Santa Clause Came To Town!

On a cold December afternoon the Dunbar triplets bundled up to see the man famed for bringing children presents on Christmas. This was our first adventure in finding Mr. Clause. We had previously attempted this trek only to find the Clause had slipped out of his “throne” to take a needed break and perhaps advil or three as well as other functions that rhyme with three (and perhaps two).

Somewhat disappointed from missing the Great Gifter, the Dunbar triplets were over the failure to meet within minutes. Kate gleefully ran through the barren halls of the near extinct mall watching herself run in the large windows to her side. Soon they were all running and enjoying the opportunity to be away from the confines of home.

Despite numerous government warnings of pending pandemia, we boldly went where few dare to go…into the realm of the public where runny nosed kids who wipe their fingers on everything run without gloves, Keenex, or waterless hand cleanser. Although Kate and Maddie are very good about keeping their hands away from their face, Sam is indeed another matter. Thus he must wear gloves…indoors.

On this day we sought to see SC in another location. We had expected to wait in a lengthy line, but thought that it was worth the time and trials for the kids to see the Man.

And oh what a surprise! Barely a child in line we were introduced to see Big Red without a moment to take our coats off! Joy to the World!

Wide-eyed, the kids waved and called out to Santa waiting for the moment for which they had well practiced…telling Santa what they would like for Christmas. Santa had a different look altogether that read, “this is going to be heavy”.

Before I could say Rudolph, Sam (in his gloves) was sitting on Santa’s knee. Maddie had a degree of hesitation, but soon acquiesced. Kate was skeptical. “Don’t you want to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him what you want for Christmas?” “NO”. There was no hesitation in her reply. There was no thinking it over. “No” she immediately said when once again asked.

Santa’s assistance are there for a reason. Gentle coaxing (and a promise to receive a small stuffed snowman for sitting on Santa’s lap) was all that was needed. Kate agreed to stand-by posture. Santa was probably satisfied with her decision.

The gently spoken giant from the North has soon melted any apprehensions the kids may have had and before long Kate was talking up a blizzard.

Sam was first asked what he would like for Christmas. Not having a particular item in mind, he allowed Santa to help him decide on an appropriate gift. Santa suggested a truck. Sam agreed and decided that it should be orange.

Maddie had entered her “zone” and also had no reply for the white bearded one. Kate wanted a flower.

They all received a small stuffed snowman and a small candy cane. We sat beside a large fire (intentionally set) for a few moments before bundling up to return to our white sleigh and return home.

The experience was so casual and the lack of a line of viral spewing kids was so unexpected that Mom and Dad also left with a smile and agreed that we would return to see Mr. Holly Jolly next year.

That evening the kids watched their first classic Christmas program, Santa Clause is Coming to Town. A good ending to a fun filled day.

Random things I have heard this week

The kids are just saying such funny things, especially this week. Here is a sampling of what you may hear at our house, if you were a fly on the wall...

After what seemed to be an exhaustingly long day, Rick and I were sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a hot cup of coffee, hoping for some adult conversation, only. Kate chooses this time to walk over to Rick and is asking " What coffee is dat?" Rick replies " hot coffee" and the questions go on and on... Rick finally says "Kathryn, don't start please." to which Kate waits for a minute and then says "I'm gonna stawt... all day wong."

Aunt Elaine sent us 3 stockings that are hanging on our tree this year, but they were hanging kind of lifeless, so Rick filled them with cottonballs. Much better! Sam noticed the change right away. He was so curious about what was inside of them... "Oh! it's cottnballs! I want Santa to put cottnballs in my stocking." I said "wouldn't you rather have toys?" He thought for a minute and said " No, I want cottnballs."

Maddie says alot of funny things. She called the Fairy Princess the "Very Princess" and she calls the stockings "sockings". She also would like to wake up, on Christmas morning ,to find that Santa has left her cottonballs in her "socking".

One final conversation from Kate. Saturday morning, Rick was getting ready for work, I was taking a quick shower... I hear a knock on the door. It was Rick, he said "I just wanted to remind you to use the sweet potatoe casserole for the kids lunch. " " Okay" I answer and then I hear Kate yell "And have a nice day, Mom. " That made me laugh out loud! And hopefully gave you a chuckle as well.

The "Very" Princess

We have been busy with holiday activities and decorating for Christmas. All very fun, especially this year with three 3 year olds, who are so excited for Christmas to come. We attended a lighting ceremony and the kids saw Charlie Brown's Christmas for the first time. They all love Snoopy and think he is hysterical.

The girls and I went to visit the Fairy Princess A.K.A the Very Princess by Maddie. Weeks before the actual visit she would randomly come up to me and say "We are going to see the very princess, right?" "That's right honey. In 2 weeks". The girls loved Princess Kenzie. She talked to them and did everything right... called them by name, took an interest in them, asked them questions, etc. Maddie had apparently had enough because she said to the Princess "I just want to sit on your lap, okay?" So on the lap they went. Maddie told Princess Kenzie that her holiday wish was to have a wand( as she is eyeing the Princess's sceptor with longing, trying to figure out how to make a scene and then sneak off with it). Kate's holiday wish was to share a secret. Princess Kenzie asked her what the secret was... to which Kate just looked at her (out of the corner of her eye). Apparently the secret is so secret only Kate is privy to it.

We have our tree up and most of our decorating done. We have been working on Christmas card photos and we still have several gifts to wrap, cookies to bake, and on goes the list... I am just so excited for Christmas this year. I feel like I am 3 again!

You make me waugh...

One morning when Maddie and I were doing our grocery shopping, Rick got these great pictures of Sam and Kate cracking each other up. I love them. They make me smile.

Boo at the Zoo

We participated in our first Halloween activity this year. Boo at the Zoo! The kids always love going to the zoo and they were doubly excited at the prospect of tick or treating. About 2 weeks before we went Maddie would often ask "Mom... Are we going to trick my treat today?" She knows what it's all about :) We had alot of fun! My parents came down to help me take them to the zoo. We rode the carousel, (except for Kate, who wanted nothing to do with it) the train and the tram. We went through a haunted pirate ship (except for Kate. I'm beginning to see a pattern here.) and saw all sorts of underground creatures. The kids got lots of candy and a spider ring. I am now spending a large part of my day trying to keep track of everyone's spider ring....ugh! Maddie is a butterfly, Sam is a Siberian tiger and Kate is a kitten. Very cute!

Here we are waiting for the tram while it is pouring rain and getting quite cold. The kids spent their time eating a candybar and taking inventory of the contents of each bag. I can tell you Sam definitely knows what is in his bag! So you better ask before taking any of his candy :) We all had a great time despite the rain. I was also quite happy to get back to our little abode where it was toasty warm and the hot tea was limitless. It's the little things in life...

Apple Picking

We went apple picking a little over a week ago. The kids had so much fun at this outing! We had a tour of the farm which began with a hayride... our first. Here are Sam and Kate waiting anxiously to start. Maddie is sitting on my lap :)

This is Sammy with some of his harvest. At one point I couldn't find Sam after the hayride... He was with the tour guide person, in the front, ahead of everyone else. He wanted to get the best apples.

Kate. She loves apples.

Maddie was holding on to her apples very tightly. I had to pry them out of her hands so she could help feed some of the animals.

Story time with the tour lady. She read the kids a story about the different seasons of an apple tree. She told them about bees and how important they are to apple trees.

Kate got to put on the beekeepers gloves and hat. How cute!

Here are the trio feeding the baby goats. They loved all of the animals. They had kittens, a pony, baby goats and chickens.

This is Maddie's best impersonation of a chicken. :)

One of the rules of the day was "don't chase the animals". Sam had a hard time with this one when we got to the chickens.

And Kate is running as fast as she can to get away from the toddler eating chickens... Help me!

This is the view I had on our drive home from the rearview mirror. Sleep... It's a good thing.

Shatto farm

Yesterday we went with my MOPS group to Shatto. It is a big dairy farm in Osborn. Our group got a tour of the facility. We saw the room where they bottle the milk. We then went to a room where they had about 8 cows ready to milk with the "milker". The kids got to feel the suction of that machine. Pretty cool! From there we went into a barn where they had several baby calves that the kids could pet. All three loved this! The baby calves were right at their eye level and not nearly as scary as the big cows. Maddie even milked a cow! A farmer was in the barn with one of the mama cows and was asking the kids if they would like to milk the cow. Maddie said "yes I do. " And she did! She said " That milk went far, mommy." Indeed it did. The last part of the tour was a milk tasting. This was Sam's favorite part. We tried banana, orange, root beer, strawberry, chocolate and coffee flavored milk. All very delicious. Sam wanted to keep right on tasting. He was a bit disappointed that it had to end.
We enjoyed a picnic lunch with our friends and then headed home. Again I am sorry about the pictures. At least you know what the backs of their heads look like :) We are picking appples on Friday. I will try to do a better job, but don't count on it.