Trolleys and Santa

I could not bring myself to venture to the mall to wait in line and see Santa.  While we have not said much about the Santa angle of Christmas, Oliver has heard/read enough about him to have a significant interest.  He has been asking to go back to the Trolley Museum (we last visited for his birthday).  So when I discovered that Santa would be riding the trolleys this weekend, we decided it would be a win win.  I have never seen this kid get ready to leave the house so fast.  It was rainy, but he was still totally captivated the whole time.  Mostly by the trolleys, but Santa was a hit too.  He wanted to show him his plane and happily visited with him on the trolley.  When we got off the trolley, he told me he wanted Santa to come home with us in our car. 

Oliver, with a look of wonder as he watches Santa.

Holding our tickets and enjoying the sights during our trolley ride.

The yellow trolley.

Uncle Dustyn and Aunt Joni

Dustyn and his wife, Joni, arrived back in the States after spending a couple years in Germany with the Army.  He re-enlisted and is now stationed in Texas.  He is already slated to deploy again in the Spring.  Dustyn has a few weeks off before getting settled in Texas, so they planned a cross-country holiday trip to visit family and friends.  We were the first stop.  Oliver was thrilled to spend time with Uncle Dustyn and Aunt Joni.  They only stayed a couple days, but we are having some unseasonably warm weather so we spent lots of time outside...playing in the sandbox and a trip to a local aviation museum were the events of choice.

Walking and talking with Uncle Dustyn outside the aviation museum.

Oliver flying his new triplane.

Dustyn and Joni

Oliver opening his Christmas gift--an army teddy bear, which he proceeded to give a kiss.

Botanical Gardens Holiday Train Exhibit

I think his facial expressions say it all.  The exhibit is all made from sticks, leaves, acorns, etc.  We went last year, but did not appreciate the Thomas trains.  This year, Oliver was most thrilled to see Thomas, Percy, and Emily.  They also had an express train that he said did not have eyes, but still looked like Spencer.

Snow at Rittenhouse!

Oliver's response: "Snow...it's almost Christmas!!"

When we celebrated Christmas at G&G's there was snow.  We also put up the tree and stockings yesterday, it seems all the elements are in place as far as he is concerned.

After putting up the tree and some lights around the house, Oliver had a huge smile and said, "our house is beautiful!"  It's impossible not to fall in love with the holidays again when you have a two year old.

ZooLights

We discovered an awesome new DC activity.  To date, my favorite annual DC event is the kite festival down on the mall.  The ZooLights are now a very close second.  We passed the zoo on the way home from the airport last Saturday and noticed the lights.  The zoo is less than two miles from Rittenhouse, so we ended up taking Oliver on Sunday after dark to check it out.  The lights were amazing.  The entire zoo is decorated in lights.  Oliver walked the full length of the zoo (after walking a few blocks from our car and chatting up a storm), but he hitched a ride in Daddy’s pack for the walk back.  We all LOVED the lights.  To my surprise, Oliver was also very taken with the costumed panda we met.  He wanted to hug him and talked about him for while.  He also declared himself a little prairie dog popping out of his hole when he got into Daddy’s pack.  At the end of the zoo is a little train that you can take rides on.  It was getting late so we stopped and looked at the train, but did not get in line to ride it.  After leaving the train and making our way back out of the zoo, Oliver started singing a song I did not even know he knew the words to.  He was not saying the words, he was really singing.  This is the first song I have ever heard him sing…”I’ve been working on the rail road all the live long day….” 

I discovered our camera battery was dead when we got there, so these are all from my phone....

He wanted to see each display up close.

All along the walk above us the trees were decorated with lights.  One of my favorites (not shown) was a huge tree with all the branches covered with lights that looked like shooting stars.

He loved this panda.

Oliver wanted to "let Myrtle eat some of that green grass."

He wanted to "touch those lights!"

The prairie dog.  Like many of the displays this one changed to appear like the prairie dog was "popping" out of the hole.  Currently, prairie dogs happen to be one of Oliver's favorite animals--after turtles, of course.

My little prairie dog riding in Daddy's pack, singing his song.  The trees behind them were light displays set to classical music that changed in time with the music...so pretty

The lights stay up for all of December.  I think the ZooLights will be a new holiday tradition for us, and we will probably go back at least once this season!

Growing Up

Sheryl sent me these pictures from one of their walks this week.  We had a few days of beautiful weather and they took advantage of every minute.  How is this amazing little guy full of personality and positive energy my baby boy?  I can't believe how fast he is growing up.  

I'm so grateful to be Oliver's mommy.

Cousins Kate and Claire

We just got back from a visit to Wisconsin for Thanksgiving.  It was a busy trip, but one stand out joy of the visit was watching Oliver spend time with his cousins.  He adores them!  When they were not at grandma and grandpa's house, he would ask, "where are cousins Kate and Claire?" or say, "I want cousins Kate and Claire to come."