Christmas fun!

We went to Longmont's holiday parade with my parents again this year.  Shark!!!

He was excited to see something (very probably a fire truck)

Liam all bundled up.

.

Robin enjoying the Christmas lights

We were worried that Liam was going to get too cold--and he was at first.  We were trying to move quickly to make it to the start of the parade so he wasn't fully bundled when we started moving, but a few of us stopped to wrap him up after he started crying.  After that, it seems our fears were misdirected.  Liam didn't fuss anymore after getting bundled (although he had a dazed expression through most of the experience,) but Robin...  Well, shortly before the parade ended he said he wanted to go.  And then he repeated it every five seconds.  And then, shortly after the above train photo was taken, he started screaming and didn't stop until we'd been back at my parents' house for a while.  Note to self:  insist on boots, remember hand/foot warmers, and bring extra layers/blankets the next time we go to a winter parade or outdoor event (like Zoo Lights.)

The following day we went to see Santa!  I decided I was fed up with the shopping mall Santa, with the overly-commercial message of purchasing one expensive photo and no personal cameras added to the already overly-commercial figure.  I wanted to go to a Christmas store near us because we discovered Santa was there last year while shopping for ornaments, and there wasn't a professional photographer in sight.  Unfortunately, I should have called first, because Santa only goes to that store on one day, and it wasn't going to be until much later than we arrived.  Instead, we took advantage of Santa's visit to Dean's union hall.  First, Santa read The Night Before Christmas.

This is Robin being shy about approaching Santa.

HO HO HO!

Robin asking for Annie and Claribel (the coaches that Thomas the Train pulls)

Liam just wanted to play with Santa's hat

Liam got some attention from Santa too

Santa gave out mittens full of m&ms.  That sure got Robin's attention.

Robin's confusing his pronouns these days.  Everybody is a "him," regardless of gender.  We've been trying to teach him that girls/women are "her"s, and he's starting to get it, but only when he's thinking about it.  In normal speech, it's still "him" for everyone.  The other day he cracked me up because he was telling me about our new storytime librarian and he said "Him not a him, him a her."  Funny boy!

I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season as well!