Christmas Hits

I thought I would share with you the top Christmas gifts this year. There really weren't that many misses this year, mainly because we kept it simple this year and thankfully so did the rest of the family.

My favorite present is the Melissa & Doug easel if nothing but it saves us hundreds of pages of computer paper. Now when the boy wants to express his artistic self, he just has to go to his easel and draw his little heart out and NOT to our printer paper tray. The easel is set up in our office by the window just like a real artist's corner and all. I do need to get the accessories for it like the roll of paper and paint cups and what not, but right now he is happy with the dry erase part of it.
The second present was from Laura and again utilitzes his artistic abilities - digitally. It is the Fisher Price Arts and Crafts Digital Studio. All I have to do is hook it up to my laptop and he sits there and does all kinds of cool things. It keeps him occupied for like an hour or more at a time, which is always a plus.

And the third present is the Fisher Price Kid Tough Camera. This camera is actually a pretty nice camera, considering its a kid's "toy". It is very easy for Jack to use and he goes around snapping pictures all day long of the rug, wall, dogs, and whatever else he sees. You can download the pictures just like a regular camera. And there is a way you can hook it up to the Arts and Crafts Studio above and add cool effects to your pictures. I haven't done that yet, but soon.

So there is my review of the top 3 gifts this Christmas season. He also got a real accoustic guitar from Santa, but I am thinking that we need to look into guitar lessons for him soon since he has a real desire to learn how to play.

We also now are a video game household, something I said we would never be. A friend gave us his old Playstation 2 game system with a bunch of games. Right now the favored and current addiction of the boy is Cars where he can race Lightening McQueen all over the place.

"He Really Came"!

So I need to update on the last few days in the Jackaroo house. We had a very Merry Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we went to the candlelight service at church which was beyond beautiful. It made us think of the real reason that is behind all the craziness at this time of year.

All day on Christmas Eve, we were keeping up with Santa's progress on Norad.org, which I have to say was really cool and wow what a great geography lesson for this geography-challenged person. I really thought that I was going to have a hard time getting the boy to sleep on Christmas Eve, but alas right after church, he went to bed excited, but less than 10 minutes later he was out cold.

Santa was very good to both Jack and Laura. Jack received a silver bell just like the one from his favorite movie of all time - The Polar Express. Everytime anybody would ask him what he wanted Santa to bring him, he would say "a silver bell" and so I guess Santa found one on ebay that came in the same box as the one in the movie. And there even was a note inside that said "I heard you wanted a silver bell. This is for all who truly believe. Signed Mr. C." Oh and Santa also got him some "tools" and Laura got a purse with some cash inside.

They also made out from Mom and Dad and Grammy and Papa also. Laura got some clothes, some more cash, a Hannah Montana game, and some other crafty things. For the boy, he got a Hot Wheels race track, some radio-control cars, batman helicopter, puzzles, etc. etc. etc.

Here is a 3-minute video of Christmas morning. Sorry it is so dark and the camera kept losing focus, no idea why. But you get the idea. It is really cute when the boy exclaims "He really came!". So much fun.

Grammy and Papa left yesterday morning to head back to Michigan. We hope they arrive home safe and sound.

We went to see the movie Alvin and Chipmunks and both kids were totally engrossed in the movie. And I have to say that it was really cute. However, I was a bit nostalgic about it because I remember playing the Chipmunks record over and over again when I was a kid (yes I know I am dating myself just by saying the word "record").

On other news, I am thiiiiiisssss close to buying a new laptop. My computer is having issues and when I fix one issue, others pop up. For two hours, I was trying to download songs onto my new mp3 player (yes I joined the new century by owning a mp3 player) and for some reason my stupid computer just went nuts. I tried to download the media player again because it would not play nor recognize any songs and then it told me that my copy of windows was not a valid copy. Excuse me? But unfortunately the new laptop purchase is going to be put on hold for now because well there are bills to be paid like our property taxes (yikes)!

And we just made up our mind today to go to Disneyworld at the end of January. We were going to wait until summer so Laura could go with us, but it turns out, she isn't going to be able to be with us for the whole summer and we decided we would go in January when the crowds were not as bad and the weather was not excruciating. And boy oh boy is the boy excited. In fact, he started to cry when he found out we were not going Today!

So I think that is about it for the updates. Hopefully with the state of my computer, I can update again soon. I hate when computers don't work like they should!

Christmas Pictures

The Making of Christmas Eve Cookies

The cookies. Yes, we did make train cookies for the train-obsessed boy.

The Santa Only Cookies.

The boy and The girl checking out their Santa loot.

Tool-Man Jack with Daddy

Jack with his new vacuum cleaner. Sorry this is sideways. I thought I flipped the pic.

Laura getting into the spirit.

The Aftermath

Bye Bye Christmas

We did the deed today. We packed up the Christmas tree, ornaments, stockings, and all the other various decorations that were around the house. My house has been de-Christmased and it feels good to have it all back to normal again.

Jack, on the other hand is not taking this whole saying bye bye to Christmas very well. As we were packing up the ornaments and the tree was laying down on its side on the floor, he kept screaming "It IS Christmas". I kept telling him that it was over until next year, which was followed by him screaming a big fat "NOOOO". He kept trying to convince me that Santa was coming soon, but I told him that Santa was taking a vacation right now. And so round and round it went. Of course hearing Jack in his little Jack voice say "bye bye choo choo" as Daddy packed up the Christmas choo choo was pretty sad. Even I, who was silently rejoicing putting the stuff away, had to admit that was sad.

Bye Bye Christmas. You were a great one this year. See ya in about 11 months, or so.

Christmas Pictures

Jack and Daddy watching the Christmas choo choo

Wow a big Truck WITH a Dump truck! What more could ya want?

A Tonka Fire Truck with ALL the bells and whistles. Yay!

Thanks Grammy and Papa!

Santa was here!

This is Fun!

Laura playing her "Design World" game. Future designer in the works.

Playing Trucks

The Aftermath

Merry Christmas Night!

It was a good Christmas in the Jackaroo household. I really believed that my in-laws liked us until I saw what they gave Jack for Christmas. Every. Single. Gift. was bigger than he is! Among the list of toys were a Tonka firetruck that stands almost as tall as he is, a Tonka big rig with trailer with dump truck that yes stands as tall as the fire truck, and a Thomas tent that takes up an entire room that he loves to crawl through.

And the "Big Gift" onslaught didn't just come from Jim's side of the family, oh no, my very own parents had to buy the biggest gift of all - a Fire Truck pedal car complete with hose, bell, and ladders!! Now the question of the day is where is all this stuff going to go?

It was a fun day starting off with having to wake up Laura to wake up her brother to get him to go see that Santa had been here. Jim and I laid in bed until 6:30 and couldn't wait any longer and had to enlist the help of big Sissy Laura. We heard them go out to the tree and heard him scream "Toys!". So much fun. Of course, Jim and I had to stumble out and act all surprised and everything. To say that the boy was overwhelmed would be an understatement. He did not know what to play with first and kept going from one to another. This year was definitely a truck theme for him. Santa brought the boy a dump truck and a crane and we bought him a bulldozer. The kid will be the best equipped kid on the beach. He will be able to move major sand all over the place!

Laura made out really well this year also. She got tons of jewelry, pjs, REALLY cute boots (wish they fit me), a fun fashion designer game, a purse, 2 watches, and stuff I can't remember now. I think she is happy.

Jim and I also did quite well. Jim bought me a sapphire and diamond ring that is absolutely beautiful. Not sure I want to hug and kiss him or hit him for spending that much money, but I love it. I am afraid he only got a pair of shoes, shirts, and some small stuff. I am the sensible person of the family hehe.

We had a really lazy day today where we all stayed in our pjs all day long. The kids played with their toys and games while Jim and I watched tv and napped. To be honest, I was so worried about the Christmas Eve dinner we had up with my in-laws yesterday that I really didn't think about Christmas dinner or anything at our own house today. I can chalk it up to being sick the last few days, but I didn't have anything planned special for this morning or anything. And we didn't have a whole lot to eat and/or I didn't feel like cooking at all. At one point I actually tried to call out for pizza, but I guess they let their drivers off for Christmas - go figure. But we survived hehe.

Jim is working nights now and probably will be from now on. I hate him on nights because his schedule is 7 am to 7pm, which means he is home trying to sleep during the day and I have to either get Jack out of the house to keep it quiet or keep the boy quiet (ha!) while we are at home. And I also feel like I can't get anything done because I don't want to disturb Jim by vacuuming or going in and out of the bedroom doing laundry or whatever. But we will just have to come up with some routine and thank goodness he doesn't work more than 2 or 3 days at time before getting 2 or 3 days off.

I will post the Christmas pictures tomorrow when I feel like actually downloading them off the camera.

I hope everybody out there had a very special Christmas with their families and friends.

Merry Christmas Eve!

It was bake day yesterday in the Jackaroo World. Cookies galore and a Choo Choo train cake!

We are heading up to my SIL for Christmas Eve with the entire C clan today. I am very afraid of the entire van load of toys that we will be transporting back down here afterwards.

Merry Christmas

Christmas Programs Galore!

Jack has been in two Christmas programs in the past week. The first was at his school program. Below you can see pics and a short video of the very important proceeding.

Jack all dressed up in his choo choo sweater vest AND a tie. Very handsome.

Jack on stage. Notice the little boy sitting two steps below him. That is Kyle, his best friend and when I mean best friend, I mean he talks about Kyle all the time, everyday. Anyway, Kyle it seems was having a major case of stage fright. His parents were sitting next to us and his Mom asked me if he wasn't the most pathetic thing. And yes he was. In the video below, you will see Jack trying to comfort Kyle. It is the cutest thing.

And here is where all the kids surrounded the manger and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. The cuteness factor was at an all-time high.

The second program was this morning at church. They were having their annual children's play acting out the nativity scene. Again, the cuteness factor way up there. Anyway, Jack was one of the sheep in the flock. However, Jack being Jack, he would NOT wear the little sheep hat with the sheep ears. No, he was the only two-year-old up there who did not look like a sheep. You just kinda had to imagine him being a sheep I guess. Jim could not go today because he was on duty and I seemed to have forgotten the camera, even my camera phone was left at home. So you will just have to trust me in that it was very cute.

Somebody Want to Babysit Today?

I really need a babysitter today. Anybody out there want a two-year-old for the day. He's not TOO much trouble. Well okay, yeah he is trouble, but it is a good kind of trouble. All you have to do is play choo choos with him all day long and he will be happy happy happy. My problem is that I do not have time to play choo choos with him. My house is incredibly dirty. The laundry pile is so high that my poor husband had to search for a clean pair of underwear today. The Christmas cards need to be done and sent out. The bills need to be paid. And the Christmas tree needs to be basically decorated again because the above-mentioned two-year-old has taken every single ornament off from the bottom half. Yeah that is the reason why there has been no picture taken of said tree. It is half naked. Oh yeah and I have a room full of presents that need to be wrapped.

So if you are not doing anything today, wanna come babysit?

Small World lit up for Christmas 

In front of the Small World ride - all lit up for Christmas 

Merry Christmas To All

Christmas Eve at Disneyland

Okay, we maybe seriously insane. But we have decided to go to Disneyland for Christmas Eve. Both Jim and I have the day off and well we got this idea in our head and we kind of said "why not". I am sure that it is going to be a madhouse there on Christmas Eve. And I am not sure how the Jackaroo is going to be at Disneyland, but I guess we will find out. The last time we went to Disneyland, we decided to stay there for a weekend and go both days. It was easy because we could take Jack back to the hotel and take a nap. But he was also only 4 months old and he would go to sleep anywhere. But now we are just going for the day (it is only an hour drive from our house) and he doesn't just sleep anywhere. So we shall see.

Laura is going with us and she doesn't know about it yet. Thought we would surprise her when we pick her up Thurs night. I am looking forward to seeing the decorations they have and the parade at night. I have heard it really is spectacular.

Oh yeah and I get to try out the new video camera. That is if I can get through the manuals. Seriously this thing is like the most complicated thing. Will try to catch some video tomorrow on my day off. Well now it is time to get off to work. Blah.

Christmas came Early! Jim gave me this lovely digital camcorder today. He said that I got it early because he knew I would be upset by missing out by not getting Christmas morning on video. And he was right - smart man that I married. Yay me! "Doing the happy dance" 

Thank You Grammy C. I really do love it, well after I get over being afraid of it. Sorry I did cry the first time. 

Santa 2004 picture. Notice the look of panic on Jack's face. I don't think he was impressed with Santa at all.
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Christmas Tree

Well we are Christmas Dorks in the Jackaroo household. We put our tree up a couple of weeks ago. Laura asked if we could put it up and even though I pretended to say it was stupid putting it up so early, I kinda wanted to do it also. I am usually a bah humbug about Christmas, but this year I have to admit that I have been in the Christmas spirit since before Halloween. I am one of those poor saps that the stores go after with all those decorations they put up in mid-Oct.

Below are some pictures of the "putting-up-the-tree process". It was a fun night and I just kind of sat back and watched Laura decorate the tree and thought to myself how truly blessed I am. I do indeed have it all (well if I could lose the 20 lbs that Jack gave me that is). Okay now I am getting all sappy and weepy.

On a lighter note, I can say that I am about 95% done with Christmas shopping and we aren't ready to declare bankrupt (thats always a good thing). Last night, I ventured into Kohl's because I saw that they were having a Fisher Price sale (40% off) and well since I am the biggest FP sucker these days, Jim and I just had to go. Now Jack will be the proud owner of the Fisher Price Peek a Block Gobble & Go Hippo. Amazing how your language just changes after having a baby. I don't think I ever said "Gobble & Go Hippo" in the same sentence before. But anyway it's on sale for $26.99 regular $39.99. I am such a sucker, I know it.

Jack directing Laura where to put the ornaments 

Laura and Jack getting into the Christmas spirit