The Village

If you've never been to my house at Christmas time...you've missed out on a rather spectacular feat of Lego-building mastery. Each year Ian pulls out his (enormous) stock-pile of Lego and proceeds to create a festive Lego Christmas Village that surrounds, and even goes under, our Christmas tree.

The kids love it. They wake up each morning and run for the tree to spend a little time with the village inhabitants before readying themselves for school. No really...they run to it. The village include a toy shop, bakery, post office, train station, ice-skating pond, ski hill, farm (with animals), hotel (that's what I'm calling it), and a gazebo with live music (to name a few). Several of the lampposts actually light up. Oh, and there are two trains that service this particular village.

At any given second someone is usually begging for the opportunity to drive the trains around (and around, and around) the tree. And yes, that someone is usually Curtis.

Oh, I know...you're asking yourself "where are they supposed to put the presents?"

So am I. (Ian keeps reminding me that there's plenty of space. On the floor. Next to the piano. Downstairs...)

Don't tell him I said this, but...I kind of like it.

You may, however, tell him that the village needs a library.

Here Birdie, Birdie, Birdie

So...we have a big bag of bird seed. I bought it because I tend to feel bad for the itty-bitty creatures during the cold months of winter...and I like to do what I can to make their lives more comfortable. Then...my children developed a fascination with the winged creatures. They will stare out our back window forever watching them as they flit around.

Today they presented our flying friends with a little Christmas present:

Their offering attracted dozens of birds. (I did worry that they had created another hawk-sacrifice like last year...but no sign of any predatory birds this Christmas!) Within a day it was reduced to an unreadable version of their gift...and the girls were ecstatic! Who knew bird seed could be so much fun?

Preferred Apparel

On any given day...okay, on every given day...this is what you will find my son wearing: shorts and a t-shirt. These two items do not necessarily have to match, either. In fact, it seems he is partial to the most mind-boggling combinations possible.

This is acceptable in the house only, mind you. (I do have standards of parenting when we venture out in the winter wonderland.) Which also means that on every given day you can find a path of pants, socks, shoes, and shirts strewn from the van to his room as he races to change back into his favored garb. What a nut.

Santa, Baby!

Our Little Luchador

He calls them "mas-kes". Two syllables. And he loves them.