The Smith Family Adventures

Christmas Day was a relaxing day with family for us. We woke up, and Elias opened a few gifts from us. We got him a table top easel with art supplies and an art smock. So far he has loved it!

We headed over to Ama and Baba’s around 10:00, and we were there for the rest of the day! Elias didn’t have much interest in opening presents over there. He had major present fatigue. He mostly just wanted to play and do his normal routine. He had fun playing with his auntie and uncles as well. In the afternoon, my Uncle Jim and Auntie Jeani joined us. We had a very yummy Christmas meal. It was a very relaxing day for me…although I didn’t have to host…but it was a perfect way to celebrate Jesus and kick off the season of Christmas!

Here is our day in pictures:

Elias on Christmas morning at home.

Excited to try out his new easel!

Reading a story with Baba

Opening his gift from Uncle Greg

His very own fishing pole! Can you guess who got it for him?

The boys in matching Moose Creek jackets.

Elias loves this rocking horse. My Uncle Jim made it by hand when I was a bit younger than Elias.

We’ve had a lot of fun with family over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but I think it’s safe to say that everyone in the Smith household is ready to get back to the ol’ routine.

We spent Christmas Eve with Nana! She arrived in the morning, and stayed to play until nap time. Then, we met back up again at the Christmas Eve service at our church, complete with Christmas Pageant! After that, we went to Nana’s house for the Smith family tradition of Christmas burritos (or quessadillas if you are Elias). It was a great day! Here it is in pictures:

Elias and Nana looking at the Dove ornament he painted for her.

Elias and Nana playing with the pattern shapes she got him for Christmas.

Elias all dressed in his angel costume…waiting for the big show. Actually, Elias got nervous while waiting and ended up not having a very good time. He unhappily sat with the other angels during the pageant, and unhappily stayed on stage during his song. I’m glad he participated, but felt bad that it caused him anxiety. He is only 2 after all. Maybe next year he’ll like it better!

A family shot after the service

Ama and Baba came to see Elias in his pageant.

You can just see Elias thinking…”Really? Again?” We wanted family pictures with everyone…or at least I did.

Eating our Christmas burritos around the advent wreath at Nana’s house.

This afternoon we had our first “Christmas” with Grandpa Smith. We all went to Advent 4 church service, then we came home, had a little lunch, and exchanged a few gifts. Elias was happy during Sunday school because he got to make Jesse Tree ornaments with the big kids. He also enjoyed the singing, and kept saying “another song” even though he still refused to sing himself.

When it was time to exchange gifts, it was like riding a bike. Elias had no trouble getting into his packages from Grandpa Smith.

“A book!” Elias said after unwrapping his first one. He briefly looked at the first couple of pages, but then decided that he would have plenty of time for that later. He went to open more packages.

Elias received a dinosaur book, The Cat in the Hat (can you believe we didn’t have it? What kind of mother am I? Luckily we have Grandpa Smith!), a DVD, and a special “leaptop.” Here he is thinking…”get it out faster daddy!”

Then it was time for Daddy to open one. He got a Bob Dylan album.

Elias was excited to help Grandpa Smith open an ornament he had painted especially for him.

Then the funniest moment of the afternoon….Nathan and his Dad got each other the same gift! The “Baseball” DVD set by Ken Burns. It was a good thing too…I think Nathan had some jealousy in his heart knowing his Dad was getting it. 🙂 Like father, like son.

When we were finished, Elias was focused on his leaptop until we forced him to put it away and go take a nap.

Unfortunately, our time with Grandpa Smith was at an end. He left this evening for Spokane to spend the next week or so with Nathan’s sister and her family. We will miss him!

Tonight was also the Festival of Lessons and Carols at our church. Nathan and I performed in the bell choir. The service is always a very good one!

Today was a day of rehearsals! In the morning, Grandpa Smith babysat Elias while Mommy and Daddy went to a bell choir rehearsal at church. It sounds like they had lots of fun together from what we found when we got back! Elias has also started saying “Grandpa Smith!” when he sees pictures or ornaments of Santa instead of saying “St. Nick!” I think that is pretty cute.

Then in the afternoon, Elias had a Christmas Pageant rehearsal to attend. We were unsure if we were going to take him to the rehearsal because it meant missing nap time. But…since he is a bit on the shy side, we thought it would be good for him to have some orientation (so to speak) to what is going to happen on Christmas Eve during the pageant. The first run through was a bit rough. He pretty much just wanted to sit on mine or Nathan’s lap, and wanted nothing to do with the other kids.

However, after the first run through, all the kids went downstairs to get their costumes. Elias was thrilled to try out his angel costume. The entire rest of the day (even during the bed time routine) he was saying “Elias got dressed.” I guess that is how his mind interprets wearing the costume.

During the second run through of the pageant, with costumes, Elias did much better. He stayed with the angels, and even stood up on stage for his song. But…he really took an attachment to one of the teenage girls who was helping out with the little ones. He followed her everywhere…even when she went on stage to do a reading. It was cute and funny…and I wish I had a video to show him some day.

Even thought Elias knows the song “Away in a Manger” and he practices the hand motions often at home, he pretty much just stood there during the practice. We’ll see what happens on Monday. For now, we have one tired boy who survived a day with no nap!

We look forward to spending one more day with Grandpa Smith!

Elias having fun on his tricycle.

Now that sickness has pretty much left our household, we’ve been able to get out, have some fun, and enjoy Grandpa Smith’s visit a bit more. Thursday we pretty much took it easy in order to let everyone get rested and well, but Friday we were ready for some fun.

Friday morning we met Ama and Baba for breakfast at IHOP because they wanted to be sure to see Grandpa Smith while he was in town. Elias was a bit grumpy at first, but warmed up after we got him some toast to munch on.

The boys out on our walk.

In the afternoon, the sun actually showed its face, so we went out for a spin to show off Elias’ skills on his trike for Grandpa Smith. He has a bit of trouble steering, and almost gave up on the adventure after he tipped over once, but for the most part, he had tons of fun. It’s quite back breaking for Mommy and Daddy who have to lean over and push…Elias doesn’t quite have the ability to propel himself yet. But he keeps his feet on the pedals and is getting the hang of it quite nicely!

It’s been a rough couple of days for the Smith boys. But we’ve had some really good things too. Sunday evening we went to our church’s annual caroling event. Elias was super excited about using his jingle bells….that is until it was actually time for caroling. He was jumping around and shaking them everywhere at home, but out actually singing he was too shy. No matter. We all still had fun.

Sunday night, though, Nathan came down with a terrible stomach bug. He was hidden away in the bathroom while Elias and I tried to avoid him for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, the damage was already done. Elias woke up in the middle of the night with the same stomach bug. No fun for any of us! I think I had to change outfits four times between 2:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Elias may have changed even more! Luckily, it was a quick bug, and even though Nathan did take Monday as a sick day, he was feeling better by mid morning.

And to meet the requirements for a Smith family visit…they were both sick just in time for Grandpa Smith’s visit! Nathan went to pick him up at the train station. He rode the Empire Builder all the way from Chicago! Poor Grandpa Smith had to come into a house with a stomach bug…but there is hope…I still have not gotten it!

On Monday we just took it easy at home to let everyone recover. The same went for Tuesday morning. Elias was feeling a lot better, and even held down food, but was still not his usual self. He did have lots of fun playing with the cookie cutters with Grandpa Smith.

The Smith boys in the snow at zoo lights. Elias is looking intently at his favorite display…the mama and baby elephant!

Tuesday night we were ready for some action. We bundled up, and headed out to zoo lights once again, and met Nathan on his way home from work. It was a magical time because it was snowing! It might have been the most snow we’ve ever seen at zoo lights. Elias had a lot of fun in the beginning, but tired out after about an hour as usual.

Grandpa Smith took us out for dinner afterward, and then the boys settled in for the night while I went to pregnancy water aerobics. We look forward to the rest of the week and Grandpa Smith’s special visit!

I heard about the Holiday Express a few weeks ago from a friend. As soon as I saw it, I thought it would be something that Nathan would like to do, so when he got home from work, I showed him the website. You can see more about the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation here if you are interested.

We found a time we could go, bought tickets, and waited for the day to come! This morning it was snowing on our way over to Oaks Park to board the train. Elias has ridden Amtrak trains, and the small steam engine at the Oregon Zoo, but nothing like these huge steam engines! We got a forty minute ride along the Willamette River. The train cars were decked out in beautiful lights and decorations. There was even a visit from Santa! (I was a very proud mama when Elias saw him and said, “It’s Saint Nicholas!”

Here are some fun pictures from our trip:

Look at the size of those wheels!

Elias got a candy cane from St. Nicholas!

Decorations near our seats on the train

Posed picture with Santa!