Christmas in Columbus

Spent Christmas in Columbus...

 

Actually, this isn't from Columbus. It's just an odd-or-end which needed a home. This is Josh in an Eastman practice room.

 

Played a game with Sam while folks were finishing dinner at Aunt Amy's the day after Christmas. (Well, the second day of Christmas.) We played a game where we each went around and took a photo and the other had to find it. A photo scavenger hunt. This one was from Amy's auxiliary bathroom.

 

Sam playing with our gift to him, a new and interesting marble racer. Okay, of course it's new. New to us, more to the point.

Mommy helping Josh open his stocking at Nana and Grandad's.

N&G opening their stockings. Note the Small Christmas tree, which amazingly survived Josh's presence.

We stayed two nights at Stu and Sue's, and three at N&G's. Zoe spent the whole time at N&G's since Tiger and she might not have gotten along. She has a favorite chair in the dining room. This one. Here, Josh has discovered that chair.

Cousin Kevin opening gifts. Calendars!

Aunt Sue and Sam at the gift opening. Sam did eventually get out of his jammies.

Uncle Stu entertaining Josh using his iPad.

The boys--Uncle Stu, Cousin Kevin, Sam, Josh and I--made a trip to the Columbus Zoo. It was delightfully empty. Here, Josh is sitting on a baby brass warthog. Really. I am sure there was a plaque nearby with the words, "This young brass warthog is a gift from..." There is certainly a sign warning that the brass statues may be hot. Not that day, though.

These are fish swimming through the air. Apparently. This is part of the polar-bear exhibit where you walk under a stream where the fish and, I am told, the bears swim. Never seen a bear in there.

This is Josh standing in a bear trap, which is just a huge pipe with a grate door which can be dropped to trap the bear (or toddler) inside. Doesn't he look so trusting?

No caption is needed for this photo.

The boys actually spent a tremendous amount of time playing in N&G's basement, under the Ping-Pong table, with a set of remote-controlled racing cars which N&G bought for Kevin many years ago. It can't be observed enough that kids often play with the toy which cost no money.

Josh and Grandad playing with Josh's new locomotive puzzle. (Melissa & Doug, which makes us good parents, right?) 

As we drove back to Rochester we listed some of the enjoyable moments from the past week:

• Drinking a latte (Susan) or hot chocolate (Tim) at a huge local indoor shopping mall while the boys run around like maniacs in the blessedly enclosed play area.
• Watching Sam play with younger kids and make the laugh at Polaris, and earlier in the week at another nearby mall. So peaceful.
• Watching Josh open his new garbage truck! He literally squealed, "GARBAGE TRUCK!" My hat's off to Susan for her savvy gift picks this year.
• Playing with Sam's Spirograph (from N&G).
• Reading Winter's Bone (a stocking gift to Susan). I think I need to read this to Sam. It might readjust his expectations.
• Visiting with family and friends! So good to see everyone again.
• Trolling around with the boys through Mom's Artistic Inner Sanctum (her studio) while she was sleeping. (Don't worry Mom, nothing was hurt!) Love to see the latest projects and to hear Sam ooh and ahh over the previous successes. :-)
• Chatting with Poison Control. Twice! Once for Josh, who got into Nana's dietary supplements early the day before Christmas when everyone else was asleep. (The upshot: if he doesn't start vomiting, don't worry.) Later, last night, when Sam got his second dose of allergy medicine. (The upshot: he'll be dry as a bone for 24 hours.) Phew.
• The Zoo! So nice of Kevin and Unca Stu to host that outing.
• Visiting Inniswood Gardens. Just a gorgeous place, even in winter, and a great way to wear the boys out.
• Reading and watching the YA book Holes.
• Driving to and from Columbus on bone-dry roads.
• Christmas-Eve seafood chowder for the adults.
• Christmas-Eve Spaghetti-Os for the boys. (So nice knowing they'll happily vacuum it down!)
• Receiving a Box Of Meat from Ruth and Paul! Love winter grilling...
• Eating the Christmas baked goods: maple fudge, maple fudge with imbedded bacon, chocolate fudge, butterscotch cookies, brownies, chocolate-ginger cookies, those holiday creams Mom puts out, chocolate "bark", etc. Yum!
• Napping on Stu and Sue's bed while Josh naps. In fact, that was so great, I am going to go nap now...

Oh, and as a bonus, here's a video showing how you should pass the time if you are invited to Aunt Amy's new house: