Happy New Year!

The kids were asleep by 9 after a few hours spent at the local First Night celebration. It was quite the to-do -- a ballet performance of The Little Mermaid, a traveling circus with a rubber girl and a dog trainer, face painting, fireworks and a man who twists balloons. We made time for all but the latter. Line was too long.

Tiana hearts Naveen

My spoiled kids have now seen The Princess & the Frog twice. Once because of their super-cool Dad's Disney connections and again last week with Grandpa Jerry at the Salmon Run Mall. Needless to say, they are pretty enamored of Princess Tiana. But it turns out she's not the only character they noticed. Tonight for the first time Lincoln played the role of Naveen, the young Maldovian prince who gets turned into a frog by a voodoo doctor bent on stealing his identity. And since the movie concludes with a magical amphibian kiss that transforms the four-legged hoppers back into humans, that's the scene the kids chose to reenact for us tonight at the dinner table.

Little ballerina

Carey found herself at a local consignment shop a week or so before Christmas. And although the kids already had a few dozen presents waiting to be wrapped, she couldn't resist picking up some bargain clothes, books and a Bella Dancerella How-To VHS Tape with its own plastic barre and footprint map. Best $6 we spent.

Wiiiii!!!!

We're about three years late to this particular party, but that doesn't make it any less fun. My folks got us a Wii for Christmas. I snagged a few free games from the AP Entertainment remainder bin and fired up Diego Saves the Dinosaur yesterday afternoon. Lincoln really enjoyed watching it like it was a TV show. When I tried to demonstrate to him that Daddy was the one making Diego jump and run, it didn't quite register. Even when he sat with me and held the controller, I don't think he quite picked up on it. But Daddy got to Level 3, so it was worth it.

Too cool

We have quite a few pairs of sunglasses lying around in our various toy bins. Nobody ever wears them outside.  But on a recent day in mid-December, Lincoln thought they were a good idea.

Multi-tasking

At just two-and-a-half, Lincoln has yet to settle on a Christmas theme. He's still playing the field. Was happy getting a couple Diego toys, a few matchbox cars, a Thomas backpack, a battery-operated toothbrush and some hand puppets.

Greta's menagerie

Our little angel has now dictated or written four Christmas wish lists (2005 doesn't count, as she was only eight months old) and each has been topped by a stuffed animal. An elephant in 2006, a bear in 2007, a purple bunny in 2008 and a pink poodle and mommy kitty in 2009. South Orange Santa being an extremely acquiescent fellow, he found both this year, and then some. Greta posed her menagerie for her father this afternoon.

Ho, ho, ho

It's 11 a.m. and the tree is finally bare -- of presents. Greta and Lincoln were considerate this morning and slept until 8. Of course, Lincoln didn't fall asleep until 10, but all is forgiven by Santa. Linc loves his Little People parking garage, Greta got exactly what she wanted (a pink poodle and mommy kitty), and by my count I scored about $300 in free stuff from work (4 Wii games, 4 DVDs and countless books). Here are a few of my favorite shots from the morning. I'll take some photos of the gifts themselves a bit later. Greta has named all the animals already.

Xmas in Rodman

The kids opened their presents from Grandma & Grandpa at 10 a.m. this morning. Both got a passel of books, pajamas, a few DVDs and some card games. They saved the biggest box for last, of course, and didn't know what to make of the Wii. It doesn't shake or squeak or entertain until it's plugged in, of course. When I eventually inhaled the dust behind the TV and jacked everything up, the kids had the most fun creating Miis. I think they'll pick up bowling after another dozen frames or so. My fave is tennis so far. Now I'm wondering what other games to get? Anyone who reads this and has a suggestion, please share.

We spent the rest of our Tuesday at the mall, where Grandpa and I took the kids for an encore screening of The Princess & the Frog. 200+ seat theater and we were the only four in it, sitting smack in the middle. It was great to stand up whenever we wanted and talk throughout. I secretly wished for a phone call so I could answer it and not get forcibly removed from my seat.

Sorry the pictures haven't been very great. I'll put forth a little more effort tomorrow.

Holiday cheer

We're half done with our trip. Fled Jersey before the snow hit on Saturday and drove from Syracuse to Rodman tonight. It's 9:45 p.m. and Carey is still trying to coax the kids to sleep. If anyone ever develops a kid-friendly Ambien, I'm buying stock.

No posts from Syracuse because Grandpa Larry doesn't know his WEP password. Here are 16 shots of the cousins from the weekend.

Holiday travel

We're outrunning the Killer Storm of 2009 tomorrow as we head north for a week with our families. If the forecasters can be believed, we're leaving behind 300 ft. of snow and driving toward partly sunny skies for a week. But there's a little body of water called Lake Ontario that might have something to say about that. I'll blog throughout the week as we visit the grandparents. We'll be back in South Orange on Christmas Eve.

Baby Shaw

Greta's buddy Duncan is a proud big brother. Shaw McVety was born in September and is just coming out of that sleep-all-day stage and making the neighborhood rounds. All the big girls love her, of course, and Carey captured some of that affection this week.

1 candle = 4.75 years

Carey celebrated her 38th year on this earth with the kids and some of their friends. They decorated Christmas cookies and enjoyed a birthday cake baked by Sarah. I got home about 30 minutes ago and have been told the goal is lights out shortly after 7pm.

Dear Mama,

Daddy told us you're going back to work after Christmas. He said you needed to work to buy food. I'm going to make my brother pick out his clothes the night before he goes to bed and I'm going to do the same. So we're ready to get dressed in the morning and won't give Daddy a hard time. I will miss having breakfast with you and planning our playdates as you sip coffee and I eat muffin tops. Linc told me to tell you, "Poopy Eye! Yucky." And Daddy said to say, "Happy, birthday!" He promises to take some photos when he gets home tonight, but hopes you enjoyed having company in the shower and that your Belgian waffles with sausage in bed was a nice way to start the day. Oh, and the wishbone earrings. He says I can have a matching pair when I'm 13.

xoxo,

Greta

Popcorn garlands

Carey had the inspired idea to string some Sunday night. It rained all day and while Carey was at church and Christmas shopping, Daddy Daycare had already allowed the kids to watch Mickey Mouse's Christmas Carol, Frosty the Snowman, Frosty Returns, Pluto's Christmas Tree, Cars and one-third of The Polar Express.

So.

While she went to find thread and maybe a needle, I popped the corn with what remains -- 10+ years later! -- my favorite wedding present: The Genuine Whirley Pop from the good people at Wabash Valley Farms. (Thanks, McMahons!)

Carey couldn't find a needle, so she MacGyver'd a couple paper clips and the stringing commenced. And commenced. And never really got beyond the beginning. Turns out The Genuine Whirley Pop from the good people at Wabash Valley Farms makes such light and tasty popcorn that Lincoln could not be bothered to do any stringing. He attacked the corn like it was his last meal.

Penmanship

Greta's isn't great, but she sure is interested in spelling out words! It takes about twice as long to read a book these days, as she wants to stop and identify letters, then sound them out. Carey asked her to write her annual letter to Santa yesterday at breakfast. She occasionally helped her hold the pen, but most of the work is Greta's. For those not fluent in four-year-old-ese -- she first drew a reindeer in the upper right, then identified it. Then she wrote:

I want a cat. I want a pink poodle. Thank you.  -- Greta (four years old)

Mrs. Claus found the cat. We're on the hunt for a pink poodle.

Dickens Village

The town of Maplewood decorates the inside of a half a dozen wooden shacks on the lawn in front of their train station this time of year. They slap signs on them like Cratchit House, Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe and Tiny Tim's Apothecary, then charge no admission to residents who pay some of the highest property taxes in New Jersey. On opening day, they throw in a couple real reindeer and a wagon pulled by two Beligian draft horses, position Girl Scouts out front of each house, and call it a par-tay. Our kids peered into the windows for about three minutes, watched "Prancer" and "Vixen" munch hay for five more, rode one village block on the horse-drawn wagon, then ate Christmas cookies the size of their face at a nearby coffee shop.

Roasted butterflies

That's what Emma and Greta said they were as they lay on the couch. I don't make this stuff up.

Helping Parent Day 4 at Weekday Nursery School

Greta and I had a great time at preschool today. Here are the highlights:

~ We played with a doll house identical to the one I had in 1976, which brought back a flood of memories from lazy summer afternoons spent on the upstairs back porch with my sisters.


~We celebrated Sweden's Saint Lucia's Day with ginger snaps, and made faux candle crowns. Greta proudly told everyone that Emma Bailey was her friend and that Emma's mom is Swedish.

~The letter of the week is J, and I learned about an unfortunate jaguar who drove a car, traveled far, and got stuck in tar.

~The kids had a blast mixing molding magic (two parts yellow to one part red and one part blue) to make brown, and then cut out gingerbread boys and girls. They listened to The Cajun Gingerbread Boy story, and were excited to receive Grandma Vickie's postcard from the Erie Canal, where their run-away cookie was spotted on a boat. (The teacher, Miss Liz, also called the Merrill Family "superstars" because Greta's grandparents were the only families who sent postcards documenting the escapades of their sneaky little cookie; Pat and Jerry spotted it last week in the Adirondacks!)














~The kids learned about Hanukkah, played with dreidels (excitedly calling out, "I got the Gimel!"), and sang a fun song that involved jumping like a magic dreidel, melting like a menorah candle, and sizzling like a potato lakte.


I can hardly wait for my next helping parent day in January, as it will be my first vacation day from my new job!

15 days...

Not that we're counting... the Advent calendar does that for us. Lincoln keeps wanting to rip out Santa's stomach (it's the biggest chocolate), but we're holding him off until Dec. 24.

Snowflake Parade

The neighboring town of Millburn got in the holiday spirit Sunday with their annual Snowflake Parade. Marching bands, girl scouts, old dudes in tiny gas-powered cars, and Santa on a firetruck. Greta brought a canvas bag to hold all the candy. Lincoln fell asleep in the car on the way over. Fun was had by all.

First flakes

New Jersey got its first taste of what my father still calls "the big surprise" on Saturday afternoon. Greta and I curled up and watched "Bolt" for 90 minutes, then she asked to go outside and catch snowflakes on her tongue.

Cracked nuts

For the second year in a row, Carey took Greta to the NYC ballet's performance of the Nutcracker at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. She took lots of pictures, but has been too busy this week contemplating a job offer to blog. (Yes, I buried the lead. She's likely to accept it on Monday and start in January. The world as we know it just changed.)

Anyway, Greta joined her friends Emma B. and Emma H. at the ballet and the trio sweetly posed for dozens of pictures. Here are two of my favorites.

Aborted Christmas cards

Taking a cue from our friends at A Little Ditty, we tried on Saturday to pose the kids for a Christmas card. It didn't work.