THE WONDERS OF WONDER WORLD

Little Goobs came over for another sleepover this weekend. So, of course, I felt another Christmas Adventure was in order. This time we took him over to the college town of San Marcos -- the same town where we took him on his first real adventure a good while back, the glass bottom boats. This time we were headed for Wonder World Cave and Adventure Park, home of the Holiday Express!

My first impression left me feeling somewhat underwhelmed. In fact, it reminded me a lot of that movie Adventureland, where the teenagers are working at a derelict amusement park that had seen better days. For one thing, the Holiday Express isn't really a train. It's just several carts hooked together, and there are no tracks. Also, the animal park it drives you through is pret-ty tiny! Then there was the gift shop, which had definitely seen better days.

However, once I started looking at it all through Calvin's eyes, I realized it was just about perfect for him. For one thing, he's not a fan of crowds, long waits, and loud noise. Not a problem here! He's still at the age where you don't even have to put any money in the video game for him to be happy.

And, even Papa and I got pretty excited when we realized our "train" was headed straight for that waterfall you saw above!

Careful on the right, you just might get wet like Calvin did!

Papa was a bit sad that we didn't buy any of the food packets for the animals, but I think Calvin was quite content to let them poke their heads through the bars and pester everyone else, instead of him. Those guys were aggressive, and likely to steal the whole bag right out of your hand if you weren't careful!

Best of all, coming back through the tunnel it was Papa John who got all wet! 

All in all, I think Calvin had a wonderful time. Plus, I think it was only about $6 each for John and I, and Calvin, being only 3 yrs. old, got in free! How's that for a bargain? We will definitely be coming back when he's a bit older, to do the cavern part of the tour.

OUR LITTLE EXPLORER

I ordered something for Calvin months ago, and have been saving it for his third birthday in May, when he is "officially" the proper age for it.

Explorer Outfits For Calvin And His Wonder Crew Buddy Will

However, he's been mentioning "exploring" and "going on adventures" a lot lately, when we go on our long walks together. And, with all the morning-sickness-chaos going on in his life recently, I decided maybe the time for this gift was right now.

First we went out onto the balcony porch to look for "am-i-nals" with our binoculars.

Then we went out back to see if we could catch a butterfly in his net or find anything to put in his specimen jar with the built in magnifier.

Alas, no butterflies were to be found. Nevertheless, he was happy as a lark just filling his jar with leaves and rocks.

He got so into it, in fact, that I'm thinking it must be time to pull out my Sharon Lovejoy grandma book, which I bought back when my first child got married, and there was finally hope that I might someday be a grandma myself.

We've already got her Outdoor Tea Parties and Backyard Explorer Kit ideas in the bag! Perhaps it's time to try this...

or this...

or this!

What's something fun and magical that you remember doing with a grandparent or grandchild? Please share!
 

CHRISTMAS GOOBER-STYLE

To say we are excited about Christmas this year is a vast understatement. All who celebrate this holiday surely remember how your enjoyment of it waxes and wanes through the years. There's the giddiness of your own childhood memories, when the excitement was almost too much to bear, followed by the disillusioned years. Then comes the joy of having your own kids, nieces, and nephews to recreate the magic for, followed by years of having no little ones in the family at all, and losing your parents one by one. But this? Having your first grandchild finally old enough to really get it, and having the time and resources to spoil him rotten should I choose to do so (don't worry, I won't)? Well, NOTHING quite compares to this! 
 

The first noticeable change was in how I decorated. I started pulling out all the usual characters and placing them in all the usual spots, but when I opened  my huge crate of fragile ornaments I suddenly thought "NO!". Just, no. I refuse to spend this holiday chasing him around saying "No! Don't touch!" In fact, I still remember the shame and remorse I felt when I was about eight years old, and Mom asked me to plug the tree lights in. The plug was right behind the tree, and par for the course, Dad had connected way too many frayed cords, and I got a doozy of a shock when I plugged it in. Which, of course, made me jump, which, of course, knocked the tree over, breaking several of her "most treasured family heirlooms!" How could I forget, when the subject always came up, year after year?

So, nothing fragile went on the tree -- only kid-friendly stuff, and a few fun felty things I ran across at Ace Hardware, like that "Merry Christmas" garland and those fuzzy pink pom poms. I also love all those little white snowmen heads that Nate's mama Holly made for us. Pinch them open and you can hide little surprises in them, like Hershey's Kisses!

Anything fragile is just far enough out of his reach that he will need adult assistance to handle them.

We had our first test run yesterday, and the things he seemed most interested in were the ornaments his mama and Uncle Noonie made when they were in preschool, and that acorn ornament. When I handed it to him and showed him how to open it, he stared at the inside for a moment, then said "I know where we need to go. We need to go that way!", pointing his finger towards the far end of the room. Apparently, to him, it was a compass, and he spent the rest of the afternoon using it as one. Is there anything more amazing than the imaginative mind of a child this age? Now I remember why I love the terrible twos and threes so very much, no matter what anyone else says!

So, what are the favorite holiday activities you've ever done with the littles in your family. I'd love it so much if you would share some of your ideas here or in comments on facebook, regarding outings you liked to take and things you liked to make or bake or do. I'm sooo ready for our "Holiday Fun with Goober" to begin!

HOW NOT TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS

Wouldn't you know. The only mail I had waiting for me when I got back from art camp was a jury summons! I reported to the courthouse over in San Marcos yesterday morning, we sat there for a couple of hours doing absolutely nothing, then they sent us home and told us to come back today. Never had that happen before. Fingers crossed that I don't get selected. This is not how I want to spend the holiday season. For one thing, it would totally wreck that super schedule I spent so much time working on!

I decided to be sweet and make the bed before I left.

I might be a tad jealous that he's all warm and snuggly, while I have to head out for the frigid drive to San Marcos when it's only 29 F out!

A DOABLE HOLIDAY COUNTDOWN

Midland, TX Christmases

I love the holidays. I really do. Some were harder than others, but I have loved them all. However,  trying to do them the way my mom and older sisters used to do them has always sent me into a dither. I was the Scrooge who pestered them until they finally agreed that we didn't really need to keep buying gifts for every single person in the family, so we started drawing names. Then a couple of years ago, we switched from doing that to doing a fun version of a white elephant exchange, where you're allowed to steal someone else's gift. It makes for some riotous fun, and I'm pretty sure no one really misses shopping for three siblings and their spouses, and all their offspring's spouses and kids.

Indonesian Christmases

At our house we've developed our own traditions over the years, adjusting them periodically according to our current situation and life stage. For instance, we always liked putting in a really goofy B-grade movie on Christmas Eve, after the littles were snug in their beds. We also prefer staying in the same house together, even if it means air mattresses on the floor. And, oddly enough, we all enjoy our stockings more than our gifts. The sleeping in the same house tradition will probably not work, now that the kids both have spouse's families to consider, but that stocking thing will never change, as long as my hubby has any say in the matter. He's the one who spends the entire year shopping for special goodies to go in them! In fact, when it became obvious that our house was full to overflowing with stuff we didn't need or use, he and I made a pact to forgo giving each other gifts and just do stockings, plus one special trip or adventure we can share. I really can't remember any of the gifts I received last year, but let me tell you, I remember that trip to Cuba in fine detail, and always will!

Tuba Christmases

But, even with all this paring down, I still came off of celebrating my late October birthday, Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, and spending five days at Lucky Star Art Camp, feeling this horrible sense of panic. The holidays hadn't even started and I felt I was already so far behind, I could never possibly catch up! And, I continued to feel that way until we'd made it through New Years and the two January birthdays.

Wimberley Christmases

Last year, at the end of the season, I finally said enough is enough. I refuse to feel this way ever again, but I also refuse to start planning or shopping or stressing before my birthday. Two months are more than enough to devote to this celebration! So, I made a list of everything I felt was critical to a happy holiday season, divided it up into doable batches over the weeks between my birthday on 10/28 and Hubby's on 1/1, and said "That's it! I will do no more!" Plus, I made sure that the final week, other than vital food prep, will be devoted to sitting in front of the fireplace drinking hot cocoa and other fun stuff!

Handmade Christmases

When I got home from camp a week ago, and started to feel that old sense of panic set in, I remembered to pull out that list, and immediately I felt calmer. It may need some tweaking now and then, but so far the things on the list have been quite doable. Last week's agenda was to order pies for Thanksgiving (more about that later) shop for our white elephant gifts, research our Apres-Christmas adventure, and get a few toys to donate. This week it will be to plan the food for my side of the family, who will be coming here for an early celebration on the 16th, and purchase one main gift each for my immediate family. I can do this!

Final Christmases