Christmas Party #1 - Dutch Style

After leaving San Luis Obispo early Saturday morning, we were able to make it down to San Diego by early afternoon. Linda, the incredible hostess-with-the-mostess, planned a small Christmas party for that evening, with a few of her friends. A few of her friends were Dutch, so there was a lot of conversations that I was lost during, but I was not lost during fun games!!

I have no idea what this game was called but it was very similar to skeeball, or maybe shuffleboard. I have never been on a cruise, so I have no idea how shuffleboard is played, but apparently it is similar.

The goal is to get the little pucks through the "goals." There are a few more rules, but its not important. The game was handmade by one of Linda's friends and it was SO MUCH FUN. There was a lot of laughing and shouting and Luke not sleeping. Surprisingly, I was not too bad at it!


You really want to line the pucks up so you can shoot a lot in at once. Todd said he would make a game for me, so *cross your fingers* it is some good times!

We also played Left, Right, Center which I had never played before. There was a lot of laughing and having a good time. They have made a few changes to the game, instead of using chips, they use quarters. Everyone becomes very invested when the game involves money!

The party was an awesome way to start our vacation - in very "Linda style."

The MAN.

So Santa is the man. We built him up for a good month or so with Luke to get him stoked and willing to work towards staying on the "nice" list.

Todd and Great-Grandpa were installing a new faucet, so, thinking that I am a brave, strong "mom" type, I declared that I would single-handedly take Luke to see Santa.

I'd like to review that statement again:

I thought that I, by myself, would take Luke, by myself, to see Santa, by myself.

*sigh*

I am nutso.

So I called my parents. I needed backup. Luke is not a bad kid, he is just intense. Like, super, textbook "active" child intense.

We even arrived early, but there was still a huge line. My parents were able to swing by the mall and we all took turns standing in line and taking Luke for walks. Yikes.

But when Santa Claus arrived, it was like the Beatles landing in America. Or like Will Ferrell in "Elf." Luke's arms shot out and he yelled at the top of his lungs, "SANTA CLAUS IS HERE!!" It was pretty epic.

But when the moment came, the time to approach SANTA CLAUS, he actually became a little gunshy, which is terribly unlike him. But Santa, bless his heart, raised his hand and said, "High Five!" And then Santa was speaking Luke's language and all was well.

I put him on Santa's lap and asked Luke if he was on the "nice" list or the "naughty" list. Let's just say there was a really long pause and a really deep breath and some staring at the ceiling and eventually declared "the nice list." Santa, being the awesome Santa he was, said that he was sure that Luke was on the nice list. *ahem*

Luke told Santa that he wanted tools for Christmas:
"A-saw-and-a-hammer-and-a-wrench-and-a-pliers . . ."

The pictures were not awesome, mostly Luke looked like he was in some serious pain. Oh well, he wasn't having a tantrum, so we're good.

After getting off Santa's lap, Santa whispered to me, asking if he could give Luke a mini candy cane. After saying yes, Santa gave Luke the candy cane. Luke was absolutely shocked (free candy! I can't blame him . . .) and adoringly looked at Santa and said, "Thank you Santa. Thank you for the candy cane."

Mommy was proud.

The candy cane was gone by the time I paid for pictures. Good job, Luke.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and yours a happy, safe and relaxing Christmas with your family and friends.

Winter Program

There is always a winter and spring program at Stratford - whether you are 2 years 9 months and in a preschool program or 10 years old and in 5th grade. I have my show that I do every year ("Charlie Brown Christmas" which is adorable, if I do say so myself) and now Luke gets to do a show, too.

Some background information to note:

• Luke is not yet three.
• Luke has been going to preschool 2 afternoons a week.
• Luke began preschool at the end of November.
• Luke has no freaking clue what a "program" is.

And now, the story of Luke's show.

Luke was dressed up as an elf (a very cute one at that) and was placed at the end of the line with all the other "standers." You know the "standers:" the kids who don't do anything and just take up space. They don't sing, they don't dance, they stand. Please look at the background information above to note why Luke is part of the "stander" group.

So Luke is absolutely bewildered, wondering why he is dressed up as a freaking elf. He keeps saying "Mommy? Mommy?" while I keep smiling and waving with my cameras (plural) and being a super obnoxious preschool mommy. (with all the rest)

He immediately starts making goofy noises and being very Luke-ish to the adorable little girl next to him and she is so incredibly irritated. She shushed and shushed him and finally, I kid you not, "hmphed" him, tossed her hair and turned away. It was awesome.

So the music started, the kids were (mostly) singing, minus the standers, and Luke looked like he had been dropped on some strange, mysterious planet wondering what he was supposed to do. At least the kid next to Luke was the "chewer" of the "standers." The kid who chewed on his shirt, then the bells, then the kazoo around his neck.

After a few songs, Luke decided he was completely done with this whole performance and started walking towards me. I, being the director of my own show, waved my hand, said "No no Luke! Go back to your spot!" Dang, did I get a dirty look. He pouted back to his spot and promptly . . .

pulled his hat down completely over his face.

What did I do?

Laugh, of course.

Then he really yanked down the hat, to make sure his face was good and covered.

I continued to giggle, as did many of the other parents. Luke pulled the hat up a little, to check to see if the attention was on him, caught my eye and the hat went down again. Really, really pulled down.

Nice work, Luke.

We have it all on video, which is really cute. Granted, out of a 20 minute boring performance of Luke, this is the 2.5 minutes of good film. So I won't put up the whole boring thing. This is the only still shot I was able to take, as the battery died on my camera. Bummer.

He just looks so disappointed in me.

"Why Mommy? Why would you allow them to dress me up like this? I thought you liked me? I thought we were in a good place."

Because these are the moments (videos) I can embarrass you with when you're 16 and bringing home girls. That's what you get for pulling down your hat over your cute, pouty face.

Wrastlin'

I love how much Luke loves his cousins - it happens to be a nice bonus that his cousins love him, too. So here, Gracie and Luke are having a hug fest. I think everyone won. But especially Todd and I: Luke was so exhausted from the "wrastlin" that he crashed pretty quickly that night.

Juliette's Birthday Party

Luke was lucky enough to attend his buddy Juliette's 5th birthday party at a gymnastics school. Wow - did this kid have fun! It's all about action for Luke and he was able to run and climb and bounce to his heart's content.

Though he did not appreciate me tossing him into the foam pit. Oh well.


Luke did a great job sitting and listening to directions. It was a miracle. Thanks preschool - we're already seeing an improvement! Hooray!

The obstacle course:

climbing the ladder

a somersault down the ramp


crawling through the tunnel



bouncing along the long trampoline

Luke had such a fun time - he is just a little boy who needs to run and be active. Shock and awe, right?

A Very A's Christmas!

On our way down to San Diego to visit Nana, we decided to stop off in San Luis Obispo to visit Uncle B and Auntie Sam in their new home. It was nice to get out of town quickly, but not have to do the full drive in one shot. They were kind enough to let us stay with them for the night.

Luke was so excited to have an early Christmas - Luke could hardly stand the excitement of opening his gifts.

What could it be?!?

Its an awesome A's jersey!


Put it on! Put it on!
Mommy and Daddy also got A's t-shirts with their NAMES ON THEM. I know - cool, huh? So Todd's says "Bickel 01" and mine says "Bickel 02." Now I'm ready to face all the Giants fans on Sports Day in the spring.