Random Christmas Pictures

Rudy and Paul put up the Christmas lights on a cloudy day. As soon as they went out, it started to rain. As soon as they were finished and came in, the rain stopped.

Rudy and I went out the other day and Rudy arranged his gloves like this. He has one pair actually on his hands and the other strapped around his wrist.

Rudy setting up our nativity set to look EXACTLY the way it does on the box. A few minutes later he changed it and it has since been changed several times.

We went to the Children's Museum recently and Rudy played in the News room - I don't think he's ever gone in here before but today he ran right to it and started predicting the weather.

The pictures of the TV screen didn't turn out well but he kept insisting I had to watch him from the screen instead of directly at him.

Over the years, Rudy has gotten so good at building a car; he never needs any help anymore.

The other night a local church had a living nativity. Rudy loved seeing the animals and would have stayed all night trying to pet them.

Dark and cold outside and my little Guatemalan refused to wear his gloves; I'm not sure where he gets his cold tolerance from!

After seeing the nativity, we went to dinner with my dad. Rudy was sitting on these chairs, waiting for food to arrive and concocted an elaborate game where we were on a ship and Dad and I were in charge of steering and the anchor and Rudy was the look out.

With just a week to go before Christmas, we finally decorated our tree.

The Santa Express

A local train company runs a Santa Express. The train ride is about 30 minutes each way with a 30 minute stop in between. Santa rides on the train and visits the kids. Rudy was excited to ride on the train and insisted that Beary come along too.

We opted for seats in the Cafe Car - a little more expensive, but much more space and a snack was included. It also made it easier for Rudy to play with his toys and color when he got restless.

Here he had just noticed the lights decorating the ceiling of the train car.

Rudy took this picture of Beary.

Rudy was pretty shy when he went to sit with Santa. He wouldn't look right at him and wouldn't really talk to him. He told Santa that Santa could just surprise him.

I was trying to take a nice grandfather/grandson picture, but Rudy insisted on trying to look like a pirate.

When the first leg of the trip was over we got out and explored the small train station and museum. Paul and Rudy went up to explore the old bunk rooms.

Our car was right behind the engine.

Very seriously playing with his dinosaurs.

Once again wanting to look like a pirate.

After the train ride we went out to dinner. The restaurant was called "Cousin Mario's" which excited Rudy because he had a cat named Mario and he has a cousin! Isn't it an amazing coincidence? :) Later he called the restaurant Cousin Cat's.

My new favorite picture of my guys!

Handy Daddy

Rudy had a great idea for an invention that would pull us out of the car through the sunroof, if there were a fire in the car. I told him maybe he could create it. He laughed and said he's not a builder, but Daddy is.

I then laughed and asked what he'd ever seen daddy build.

He said, "He has a hammer."

Me:"Yes, but what has he built with it?"

"He fixed the roof of the gazebo."

Me: "Yes, but what has he built?"

Rudy:"Do you think you only use them for fixing? The same tools are for building."

Me: "So the fact that Daddy HAS tools that could be used for building, means he's a builder?"

Rudy:" Yes."

So Daddy is a builder.

Santa Arrives at Smithville

Friday night Santa arrived by fire truck in Smithville. This is the first time in several years that they've done this, so we were really looking forward to it. Paul wasn't feeling well all week, and we were babysitting Charlie for the night, so Paul and Charlie stayed home while Rudy and I went and met his friend Tommy.

Clothing note #1: See the hat that's a little large on Rudy's head - it's Paul's hat. We couldn't find Rudy's winter hat and before I could even look for an alternative, he grabbed Paul's and said, "Look, this one fits me." So that's what he wore.

As we waited for Santa, some characters walked around including Frosty



and a guy from Ya Gabba Gabba (who no one seems to know his name, since every child there called him Yo Gabba Gabba).
Clothing note #2: Rudy had his sweat pants from school on before we left, and I told him to go put a pair of pajama pants on under them. When he came downstairs, all I saw were the pajama pants and I told him he needed to go back up. After protesting from him, I realized that he had put the pajamas on OVER his sweatpants. It's not a great look, but I was happy he picked a plain pair of pant rather than one with prints all over.

Then he fire truck arrived with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Although we were in a corner, we actually were in the best place because the fire truck came right up to us and Santa and Mrs. Claus sat in the cherry picker above us for several minutes.

The the ladder turned and they were let off on the other side of the lot.

But they walked around to greet everyone and made there way back to us.

After seeing Santa, we walked around and were able to have pictures taken with many of the characters.

We had some hot chocolate and cookies and then the boys went on the carousel before we left. Rudy didn't want to look my way for the picture...

... and then when he finally did, this is the face I got.

Children's Museum

On Saturday, I dragged Rudy shopping for a few hours since Paul wasn't feeling well. The light at the end of the tunnel for him was that we would go to the Children's Museum when we finished shopping (assuming he cooperated, of course).

These toys were called Wedgits. He had a lot of fun using them. We followed directions to make this frog. When you squeezed its legs together, it appeared to be hopping.




Then from just looking at a picture we created this. Rudy is very good with figuring out things spatially and copying from pictures, so this was fun and easy for him.

Then he played with the dinosaurs - first identifying all of them and then he decided he need to sort them.

There were a few that were not in the right groups and when I asked him why, he told me it was because they were lost.

Rudy's Fifth Birthday

Saturday was Rudy's birthday. He came downstairs in the morning saying "I'm really five now!" First we had presents:
A new Leapster game



a puzzle and a dinosaur board game...


... which he was very happy to have.

So we immediately played the dinosaur game.

Then his breakfast request was pancakes with chocolate chips and cinnamon chips (I made a few with each- not combined). I added a little whipped cream for his birthday.

In the evening we headed to a local farm. We had hoped to ride a horse-drawn hayride, but that had ended for the night. So we walked around.

Rudy visited briefly with Santa.

Then we headed out to the play area in the dark and cold. Rudy had so much fun playing on all the equipment.

This cat came right up to us and wanted attention. Rudy was happy to oblige. Later we saw another child holding the cat and Rudy said, "Hey, that's my cat!"

The whole area was all lit up for Christmas.

Rudy pretended to be a vet and help all the animals.

And then he built some things.

We saw one of the reindeer waiting for Santa.

Rudy rode on the go-carts.

An attempt at a family picture. Notice that Rudy has no gloves on and no hat - he kept taking them off. So much for his Guatemalan blood!

The reindeer again - standing up this time. I was surprised by how small it looked.

All in all I think Rudy had a fun birthday. I can't believe our little boy is five already!