionally plan out daily ways to celebrate Christmas with our families! They were scripture based, so you read a bit of the Christmas story each day. Then we incorporated as many fun activities into it as we could. It's taken me two years, but I FINALLY finished my advent calendar and put it to good use this year!
The front side is blank until you turn it over on the appropriate day
On the back was the daily scripture verse and a highlight to serve as a reminder as we move forward
I had fun coming up with festive activities for Kaden and I to do during the day. They involved making Christmas crafts, watching Christmas movies, savoring sweet holiday treats, and performing acts of kindness for friends in need.
One day we went out and helped rake leaves in a friend's yard. Kaden loved it!
We also attended several holiday parties. Our official Squadron party was held at a nice Italian restaurant in Columbia. We enjoyed a delicious dinner, as well as some funny entertainment and a gift exchange. My favorite memory from the night was James and some of the other pilots reenacting the famous "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" scene from Home Alone while humming the tune on kazoos!
As Kaden said, mommy and daddy got dressed up for a "fancy party"
the beautiful gift from our commanders
A couple of days later, we took Kaden to the Ops Group Kid's Christmas Party where we did some crafts, decorated a sugar cookie, played with friends, and welcomed Santa as he arrived in the back seat of an F-16! Kaden was not too sure about the stranger in the red and white get-up who rides in noisy planes, so we did not get a picture of him sitting in Santa's lap. We DID get a great one of him sitting in Daddy's lap though, and that's much better in my opinion. ;^)
The weather has been very warm and mild this month, and so we took advantage of that fact and went outside to tour some of the beautiful displays of Christmas lights nearby. Our first stop was at the Swan Lake Christmas Fantasy of Lights. They call this the largest free Christmas light display in the South - and it is truly impressive. Kaden and Nancy saw them starting to work on it back in mid-November. Not only were all of the trees beautifully decorated, there were little illuminated scenes from cartoons or well-known stories that lined the lawn and fences surrounding the whole Swan Lake complex. Most people just drive through, but we chose to park and get out so Kaden could see some of the lights up-close (and mommy could attempt to get some nice pictures). Kaden still talks about going to see the lights at Swan Lake, so they must have made an impression!
Our favorite part of the display. ;^)
The next day, we drove up to Columbia after Kaden's nap to see the lights at the zoo. With our membership, we got in free. Unfortunately, by the time we arrived, most of the animals were sleeping or had been put away for the night. But we still had fun viewing all the beautiful twinkling lights, and Kaden was able to ride the train and the merry-go-round, so he was a happy camper. After that, we went out to dinner, which made his baby sister happy too. ;^)
On December 16th, Kaden's preschool put on a short Christmas program for the parents. We got all the kids dressed up in their best Christmas outfits and they stood on the stage in the sanctuary and sang us a couple of songs. Then they got to come out into the audience and sit with us while the pastor of the church read us a story. Unfortunately, Kaden did not enjoy the experience at all. He'd been practicing singing Jingle Bells and shaking his little bells for weeks, but was totally thrown off by having to stand in front of a crowd. He also didn't understand why I wouldn't let him get out of line and hang out with me as they walked in so there were many angry tears shed on stage for all to see. Ah, well... what can you expect from 2 year olds? Below is a video of the performance for your entertainment.
snuggling with mommy after a traumatic experience
Sugar cookies and milk back in the classroom after the show
My favorite part of the day was going home with all of the fun artwork and Christmas crafts that Kaden made that month during preschool. I put as many of them up around the house as I could to help spread the Christmas cheer and give Kaden some representation among our more adult decorations. Over all, I'd say it was a very fun and memorable Christmas season! So special to experience it all through the fresh eyes of our child.
Thanksgiving week was a little rough because we had been SO sick with the crud Kaden brought home from preschool the week prior. We spent most of the week cooped up inside and trying to rest. Miraculously, Thanksgiving day, we were all relatively healthy (Kaden had mostly recovered, I was coping and James had not yet taken a turn for the worst) so we could still enjoy celebrating the holiday together and with friends.
We began the day with Kaden helping me bake some yummy treats that we would enjoy at dinner later. Then we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV (in real time, for the first time in years!) Kaden loved seeing the floats and listening to the music. We also had a chance to skype with family, which was special.
After Kaden's nap, we packed up the food and drove to a friend's house for the Thanksgiving meal. Baby Girl Wentzel and I very much enjoyed have second (and maybe third) helpings of the delicious turkey, sides and pie! Kaden mostly enjoyed the antics of his friend Ben. It was difficult to get him to sit still long enough to eat his food. But I think by the end of the night he had enjoyed most of what was offered.
The only picture I managed to snap that afternoon. Kaden and Ben at the "kid's table"
After dinner, we played some games and chatted. Then it was time to make our way home for Kaden's bedtime. Then James and I curled up on the couch and watched a movie and counted our many, many blessings - present and future!
As I mentioned in my last post, we enjoyed having Grandma Nancy come visit for a little over a week in November. She was a big help as I had a lot of work to do that week, taking and editing all of the jet photos for our squadron. It was also a great relief having someone to help take care of and entertain Kaden since I don't have as much energy as I used to thanks to this growing baby girl!
The day after she arrived was Veterans Day. James had the day off from work, so we went up to Columbia for our obligatory visit to the zoo. Kaden loved riding the train and merry-go-round, as well as looking at the animals.
For the rest of that week, Nancy just kind of lived normal life with us. She and Kaden read several books. He enjoyed educating his grandma about all of the trucks and airplanes he's been studying lately. She also ran errands with us and even got to sit in on one of Kaden's gymnastics classes! We go once a week to a mom-and-me class for toddlers where we learn how to stretch, play with parachutes, dance with scarves, and roll around and jump on mats, trampolines, and hang from a low bar! It's great because it helps get some of his energy out and teaches him how to move and strengthen his little body.
On Saturday, Nancy joined us on the flightline first thing in the morning to help supervise Kaden and get him to smile while our family portraits were taken. Then the two of them went out and had a fun day together while James and I worked. She took him to the Swan Lake Iris Gardens where they walked around and played on the playground. Then she took him out to lunch at one of his favorite restaurants, Pita Pit, where he devoured his entire meal (quite shocking to Grandma! Our boy loves to eat!)
The following week, we all went up to Columbia to explore the children's museum and meet some friends for lunch at Jason's Deli. So many interesting things to see and explore! I know Grandma Nancy enjoyed seeing how much Kaden is growing and learning.
Pretending to grocery shop
Lunch with is bestie, Jack
As I mentioned in a previous post, Nancy got to go with me to a special Thanksgiving Day celebration and feast at Kaden's preschool. See photos here. Unfortunately, he came down with a really, really nasty bug later that evening. She went with us to the doctor the next morning and I know she felt awful that she couldn't stay and help as he recovered. That was an extra hard parting at the airport. At least Kaden was kind enough to repay her for her wonderful visit by sharing his germs with her. =^/ Such is life with toddlers! But we were so blessed by our time with her and look forward to her next visit after our baby girl is born!
