Christmas Break

Andrew's last day of preschool for 2011 was Friday. It made me a bit nostalgic for the time when my life was measured in semesters. There was something comforting about having a clear, predictable delineation of culminations and fresh beginnings. In Andrew's case, the culmination was a class party and early dismissal. Agnes went to the party and got to hang out with Andrew and his friend.

This is the same friend that seems to get notes about poor behavior sent home in conjunction with Andrew's. These two gave Agnes a tour of the classroom, and they did not disappoint. After referring to each item they encountered as pootie, (pootie table, pootie stickers, pootie chart) Agnes began to see a trend in their humor. I can't imagine why these two get in trouble together from time to time.

"Boy Webb"...these are the only two words the poor women we've married have seen on the hospital ankle bracelets of their newborns for the past three generations. And all these males gathered at our house for Christmas this weekend.

Brady and Andrew left a shattered step stool in their wake. I suppose it could have been worse.

Brooks is still on the mend from a tonsillectomy, so he spent much of the day rocking his Nintendo DS.

After food and presents, a melee broke out. Jesse paired off with Brooks, and Brady squared up against Andrew. Luckily no one was seriously injured in the skirmish.

Now there is nothing left to do but clean up, rest, and get ready for more festivities in the week to come.

Something Extra

It seems like Noah's extra chromosome was the main event coordinator this week. On Thursday, Agnes and I visited his new daycare Play-Do-Learn. It's a three day a week program with a low student to teacher ratio and specially trained instructors. It really should help Noah become the best Noah he can be.

Friday kicked off another weekend full of welcome holiday obligations. My job, Pickering Firm, had their annual Christmas party. As far as corporate parties go, I would say its above average. There was an open bar, solid buffet food and we walked away with a visa gift card containing some respectable coin. The boys stayed with Babcia and Jadek, which led to two odd sensations; we could stay out as long as we wanted, and we could sleep as late we desired.

We took this opportunity to meet up with our friends Auntie No and Lawyer Steve at the "hot" new restaurant, Alchemy, in Copper-Young. While I would love to give you a full culinary review, the only subject on which I am able to report is the coldness of their bottle beer (it was adequately chilled). After an unfamiliar restful night sleep, Agnes went to a girls' holiday annual brunch with some of her old co-workers so it was just me and the boys.

That evening, we attended the Down Syndrome Association of the Mid-south holiday party at MUS. This event was top notch. Corky's BBQ catered, they had crafts stations for the kids, and Santa made a rockstar-like entrance after dinner.

While Noah slept off his busy night. Agnes and Andrew went to the Children's Museum. They have a pretend grocery store where you can actually check out. I was told that each time Andrew checked out, there were two quarts of pretend ice cream on his receipt.

We closed out the weekend doing the things you generally do to get ready for the week ahead; like take baths, make lunches, and trim nails. Although common and ordinary, it's these moments that get me through the less fulfilling moments during the week.

Perpetual Motion

This weekend begins the most action packed portion of the year. It's the middle bit, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, where every weekend contains an event. This time happens to be one of my favorites. With every office party, dinner outing and cultural gathering, I am celebrating in defiance of each lost minute of daylight and degree Fahrenheit as we head towards winter.

The frenzy actually began early in the week with a bowling night on Tuesday with coworkers. The night was full of fist bumps, pitcher beer, and endless "Big Lebowski" quotes.

In preparation for an upcoming Christmas event being held at the house, mom and I got to work fixing the wall in the dining room that had angry bubbling plaster from the leak that occurred while we were in Poland during the summer. As per usual, Andrew was right there to "help" with the project. I was able to snap a few photos as he deftly wielded a palm sander and drywall knives.

Since the weather was nice, we went for joy ride after the work was completed.

Saturday evening was booked up with the annual Polish Wigilia celebration. This is the name of the traditional Christmas Eve dinner.

I was there for the food, but Andrew and Noah were just killing time while waiting on Swieto Mikolaj (Saint Nicholas).

On a side note, Agnes and I were talking today about the saturation of Santas these days. You can't swing a dead reindeer at any event where children might be present without hitting the bearded sleigh jockey. We're just barely into December, and the boys have already had two Santa encounters. At least the two we've seen so far have spoken different languages. On the way home Andrew ate all the chocolate out of his Advent, countdown to Christmas, calendar. So, in case you missed it, Christmas is apparently very early this year. We decided to decorate our house this Sunday.

We set the tree in the stand, cranked up the Christmas music, and commenced breaking ornaments. I think Andrew and Noah only bagged four this year between them.

  

Did you know there was a volcano and lava at the nativity? Me either, but according to Andrew, one of these wise men will find out the hard way.

Now you'll have to excuse me, I have to go watch it rain for the next three days.