Christmas

Whew.......what a busy couple of days for us. First we had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner with my grandmother and Uncle Carl at Carraba's. My sister and niece were able to come this year. After dinner we drive around and look at Christmas lights on houses. Evan says this is the funnest part of the night. When we got home we left out our cookies , took a few pics by the tree and headed for bed. I did not have to spend the whole night wrapping gifts because my sister came over earlier in the day and wrapped them all for me. Well...all the boys gifts. That was a huge relief for me. Aren't sisters wonderful beings to have around. I suggest you all get one.













On Christmas day the boys were awake especially early. Trey ripped through all his gift opening while Evan went slowly. It was fun to watch. Zane did not get as much as his brothers so he went more slowly and savored his toys. For the rest of the day until early evening the boys played with everything and daddy took a looonng Christmas nap. Then in the evening we went to my MIL house for Christmas with the family. It was nice to see everyone we do not see regularly.










Then on Sunday we spent the day with my family at my grandmothers house celebrating Christmas. I love my family. They were especially nice with the gifts this year for my kiddies(and DH and myself). We ate lunch, played games and just relaxed with each other. It was a really good day. I wish everyone a family like mine that you can just be yourself and relax.

Christmas Happenings

There have been a few things we have done this Holiday season that I have not blogged about.



First we went to Christmas Lane twice. The first time we went it started to drizzle and Santa was not there that evening. So I got a few pics and we headed home. We went again last night. Santa was there along with carolers and dozens of people. The boys enjoyed themselves. Evan is officially too tall for the train ride and that made him sad. Especially when Trey kept reminding him. But he lived through it and he understands.















A few weeks ago we went to Walk Through Bethlehem with our friend Karen and her kids. This has become a family tradition. It is nice to remember why we have Christmas in the first place. The kids seems to understand the ideas more and more each year.

There was a tour bus set up at Walk Through Bethlehem this year. Karen and I investigated what was happening we discovered something very unique and everlasting. The bus was with Bible Across America. This group is publishing a handwritten Bible in the Fall of 2009. Karen, Evan and I were able to contribute to this project. Evan was happy he was able to write a verse. I will let you all know when the Bible comes out.

Gingerbread House

This has become an annual thing in the Hydock household during the Christmas season. Decorating a gingerbread house. The boys really seem to like it. This was the first year Zane got into the action. Trey and Evan decided to each take a side of the roof, house and either the front or back and decorate. Evan let Zane decorate with him. Next year I may have to get a gingerbread tree as well so Zane can have his own gingerbread to decorate.

For those that remember last year and our slowly disappearing gingerbread house. I assure you this house is put high up away from greedy animals.

Trey's roof and side of house.

















Trey's back of house.















Evan and Zane's front of house. The gingerbread girl on the right is Trey's while the left side is Evan's and Zane's.













Evans and Zane's roof and side of house.

A Disney Christmas

This is just a glimpse of the lights. Awesome!!
Disney looks beautiful at Christmastime!! The boys and I park hopped yesterday. We did everything we set out to do and more. I only got confused once on the journeys between the parks. A young woman set me straight on where I needed to be. It seems I took the monorail when I was already at my destination. Oh well. A round trip on the monorail was not too bad off course. I blame it on the darkness. I did not have on my glasses. Things do not look the same at night then when they do during the day.

We saw the Osborne Lights at Hollywood Studios. We saw a few Santa's from around the world at Epcot and heard their stories. We saw a show at the Magic Kingdom.

I have to brag on my boys. Evan is a huge help when we travel without daddy. He know I need help holding things, opening doors, keeping up with Zane and etc. He steps right in and helps without whining or objecting. Trey is also helpful but he needs reminding and coaxing. It makes me feel like I am doing something right with my kiddies.


Evan and Zane with Father Christmas from the United Kingdom




















Evan with Papa Noel from Canada

















Evan with Pere Noel from France

Lost Tooth and Other Things

Whew!! It is Friday. It is the last day of school for the kiddies until January 6. I am one happy mommy right now. Why? because all the school celebrations, gift giving and receiving, thank you notes and all the other Holiday stuff is over. This has been a whirlwind of a week for me. I am happy to be part of my kids school and activities but these holiday things wear me down. So now I can just concentrate on my household and what needs to be done to complete Christmas at home. But before I begin that daunting task the kids and I are going to take a little break and head over to Disney tomorrow. We are going to park hop. We will see the Magic Kingdom in the morning, then Epcot in the afternoon so we can visit some Santa's around the world and at night head over to Hollywood Studios for the Osborne Lights. My friend Amy(from school) will be at Disney this weekend with her family so we will connect with them sometime tomorrow.






Now on to the lost tooth. Trey lost his first tooth this week. It has been loose for a while. It fell out while he was sleeping. He woke up with a tooth in his mouth during the middle of the night. I sleepily had to inform him that the Tooth Fairy will not come that night. She has not put him on her list but that she will do that first thing in the morning for the next night. Evan informed Trey that the Tooth Fairy brings a special toy for your first lost tooth. I told Evan I did not remember this but Evan was adamant he got a neat remote control car. Okay then! Off to the store I went the next day. My sister reminded me that Trey wanted a Shamu webkinz(which he was NOT getting for Christmas because I said no more webkinz!!!). So that is what he got. Thanks Les! Oh well...you only lose your first tooth once. Trey was thrilled and that is what counts. I tried taking a picture of Trey and his tooth gap but there is none. The tooth was so loose and very late falling out that the other tooth is half way grown in already.

Elf Dancing

I stole this off Julie's blog. Thanks for the laughs Julie!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Chritmas Wishes

The boys spent the afternoon looking through the toy catalogs(for the third or fourth time since November). They made out their Christmas List for Santa. I find the idea of them truly believing that what they ask for Santa may bring so childlike and innocent. It feels as if the world and their desires are at their fingertips just for the asking. I say.....go ahead and ask and dream boys. What is to lose.

Do not get me wrong...my boys know they do not get everything they put on the list. But the idea of 'maybe' is so intoxicating!

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

A family tradition. The Lakeland Christmas Parade. A great start to the month of December. It was a great night for the parade. Not too hot or cold. Just right. Both boys remembered the parade from last year. Ahhh....the memories. The main park near the parade route was decked out as usual with Christmas lights. It makes for a great background drop for pictures.

Jen's Thoughts

I know you all have been dying for me to reveal my inner most thoughts. So I decided to reveal what I was thinking last night and this morning.



My sister called me last night about 8:30/9pm. She was going to pick up my niece from an activity. What was i doing? I was already in bed reading a book about to fall asleep. Life can not get any more boring and mundane than that. So I got to thinking about myself and and my life. I decided something.........ready for my epiphany..........it is ground breaking..........

I am a boring person with no excitement/drama in my life AND I think I really like it that way. Shocking I know. I have no desire to be out and about at 9am. No late night Starbucks for me. I enjoy the peace and quiet of my household at night when the kiddies are asleep. I wonder if I will like this much quietness when all my children have left the house and I am alone ALWAYS. I may seek out the night life at Starbucks. But for now......know that I can be found in bed, reading and enjoying my time.....night after night after night.

Another thing I like is to putter around my house and never leave it for days. I have no problem with this. I have no desire to adventure into the world(aka. Town), meet and greet people and be social. My house is like my refuge. Am I weird , depressed, antisocial or just have a mundane life? I guess it doesn't matter. I like my boring, old self.