Mike's Christmas Surprise

Mike has been talking for a long time about how he needed a "man-cave" for his stuff.  That he needed some Mike time ( I reminded him that he was married and that went away when he got married..but it fell on deaf ears), basically he needed somewhere to go play his video games where he could hide from my nagging him about the taking the trash out and my eye rolls at his TV viewing choices.
So, this year Mike got a Christmas miracle. I worked every moment I had that he was at work and Erik was asleep to transform out teeny tiny basement (that we used as storage) into his "Man-Cave".  I dragged furniture down, I hung up sports stuff, and added a 26 inch hi-def flat screen TV (complete with cable) to round the whole thing out.
Since he has to stay home while we go to the beach for Christmas, I decided to give it to him early...besides anyone who knows me knows I couldn't keep this much fun a secret!!  So I gave it to him tonight.  I think he likes it.  It's pretty cold down there, but hey, no one's nagging him to turn the channel off football, and I'm happy upstairs watching Oprah!  It's a win win all the way around!
Merry Christmas my Love - Hope you have fun!

Tanta!

Since seeing Santa (and we all remember how happy Erik was then), Erik has not stopped talking about "Tanta".  Although when I ask if he wants to go see Santa...not so much,  But he loves pictures, shows, songs....anything about him.



He still loves that bathtime and while I was trying to catch him singing, which is usually what he does, one long note after another, he was trying to blow bubbles here. Towards the end, after all the boring splashing and babbling, he notices something bothering him in between his legs, but he really can't quite get a good look, since his tummy and bubbles are in the way.



Happy Sunday!!

16 Months

It's impossible that this child is 16 months old, but today he is.  He can not grow up this fast.  There has to be a way to slow it down.

This picture was taken a few minutes ago, he has discovered that he likes pasta....in his eyes.  I'd better go run a bath, I can cry into it and wish him to stay little.

Christmas through his eyes!

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, next to Halloween, St. Patricks Day and Easter (I like them all).  I love the lights and the twinkliness that is everywhere.  It almost makes it worth getting dark earlier. 
Christmas is even MORE amazing through the eyes of a child.  Everything is new (and sometimes scary...Santa!), and full of excitement.  Erik begs to go out, and he just wants to look around.
He loves the decorations in the yard, and the "Sismas tree" as he calls it. 

Yesterday we went to a benefit for a friends child care program at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay (kicking myself for living there for so long and never going out there!), it was gingerbread house contest and tree lighting ceremony. 

Erik saw his first gingerbread houses, and had the first cookie of his life - that was a big hit. 

Seriously, the fire pits, the animated snow projected onto the building,the view of the ocean, the girls acapella choir, all the hot chocolate and egg nog you could drink.....it was very romantic, too bad Mike was working. It was slightly raining so the picture doesn't do it justice, but that place is seriously gorgeous...if you ever get the chance to go.

 Since I now know how lovely it is, I'll be taking my hubby next time.

Erik very intently studying the different gingerbread houses on display.  He loved any that had a train!

Notice that cookie and the green lips?  He threw it down a moment later, but that's all it took to learn what a cookie was, the next one went down much faster!

I'm so grateful to see Christmas through his eyes this year, it makes everything just a bit more shiny!  Wishing all of you a wonderful and shiny new holiday season!