Saturday, December 7, 2013

Visits from St. Nick

Yes, there are several little visits from the Big Guy during the course of our season leading up to Christmas.  Sometimes we see him and sometimes we don't.  But the main theme is the all consuming anticipation of his big visit coming on Christmas Eve. 

Every year I try very hard to weave the true meaning of Christmas into all of our activities.  I just hope some of that takes.  As a small child still, Aidan does still focus on the commercial part of Santa Claus. . .and I let him.  As long as he remembers that there is a deeper more important reason for Christmas.  He is fascinated with our Nativity and the baby Jesus (who is not yet out) and with a Matryoshka doll that our former priest gave him (another feel good story).  It has Mary and the baby Jesus on it.  So, that makes me happy.

Anyway, here is what we have been up to during this first week of Advent.  It's all fun and, well okay, a little stressful for Mama, but still fun times.

Sunday, as you'll remember, was the first Sunday of Advent.  Our elf, Steopa, arrived from the Russian side of the North Pole.  He has decided to move around a bit this year (yikes, Daddy!) but has otherwise NOT been watching or doing anything spectacular.  Call us grumpy old folks, but really.  That Elf on the Shelf thing where he watches your every move is a bit creepy.  And a bit old style Communist Russian, if you ask me.

Anyway, Steopa arrived with a filled Advent calendar with goodies (treats and mouth guards and little Lego hockey guys.) And a Lego Advent Calendar that creates a little Winter Wonderland Lego village.  Pretty cool stuff and Aidan was trilled!!  He loves the little daily activities like this.

Steopa brought an Elf note from Santa that reminded Aidan to always say his prayers.  : )

 
That afternoon, in between all of the other activities we had going on, we got our tree up and then I spent the next two evening getting the lights on.  Aidan got worried that the lights were hot (I wrap them a little around me while doing the tree to keep them straight) and he kept coming over to hug me to make sure I was okay!  : )
 
Funny child!!

We planned on doing the ornaments several times during the week, but things just kept getting in the way so we didn't actually get to it until Friday after hockey practice. . .but first, there was another visit from St. Nick. . .

Our town does some really cool things.  One is that our local Volunteer Fire Department decks out the main Engine with lights, gets Santa, Frosty and Rudolph together and then drives around all of the neighborhoods waving at the children who come to see what all the commotion is.  They used to be able to do our whole town in one night around the 23rd (twenty years ago!). . .now they do a neighborhood or two each night, nearly every night during December.  It is something the kids look forward to.

This year, our neighborhood was on Thursday, December 5.  Kind of appropriate that it was the night before St. Nicholas Day!  And I'm soooo glad we didn't have a hockey game, which we originally did!!!

Anyway, it was very traumatic getting Aidan to focus on finishing his homework, eating dinner and getting his shower.  He kept thinking he was going to miss everything.  Knowing what the schedule was, I kept reassuring him that he wouldn't miss a thing and that I would never let that happen (Mama didn't want to miss it either!).  Trust me!! 

Finally, all of the little things were done and we began the wait. . .outside with the other neighbor kids who were also bouncing off the walls. . .



And finally. . .



Could it be????

YES!!!!  Here he comes!!!!





And this year, for unknown reasons, the truck turned around and came back by!!!

 
It took a bit to get Aidan settled down after this visit from St. Nick, but he eventually did and went off to bed for a good night sleep.
 
And then, after his hockey practice and dinner on Friday, we came home and finished up our tree.  It is very beautiful as always.  And really, that look on Maggies face is not indicative of Aidan squeezing her in the neck to hold her in place.  Really.

 
And below is a little close up of the tree. . .This is about 3 1/2 feet up from the ground.  Can you tell whose ornaments these are?  And who might have put them all there??  I am not moving a blessed one because I just LOVE that we have a tree with a bunch of ornaments at 3 1/2 feet off the ground!! 

 
And so, we still have three more visits to go. . .One we will go see him at the Mall--on Tuesday the 10th which Aidan does not know anything about; Two will be our Town Christmas Parade on the 14th--Aidan probably does know about this one and thank goodness we don't have a game!!!; and then Three, well, Christmas Eve, of course!!
 
We'll make it. . .I think. . .
 
And finally, we finally have our CBHL schedule!!!  We have a game today and one tomorrow (in addition to our House League game).  And then I think there is one on the 19th and then we have the scrimmage at Verizon Center.  Then we have our tournament the weekend after Christmas.  So, our December is now pretty much booked up!!!  And January is looking pretty hectic too. . .But, it will all be fun!!
 
Happy Advent, y'all!!

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