CHRISTMAS EVE 2008

We started off our holiday by going to 8th floor Macy's in downtown Minneapolis. The theme this year was "Santa's Little Helpers." It has been our tradition every year to attend the Macy's festivities---and this was BY FAR the best one I've seen. Jason agrees too. Cale also enjoyed himself--there was so much fun stuff to look at--everything was so animated, it was like he was in his own tiny little village! In this picture, he couldn't get enough of the animated animals--you'll see them in the next picture---he especially liked the polar bear and walrus!

Here, Cale was showing Daddy the singing Christmas trees and the little bunny that was directing them....

Not the greatest picture of the singing Christmas trees, but they were SOOOO dang cute! My favorite part of the whole thing!

Cale and Grandma "T" pointing out all of Santa's Little Helpers!

Of course we can't get a family picture with EVERYONE looking.....that dang Cale!

Me and my hubby!!!! (luv ya babe!)

Cale actually tried climbing up into Santa's workshop here...he was ready to start riding the rocking horse and jump into the candy cane machine!

In this picture, some of Santa's elves were climbing up a ladder carrying presents and he kept saying "uh-oh, fa" (uh-oh, fall) cuz he was afraid they were going to fall off the ladder. He was probably just more concerned that the presents were going to fall!

And our last picture at Macy's -- Cale loved the snowman and the little racoons pulling off his hat behind him...

HO HO HO--Merry Christmas! Jason told Cale he had to put cookies out for Santa. The only cookies in the house were Cale's fig newtons, so those had to do. In the morning, we showed Cale that all the milk was gone and the bitten cookies and tried to explain to him that Santa must have come cuz he ate the snack....but I think the little Santa doll had him confused cuz I think he thought that the doll ate the cookies!

The rest of the pictures are of some of Cale's favorite Christmas presents.....let me just say...Santa was very very good to our little boy---as well as all of our friends and family! He is so lucky to loved by so many! Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

This GeoTrax Grand Central Station was his big present from Santa---it's been quite a hit with both of my boys!!! Yes, even my 31 year old husband has found a second hobby!

Another hit with both of my boys was the big remote control truck from Uncle D and Andrea! Although now that Cale sees how fast it goes, he doesn't favor it as much as his Daddy does!

Another big hit...his Handy Manny tool set--with handy tool belt

Our 4th haircut thus far..... ...and by far, Cale's most favorite look yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why oh why did I wrack my brain for the "perfect" christmas present for Cale to have on Christmas morning when all I had to do was give him the dang box it came it? He's been playing in this box for a week straight! He can't get enough of the packing noodles--and I think I've lost count on how many times I've had to duct tape the sides so the whole thing just doesn't fall apart!

Today was actually about 40 degrees, so Cale and I had to take advantage of the nice WARM weather! Cale is just starting to appreciate the snow...probably doesn't help that everytime Cale and Daddy go outside, Daddy says "ewww" to the snow and so, like clock work, everytime we walk outside Cale has to say "ewwww...co" (ewww..cold). Luckily, today, we were able to take a nice little stroll up and down the street until I was actually the one thinking "ewww cold!" We hope to take Cale sledding over Christmas vacation---that should be quite a sight! Although he has finally given his consent to a winter hat, he has not given his consent to mittens.....I have yet to figure out how to win that battle!

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHRISTMAS FROM HERE ON OUT!!!!

We LOVE Christmas at the Thompson house! Yep, we are the annoying people who put their trees up before Thanksgiving (in our case a whole week before!!!) But let's face it...decorating for Christmas is hard work, just digging all the decorations out is hard enough. But we like to enjoy our decorated house as long as possible, so we start a little early. Although, we are not so annoying that we turn the outside lights on weeks before Thanksgiving---we waited until after Thanksgiving for that one! Didn't want you to think we were "one of those" people!

Soooo, getting into the Christmas spirit wasn't quite as welcoming, at first, to our little guy. Sure he loves Santa (in books, on paper, on ornaments, or from afar--let me just add that going to see Santa this year for pictures will go down in history as the biggest melt down we have seen in Cale's short life thus far! Maybe, hopefully, next year!) Sure he loves Rudolph, The Grinch, the Christmas trees....but getting him to wear Santa's hat was like "Ba Humbug!!!"

Ok, so he's starting to warm up a bit here....He's got his Santa mug in hand and you can see a slight smirk starting to form under all that fluff....it probably helps that I'm sitting on the floor next to him yelling "HO HO HO!!!! and rubbing my belly" (Gosh, the things moms will do to get a laugh out of thier little stinkers!)

Now we're in the spirit!!!!!!!!!!!!

And haven't looked back!!!! I know Cale thinks "Mom is such a dork!"

Cute picuture...but the only reason he's being so well behaved and waving is cuz I actually let him stand on the chair so I could take the dang thing.....Daddy would not be impressed!





And because we're soooooooooooo excited about our new fireplace, I thought I'd throw in a few pictures of it to show you all....we've been wanting a fireplace for years, and we finally got one! Yeah!!! So besides looking AWESOME, it's keeping us warm downstairs. No more frozen noses Grandma B!

Cale loves our upstairs Christmas tree....here he is having his nightly "pow-wow" his his two little buddies...Rudolph and my old Christmas Teddy Bear. Every night after his bath he goes to grab his nuk and his "b" (blanket) and sits down in front of the tree, just looking at it and his new little friends. I'm gonna feel horrible putting those guys away!

Good night! Sleep tight!!

BATH TIME
Cale has grown tired of his bath toys...as have mommy and daddy. We're looking for some fun and exciting NEW toys so that we can make bathtime a little more fun! For now we'll stick with measuring cups and straws! (the straws are actually a big hit cuz Cale has now found out that if he blows them in the water, he can make bubbles!) Although he doesn't like when the bubbles actually touch his arm...let alone stay there....They MUST be washed off...IMMEDIATELY

We spent another weekend up north at Grandma and Grandpa B's. Cale was exceptionally well behaved on our trip up this time. He slept quite a bit cuz he was still tuckered out from his late night out at Grandma and Grandpa T's the night before for Thanksgiving.....must have been all that turkery!!!

(Take a peak at how perfect his nose looks.....you'll see why I ask in just a moment....) Some of the highlights of the weekend:

Cale found a new appreciation for the window sill---Good thing we brought up all his cars or he may not have been able to accomplish this big feat!
(Now look at the big scab on the side of his nose....Cale did a huge face plant into the bottom of the couch about an hour after getting to Grandma and Grandpa B's)


Aunt Corrine let us borrow BJ and Brad's rocking horse from when they were little....Cale loved it! He rode that thing like a bucking bronco, standing and rocking and yelling "wooooo"

(that dang scab is still there!)

Cousin Ashlee brought her little puppy Carlos over and Cale fell in love....actually with both of them! It took some coaxing, but after a couple hours, Cale actually petted Carlos and accepted some kisses on the cheek. I hate to say it, but I think he really wants a puppy!

Cale and Grandpa bonded over cars.....

......cars.......

.....and ICE CREAM!!!!

Cale's first official Halloween started off a little shaky. He wasn't very fond of his costume and Jason and I picked out for him. He liked the cape, but the rest of the costume was something he had to get accustomed to. We think it was because it was a "one-piece"--Cale and one-pieces usually don't mix! So I bravely dressed him in his costume a couple times before the big day, trying to get him acclimated, but my attempts were quickly rebutted. He would just stand there, fully dressed in costume, and bawl--lip pout and all. I was slightly worried sending him off to daycare on Halloween day--not sure how he would be for Lisa as she made the attempt--but kinda secretly thinking--"better her than me!" (Sorry Lisa!!!) Amazingly, she got him in it and even got him to pose for a picture with the other kids. After dinner, however, it was a different story. I had to bribe Cale with smarties in order for him to get in costume again--but once he had had a handful of smarties, he was putty in my hands!!! So overall, our Halloween was a blast--Cale ended up loving his Superman costume and at least now I can say I got my money's worth!

OUR LITTLE SUPER HERO

It was hilarious watching him run around as he tried making his cape flow behind him!

Cale....taking candy from a stanger. No!! Just kidding! But kinda looks like it huh?

Taking a peek at his stash.....

Here's our brave superhero trudging through the forest...man, this one's not afraid of anything!

I made Cale pose next to my beautiful artwork for the day...the blob off to the left in a ghost!

This year Cale preferred handing out candy over actually going trick-or-treating. We only made it to one neighbor's house and he wanted to go home. He had more fun running outside while all the other kids came up to the house....And here he is waiting for more kids to come so that he could share his candy.

All the events of the day and night (numerous costume changes and sugar highs) had caught up with him by the end of it all and he was just exhausted---Don't you wish we all could look this relaxed when we slept!!??!!