O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

After tagging our tree several weeks ago, today was finally the day to go pick it up. Before we arrived I made the mistake of questioning whether Rudy really remembered where the tree was. He immediately ran to the exact tree when we arrived.

This was the tree Rudy had picked and won the right to bring home through a game of Rock, Scissors, Paper.

When the man went to cut down that tree, though, we discovered that the truck was very crooked and it would be very difficult to put up straight, so we went with our second choice.

As we waited for the tree to get put in the car, Rudy and I relaxed around the fire with some hot chocolate.

This was the tree we ended up with - a little smaller but a lot fuller.

Rudy loves setting up this nativity set- and playing with it all season.

Moonlight's first tree- we expect to be squirting him with water - A LOT!

Rudy used his blocks to add walls and a roof to the nativity set.

Attempts at a family portrait by the tree.

 Love the dog's nose in this one!

To top off our Christmasy day, Santa came by on a fire truck.

Lou and Moonlight felt a little left out and stood at the door watching.

Our beautifully decorated house.

A Guatemalan Christmas

Last weekend, we went to Phoenixville for a Christmas party with other local families that have adopted from Guatemala. This year the party was held at a Guatemalan restaurant (one we now really want to go back to!). We got to talk to some other parents, and Rudy had fun running around with the kids. The entire restaurant was for our party so the kids had the run of the place.

Sitting in Santa's chair pre-Santa.

The upstairs room had almost no furniture, balloons, and music- the perfect place for the kids to run around. Here Rudy and another child are negotiating for balloons.

He was in the process of blowing up a balloon, as I took the picture, the balloon went flying out of his hands.

Finally getting the hang of blowing them up.

Rudy had a long conversation with Santa, starting off with showing him his shirt (it says, Have a Rockin' Christmas)...

... then he gave a thumbs up to Santa...

...and continued to talk.

One of the parents was telling us that the town we were in, Phoenixville, had a Firebird Festival that night, The build a big wooden Phoenix structure and the set it on fire at night. We couldn't stay for the festival (although it is definitely on our radar for next year), but we decided to drive by and see the big bird.

Also after the party, we took Charlie home for the night. Here he is being silly and carrying around what seemed to be his favorite toy, a maraca.

Paul and Rudy built this block tower. Moonlight really enjoyed it. Here he is sitting calmly, but Paul and I watched him bite and try to pull off some of the blocks a little while later.

Santas, Santas Everywhere

It's been a busy few weeks. We got a new camera- and tried it out by taking pictures of Lou. Our poor dog was not doing well, but the vet gave him some new medicine that is definitely helping him- for now. We don't expect him to be with us for too much longer.

Rudy went to his first birthday party from Kindergarten. This smart parent had the party right after school on a Friday -still light and warm enough to be outside. The kids had 3-legged races and ran around the yard.

Rudy and K.

The party was a pirate theme...

...with a treasure chest pinata. Rudy has already declared for his next party he wants a pinata shaped like the death star. He told me how easy it should be to make!

We went to a train and collectibles show.

Rudy bonded with an older kid over Star Wars figures.

Then we stopped at the candy store and watched taffy being made.

Moonlight is still very kitteny - he attacks himself in the mirror, chases anything that moves, and has a new-found fascination with the shower - especially when someone is in it.

At Smithville, Rudy showed us how to play a frog instrument. (He had a visitor to his class that showed off some Native American things and this must have been one of them because as soon as he saw it, it started explaining it to us.)

He posed with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

And Santa himself.

All the leaves in our yard were piling up, so we decided to rent a good leaf blower. Rudy immediately thought it looked like the Ghostbusters pack and wanted one of his own.

Old book bag plus hose from dehumidifier = happy boy.

Dad's birthday was the 8th, and he requested Mexican food, so we went to Mexico (the restaurant obviously, not the country). Rudy was very excited for the food, then disappointed when real Mexican food really wasn't like what I make. He really enjoyed the whipped cream from the flan, though.

In Ocean City, Rudy met a horse named Nicholas and we took a carriage ride (not once, but twice).

"Rudy look at me." This is what I get.

Then we saw Santa again.