Cars, Trains, and Santa . . . OH MY!

After what seemed like months of waiting, Christmas finally arrived! (No, seriously--the Christmas build-up seems to start earlier each year, making the arrival of the big day seem to take FOREVER!  Am I the only one who feels this way?)  Anyways, we were excited to welcome my parents to town to celebrate this year, and MJ was stoked. . .

"Okay, Papaw, when you get here, first we're going to play with tractors, then we're going to build with Legos, then we'll read a few books, then we'll take a walk to the park, then we'll . . . "

My mom always brings the most amazing goodies with her when she visits, and she did not disappoint this year.  Not only were there lots of sweets, but also her homemade rolls, which MJ was all too happy to sample.

Mamaw and Papaw also brought non-Christmas gifts, including this rocking horse I bought for my nephew Gabe when he was two.  He's obviously out-grown it and sent it with Mamaw and Papaw for MJ to have.  As you can see, he was pretty happy about it.

Unfortunately, Jonathan had to work late on Christmas Eve and, therefore, slept in a bit on Christmas morning, but he didn't want to miss MJ's opening his presents from Santa.  Santa, luckily, stopped at our house last (around 9:00AM) and dropped off MJ's gifts while he was distracted in the kitchen.  Tricky old St. Nick. :)

This car was the BEST. PRESENT. EVER.

Little man climbed in and knew just what to do.  He was turning the steering wheel, honking the horn, turning on his blinkers, and changing the radio station simultaneously.  I swear I don't know where he learned it.  I certainly don't drive that way. :)

He got out of the car just long enough to grab his new box of tools and bring them back in with him.

The only thing that would possibly get him out of the car?  Thomas the Tank Engine toys!

And a John Deere tractor, of course. :)

After the excitement of presents, we went outside to take the car for a spin.  So lucky we live in Las Vegas and that it was in the 50s on Christmas Day. :)

The next day, we took my parents out to see some of the sights around Vegas.  But, if you know my parents at all, you know they are NOT big city people, so we decided it was best to head out of the city . . . so we went to the Hoover Dam instead.  We had taken MJ down here when he was about a month old, and he was not impressed by seeing it again. 

We let my parents go on a tour of the dam while we waited outside.  Not only are children under the age of 8 not allowed on the tours (unless they are a month old like MJ was), the tour had made me super claustrophobic and I was NOT in any hurry to do it again.  Instead, we let MJ try and climb up the rocks in Boulder Canyon. :)

Daddy had to help.

"Dad, let go.  I got this."

After the excitement was all over and the grandparents had left, it was hard to get MJ back into his normal routine.  However, new comfy new PJ's and a few new Thomas books, and he was ready to sleep for the first time in days.

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Hope your holiday was blessed!

Christmas Lights and NASCAR Racing . . . And Not At A Trailer Park

My family has been in much need of some holiday cheer.  We've all been battling illnesses since before Thanksgiving.  And, just when we think we're in the clear, something new hits.  This past week has been especially icky, with Matty's fever hitting 102 and Jonathan even losing his voice from coughing so much.  I'd managed to dodge the worst of it this time . . . until yesterday, when I woke up coughing and rasping.  

Bluh.

But, watching everyone mope around the house, snotting on everything and coughing everywhere, I decided that the best thing we could do was get out of the house.  Preferably to somewhere where we wouldn't spread our germs all around.  Enter the Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway:  a 2.5 mile drive through over 1 million twinkling lights and more than 400 glittering displays.  The perfect way to experience a little Christmas cheer without every even leaving the car (and, in our case, getting out of our sweatpants).  What's even better?  It was a Monday evening, which meant no crowds and $5 off admission. :)

So we loaded up everyone in the car and headed across town (and I do mean everyone--we even took Oskar). :)

Here's a look at just a few of the displays.

Driving through the bottom of the grandstands around the track, the exact same place where I ran Color Me Rad just a few weeks ago. :)

Each display was sponsored by a local business in the community.  This one was one of my absolute favorites, sponsored by the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay.  It had shark fins that slowly lit up as if a shark was coming towards you and then--BAM!--this display lit up right in front of you.  LOVE IT!

Matthew's favorite display?  A train, of course.

North Pole Fire Department. :)

Entrance to another grandstand tunnel . . .

They even had a nativity scene.  I was very (pleasantly) surprised.

And what's a Las Vegas Christmas lights display without a tribute to the King?  Viva Las Vegas, Mr. Elvis . . . Viva Las Vegas.

All Jonathan wanted to do was veer off-course and drive around the track.  This is a as close as he got to some NASCAR action.

My favorite part.  Beautiful!

The Butterfly Garden.

See ya soon, Santa!

They gave out candy and lots of little goodies along the way, including this shark fin "crown" from the Shark Reef.  MJ thought it was funny. :)

Not only is the entire display beautiful and a great way to get in the spirit, $2 from every ticket goes directly to the Speedway Children's Charity, which provides funding for hundreds of Southern Nevada children's charities.  These charities help provide educational support, food, and even things like coats and shoes.  Merry Christmas, indeed. :)

Now if only we could kick these germs to the curb . . .

Santa Sucks

It's the time of year again:  time to visit Santa.  I knew it would be iffy this year, as Matty is old enough to now be afraid of strangers.  BUT, I decided it couldn't be any worse than last year when he spit up on poor St. Nick.  So, with Daddy in tow, we headed down to Bass Pro Shop again to visit Santa's Winter Wonderland.

Santa's workshop was set up right next to the boats, dirtbikes, and four-wheelers.  My "all-boy" little boy was in HEAVEN as we explored the "trucks" while Daddy held our place in line.

WHEELS!

He knew just what sound to make here too (Insert cute little boy truck noises for full sound effect).

Not only were there all kinds of things that went "brrrrrr," there were FISH!  Huge, fascinating, fish in a ginormous tank with a real-live waterfall.  

So you can only imagine what happened when we ripped him away from all the cool stuff and forced him to sit on some bearded stranger's lap?  Yep.  Total meltdown.  The picture was taken after the first meltdown, when we tried to distract him with a candy cane, but before the second meltdown.  *Sigh*  At least Santa is smiling this year.

Once we got him away from Santa and back to the fun stuff, he was completely fine.  Although being completely sticky and on a sugar high (seen below) wasn't too much fun for Mommy and Daddy.

Ah, well.  Santa's a pretty forgiving guy, right?  I'm sure he's used to meltdowns and sticky fingers. :)

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas . . .

We waited for our longest time EVER before decorating the house for Christmas this year.  We waited TWO days after Thanksgiving.  Not kidding.  The fact that this was due to us traveling to and from Tucson for Thanksgiving is neither here nor there.  I've been in the Christmas spirit since, like, August, and I was DYING to make the house match my mood.  I knew it would be even better this year since my husband was actually home AND Matty was old enough to "help."

And boy . . . did he help.

First up, the tree . . . and a random strand of jingle bells packed in with it.  These were, by far, the coolest thing EVER.  

And, as with everything, in the mouth it went.  So Mommy took it away.

No matter--there was a tree to worry about.

"Helping" with the lights meant trying to pull them off as Daddy was trying to put them on.  Fun fun. :)

Helping Daddy put lights and garland on the banister was just an excuse to play with his tractor on the stairs, which he's normally not allowed to do.

Stockings up!  I hope to eventually invest in some NICE, personalized stockings for the family.  But, I figured there was no point until we decide that our family is complete.  So, until then, these $1 felt ones from Wal-Mart will have to do. 

Absolutely love my Nativity display I picked up Korea, of all places.  So simple, so beautiful.

The newest addition to our holiday decor, my Scentsy nativity warmer.  Absolutely LOVE this (and the Iced Pine scent isn't too bad either!)

We finished up the tree while MJ napped.  What a surprise that was when he woke up!  He pointed individually at almost every single ornament and wanted to know what each one was.  His favorite?  Bob and Larry from 'Veggie Tales' on a sled.  Although the lit-up house from 'Christmas Vacation' was a close second.

Seeing the lights out front for the first time.  It's only part-way done, but it will do for now.

We found Oskar's holiday costume in the box of Christmas stuff.  He was NOT amused.

MJ didn't seem to mind (mainly because 'Thomas the Tank Engine' was on TV).

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Hope you're all getting in the holiday spirit!