Packing peanuts are great!!

For Christmas, I received the beautiful clock I asked for from my parents. It was shipped from South Carolina, and the box had packing peanuts in it to protect the delicate clock.
Bryce found them and had a BLAST--all over my parent's carpet.

Nana and Pap's house

Our first house to visit was my parent's on Christmas Day. After I slept for a few hours, we enjoyed a great dinner with my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and my aunt and cousin. It really was a wonderful time spent in one another's company.
Bryce was again showered with gifts, and he received the largest gift--size wise--at my parents. He is the proud owner of a kitchen/laundry set from Little Tykes. I will have to take some photos and post them later. He really enjoys making the grilled cheese sandwich on the stove top. He also unwrapped a huge wooden garage set, PJ's, various books, an Aqua-Doodle, a Little Mermaid Etch-A-Sketch(he loves it) and a few other things I can't remember at the moment.

Pap watching Bryce open his gifts

At first Pap Adam (Uncle Adam) and Bryce were fighting over the gift, and then....

Bryce won!!

Tuesday, we traveled to Jason's mom's(Grammy and Pap Earl) and then to his dad's(Pappy Jon and Grandma's (Yvonne)). Bryce's favorite present from Grammy was a plastic cylinder that must hold at least 30 little cars--works great with the wooden garage that my mom (Nana) bought him. His favorite from Pap Jon and Grandma is a toss up. He really likes his Cars book, but he also got a motion flat screen light with pictures and scenes from Cars as well. We hung it on the wall, and he loves to lay in bed and watch the scenes move by. Pap Adam and Amber bought Bryce a personalized Cars clock that looks great on the wall with the motion light, and a Play-doh play center. I haven't been brave enough to try that out yet. Bryce wants to make the bubble gum first. I bought him a Hubba Bubba bubble gum maker set--Bryce wanted to make it as soon as he unwrapped it. I think we might experiment later today.

Presents, presents everywhere....

Obviously Santa thought Bryce was a very good boy this year, and so did Jason and I. He made out like a bandit. The pictures below are the presents he received at home only. Remember, we went to 3 other houses--grandparents--where there were more presents for him to open and enjoy.

The presents wrapped and one of the last moments of quiet within the house. Luna the cat was not a present.

Busy opening gifts, Bryce takes a moment to smile. He was a little tired though. He was up until 1:30 am questioning Jason when Santa was coming. Then Bryce thought he heard Santa downstairs and kept waking up to ask Jason if Santa had come. I was at work.

Bryce in front of all of his unwrapped loot!!

The cool steam Thomas the train set was the biggest hit and he plays with the train daily.

Bryce also likes his Shake N Go raceway. Mom and Dad really like it too. His dinosaur is also in the picture along with various other little toys, and Bella the dog's christmas bone.

Making Christmas Cookies the Bryce Durham way

First, you smile for the camera

Next, you make sure that everyone is watching

Then, you paint the cookie with egg mixture

Next, you decorate the cookie with colored sugar--my favorite to use today is blue

Finally, you do a sugar shot using the cap from the decorating bottle and turn the tongue blue


Wednesday, my Mom and I spent 6+ hours making Christmas cookies with the added occasional decorating expertise of Bryce. A great time was had by all involved.

Choo Choo ride with Santa

Tonight we went on a train ride with Santa at Strasburg railroad. We first started out the day though at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord. When I say they had a lot of food, they really had a LOT of food. I have never seen a buffet that even beings to compare with this place. You will not go away hungry and the price was extremely reasonable. If you are visiting the Lancaster area, EVER, this is a must stop place. The gift shop downstairs also has anything you could ever imagine. They also have a farmer's market and bakery down the road, but we were unable to visit.
Bryce loved the train ride with Santa and actually shook his hand--as you can see in the photo. He made out like a bandit also--we had to browse in the gift shops too.

Gifts

Bryce got one of his Christmas presents early. He saw the DHL driver drop it off out front and wouldn't let it rest until I opened the box. Amazing how tears are still able to crush my willpower. Here he is playing with the Leapster.
The other pictures are of him in his robe that I bought him. It was a little pricey but too cute and too soft to pass up. It is a snowman robe and you can't really see the hat and eyes on top, but that is what's on the hood of the robe.

So long to preschool

Bryce was sick yesterday for the 4th time this season. He had a fever of 104.8 and was throwing up. His poor little body was shivering because of the fever, and he looked so pathetic. After much discussion and some very hard decisions, Jason and I decided to take Bryce out of preschool. Physically, I don't know how much more he can take, and MENTALLY I can't handle it anymore. We are going to try again in spring if the kids are not as sick at the preschool. We'll see is he can go in April and May. I am praying for a freezing cold winter so that the lower temps kill off all the viruses/cold bugs!!

Christmas is coming

Here's Bryce eating a popsicle after the hard work of putting our tree and train up last night.

I am so ready for Christmas this year, it is scary. I have all the presents bought--just not wrapped yet, but I have started on that too! Jason has a few presents to buy yet as well, but even he ahead of his own "last minute buying" schedule this year.
Last night we went and bought our tree and Bryce was so excited. Once it was decorated, Jason and Bryce put the train under the tree. Jason has been promising Bryce this all year long. Bryce's grandpa Cooper brought a brand new train down his last visit, and it fits perfectly under the tree. It even has a chugging sound and train whistle that blows as it rounds the track.
On our way to get the tree last night, we dropped off all 75+ of our Christmas cards at the Post Office for delivery--watch those mail boxes!! ***I told you I was doing great this year***
The only thing to do now, is try to keep the anticipation of a 3 year old under control for the next 3 or so weeks!!


Close-up of Bryce w/his Christmas tree and train.

Now I am NOT an artist, but here is a picture of the small farm we set up under the tree. It reminds us of Strasburg and the small farms that surround those train tracks. The blue circle is our chalked-on duck pond.