December 2008

Happy New Year (Almost)

As parents of two kids, we fully realize our New Year's Eve plans will not involve huge parties (of the adult variety) for a few years. We had a nice, quiet, Make Your Own Pizza night at our house with Grandma T and Grandpa H. Grandma and Grandpa M stopped by on their way to a party and the kids were in bed asleep by 9. Steve and I watched a movie and celebrated 2009 with Times Square at 11 PM. It was a long year, but a good year, and we are looking forward to 2009!

Christmas Day with the Family

First Stop - The Hollander Family Christmas

We had a nice time with everyone and Zachary was a big helper passing out gifts. It was lots of fun having 4 kids with us. Zachary got a scooter from Grandma and Grandpa and had lots of fun riding it with Daddy's help. It was so nice outside and he had a great time. After gifts we had a fabulous lunch with the Higgins/Freeds and Grandma and Grandpa M. Soon it was time to go to our next stop.

Second Stop - The Moroneso Family Christmas

Sophie figured out there was something exciting going on today, and decided that no more naps should be taken. She wanted in on the fun! We opened gifts and Zachary had a great time playing on the art easel from Grandma and Grandpa. Marcia and Terry Boggs came for a Lasagna dinner and brought Ian with them. The two boys had a great time and we had a very yummy dinner. After dinner we headed back to our house and realized we had left a few of Sophie's things behind. Zachary and I went back to pick them up and he fell asleep on the way home. It was a perfect end to a perfect day.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Morning

Oh what a day! He was so excited to see the tree, gifts, and stockings. Santa did a great job not saying "Ho Ho Ho" (as per Zachary's request) and ate a few cookies, but forgot to wipe his feet after he came down the chimney. Silly Santa!

Zachary was so excited that Santa brought The Buzz Lightyear Show (Toy Story) and filled his stocking with fun things like M&Ms, Band-Aids, Chapstick and Hot Wheels.

He loved opening gifts with everyone and helping Sophie with hers. Daddy was quickly put to work building something with the Tinker Toys.

It was a wonderful Christmas morning with our super kiddos and Auntie!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

It is a Moroneso family tradition to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" after church on Christmas Eve. We all gathered around to hear the 31st reading, and for Phil to pass the torch to Steven. Michael, Katey, and Dakota even joined via speakerphone.

Great Job, Honey!!

Christmas Eve at Church - A Comedy in Three Acts

Act 1:
A couple days before Christmas, Zachary got it in his head that he wanted to pass out candy canes at church on Christmas Eve and to our family on Christmas Day. So off I trot to the store to get the necessary supplies (candy canes - small and large - and a lovely jar to hold them all). We are all set and arrive at church with candy canes in hand. Zachary is handing them to anyone and everyone and being such a sweet guy about it. Then the service starts, and he refuses to sit still. So I take him into the Narthex and we have a talk about where the candy canes will have to go if he doesn't cool it till church is over. Nothing like a "Come to Jesus" meeting on Christmas Eve. ha ha

Act 2:
Zachary decides sitting with Daddy and Grandpa will be more fun than sitting with the rest of us. When it is time for Silent Night and lighting the candles I knew he would do great because we did this at TCU. Steve held him and they both lit candles and sang. Zachary is prepared for his first concert - he was waving the candle back and forth way up in the air. (Thanks Auntie for reminding me of this.) Little did I know, the whole time Steve was thinking that Zachary's hair was going to catch fire and he would have no way to stop it. Crisis averted, thankfully.

Act 3:
We are almost done with the "Children's Service". Note to others - this does not mean puppets, and things that will amuse your child. It means that people will try not to give you dirty looks when your kids are being ... kids. OK - back on track... We are singing "Joy to the World", all 45 verses, and Zachary is jumping up and down and making loud noises, but nobody can hear him because we are all singing. We finish the next to last verse and are waiting for the organ to begin the last verse, and sweet Zachary lets out a very loud ROAR! Oh My! I can hardly stand I am laughing so hard. As Grandma M says "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord". Well, he sure did!

The Encore:
After church, he resumes passing out the candy canes. If for some reason he missed you, just let me know and I'll be happy to mail you one.

With Thanks and Love

Dear Parents, Grandparents, etc. who have created "The Magic of Christmas" over the years,
Thank you a million times for your efforts. As parents of a 3 year old who is finally 'getting it', we worked very hard to make this a magical and fabulous season for little buddy. We never knew how hard it was to get it all done before this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the many years of hard work and love. We appreciate it all, many times over!
Love,
Your Kids

Cookies with Auntie

Zachary is so lucky - he gets to make cookies with Auntie too! He likes it so much that he forgoes lunch from "Old McDonald's" to help make and decorate the cookies. The best part, though, is licking his fingers. :)

The Annual Sand Tart Extravaganza

Zachary has been participating in this event since he was 3 months old. This year, though, he went from student to master, even giving Grandpa some direction.

When things got too rowdy... Sophie made sure everyone got back on task. Great job on the cookies, guys!!

Our First Dog (Sort Of)

Since he was old enough to express fear, Zachary has been afraid of Auntie's dog, Daisy. Zachary has been 10 times bigger than Daisy for most of his life, but still has been afraid. Until now.

Now, he likes to call her "my pretend dog" and take her for walks.

There's nothing cuter than a boy and his dog... except his dog that you don't have to clean up after. :)

Gingerbread Houses

My dad gave me a copper pot, apple cider mix, cinnamon sticks and mulling spices for my birthday right after Zachary was born. He said that he wanted Zachary to know the smell of Christmas. So each year, the pot comes out, and cidery type things get boiled in it and the house smells lovely - just like Christmas.

This year, I decided to start my own tradition - gingerbread house decorating. We bought the kit, and set out to put it together after school. I knew it would be messy and fun, and it was.

Zachary ate sweet tarts for the first time (yummy) and didn't realize that pixie sticks were edible (thank goodness), and was licking the frosting off the house almost as fast as I could get it on there. Somehow the house stuck together, even though we definitely did not let it set after assembling. It is a work of art, and I can't wait to make another one next year!

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

I'm probably jinxing things by sharing this, but Sophie and Zachary have slept through the night since Wednesday night! Yippee!!! Hopefully this will continue for a while... :)

O Christmas Tree - Rah Rah TCU

TCU does a tree lighting on Sadler Hall each year. It was one of my favorite events while I was in school and so this year I decided to bundle up Zachary and take him to see the magic.
When we got there, we worked our way to the front of the crowd and sat on the sidewalk in front of the tree. It was GIANT, with lots of lights and ornaments. When they lit the tree, they did a light show to music that Zachary just loved and Santa and Mrs. Claus came around to see everyone. He was so brave and told Santa "Merry Christmas" - such a change from the last 2 years. We sang Silent Night and lit candles and had a really great time. It was a great way to start the Christmas Season!!