Christmas Preparations

"Christmas preparations, you can see them all around. People getting ready, almost everywhere in town. Are you ready, for Christmas Day to come? Sing it with me or if you're a monkey hum." - A Very Monkey Christmas, Curious George (watched WAY too many times and not just at Christmas). 

This was our first Christmas with two kids in our new home and we wanted to do it up right. We started with some lights for the house. We went for cheery and want to head toward border-line annoying in the future. Bob was a little annoying, not making a plan, just hanging some and placing the rest on the rocks out front. 

We also send out a Christmas/Birth Announcement/We Moved card. I had them all ready to go the week of Thanksgiving so people could have out new address. I was pretty proud that I killed three birds with one stone!

We went to the Lawrence Old-fashioned Christmas parade. It is all horse drawn carriages and carts, which was fun to watch. EVERY single person who lives in Lawrence must have been there as there was ZERO parking and just tons of people. We ended up taking shifts watching the parade and walking to/from the car which was 45 min away. Cedric saw horses and got a free hot chocolate, so he was happy.

I bought Cedric a gingerbread house after his preschool class spent a week learning about the gingerbread man story and baking. 

It was basically an excuse to eat candy all afternoon. I didn't realize how hard it would be to limit the candy intake. 

I built the house in the morning so we could decorate after nap. Cedric was concerned with making the house look exactly like the one on the box. Sometimes he is a chip off the old block!

We ate some of the house over the week then had to toss it as it was getting too hard. 

With no mall in town we were thinking outside the box a bit on meeting with Santa. Cedric had never met Santa before, mostly because I thought he'd be too scared. We saw on the kids calendar that there is a local railroad called the Midland Railway that does a ride with Santa in December. Santa plus an antique train with cookies and hot chocolate? Yes please!

We bought the VIP tickets to sit in one of the dining cars and have unlimited drinks and cookies. It was okay, probably better than coach which was more like a bus. The train ride was almost 2.5 hours (which we didn't know) and near lunch time so Cedric was antsy, hungry and tired by the end. Clara was a trouper and slept in my arms for a bit. 

Cedric was too nervous to sit on Santa's lap but he did tell him what he wanted (a kitchen) and smiled for the camera, so I call it a win. (Side note: When we got dressed in the morning I told Cedric he had to wear a nice shirt for photos with Santa and he chose the Royals jersey saying it was his "best shirt"). 

Cedric had a school concert a week before Christmas and it was super cute. He sang the songs, did the actions and watched the piano. We sat in the wrong seats and ended up wondering around the balcony but we got to see him sing. He said he saw us waving, so that was nice. The concert was followed by a cookie reception. 

 The week of Christmas we made sugar cookies for Santa. I made a special frosting with the remainder of my homemade brandy butter. Cedric had fun rolling the dough, cutting out the shapes, and adding sprinkles.

 And on Christmas Eve eve we set out cookies for Santa. We didn't enforce Santa that much, which I don't mind. We decided that Santa was going to knock on the door at night and Daddy would let him in to have his cookies and leave presents. Cedric is a bit of a worrier, so anything to keep him calm :). Oh and Clara was along for the ride, either in the bjorn or watching from my lap. Next year I'm sure she will be much more involved in our preparations!  

What We Did on our Summer Vacation

We moved into our new "big house" in Lawrence the first weekend in June. Cedric was excited to see the big truck and was relieved when all our stuff was unloaded safely (as was I). 

We moved when the 13-year Cicadas were swarming over the town. Never heard of them? Neither had we. They come out every 13 years and are SUPER loud, especially during the heat of the day. It really was amazing how loud they were and they made going to the playground near impossible. Cedric was worried about the "screaming bugs" flying all over. They really were everywhere, even walking to the mailbox was difficult. 

We went to the Prairie Park Nature Center on Tuesdays for stories, crafts and animal demos. Cedric loved seeing all the new animals and learning about native Kansas. 

We went to Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead a few times to feed the goats, chickens and fish. 

 We tried fishing each time but haven't had any luck. Turns out putting worms on hooks is gross. I don't have the skill to get them on well enough to actually catch anything. 

We had fun digging and Cedric took his first pony ride. We went a week or so before he was 3 and he did a great job. I was surprised he wanted to do it and was very calm and serious on his ride. 

We also went down to Wichita for a short visit and hit up the zoo and the Wichita River Fest for the touch-a-truck. 

Here we are on his first Ferris Wheel ride. We went on twice, which was nice because it was a super hot day!

We checked out a few trains, first the one in Lawrence. 

And the mini train ride and caboose at Gage Park in Topeka. 

We went swimming with old friends and their kids. It's very cute to watch our children getting along. 

And we had lots and lots (and lots) of frozen treats. 

We grew caterpillars into butterflies, learning patience and metamorphosis. 

We went swimming at Lake Quivera for the Forth of July. Turns out Cedric really likes boats and water. Smart boy. 

We also played around the house and new neighborhood. Cedric became a good cycler (it's easier on smooth sidewalks). 

Played in the water and sand in our backyard. 

Cedric had 4 tons of fun helping daddy move the new landscaping rock. He still is trying to move the rocks around - he loves construction!

 It was a great summer, full of fun and new experiences. Now it is time for school and hopefully a great fall!

Moving to Kansas

Life really isn't something you can plan for, at least when you are a Podany. Bob was contacted a few months back by a recruiter, which happens often. This one was in Kansas and didn't give up. They were looking for someone with Bob's experience/background willing to work in Topeka. That peaked our attention as we always have said we'd like to live in Lawrence, only 30 min away. Well long story short - after a long winter, a lot of work travel, and another baby on the way an exhausted manager at a job with a dim future called the recruiter back. The job is good, the commute is shorter and the grandparents are much closer. We are looking forward to going on vacation someplace other than Kansas in the future! Oh and don't forget the KU sports! 

We headed to Kansas quickly after the offer was final to look for a home. Right now we are under contract and hoping that inspections/appraisals go well! Closing is at the end of May, so as soon as school is out Cedric and I will be headed to Kansas! 

The company is covering the moving and packing so hopefully it will be a fairly easy move. Can't be harder than moving countries while pregnant! 

We will be sad to leave New England and the Boston area but it is time to move on. I sometimes wonder what our life would be like if we stayed. I think it could have been nice but much harder than it needed to be. Right now, the best thing for us and our family is to be in Kansas, so Kansas is where we are going! Will it be the best place forever? Maybe, only time will tell. For now Bob and I can satisfy our itchy feet with more travel :) It's our ten year wedding anniversary next summer after all :)

Side story: We flew in to KC and I gathered the bags while Bob went for the rental car. I explained to Cedric that we were borrowing a car for the weekend and daddy has gone to fetch it. 

When Bob pulled up Cedric threw a fit. He wanted to borrow the airport security car instead. We took some photos with it to remember it's awesomeness. You know a toddler likes something when he not only agrees to be photographed but smiles and stands still.

Christmas 2014

Well, my neighbors are finally taking down their Christmas lights so I figured I should probably get to blogging about our Christmas. Especially since little Cedric had three. 

Before we left for Kansas we tried to get in the Christmas spirit by putting up the Christmas tree. Cedric LOVED the Christmas tree. 

 We baked Christmas cookies for a cookie swap with our playgroup friends. Cedric really enjoyed baking. We've been doing more cooking together this winter and Cedric loves helping. 

At the Wellesley Library we were able to visit a Lego Christmas village with working train. He was engaged for near two hours!

We also visited a Christmas Tree forest and winter village at a local park. Cedric was really into Christmas tree's this year. 

 Christmas #1: Grandma and Grandpa's house in Leawood

Highlight gift: A very large crane truck

Christmas #2: Great Grandma's house in Kingman
Highlight gift: Tool box. He still loves "fixing" things around the house :)

Christmas #3: Grammy and Grandpa's house in Wichita
Highlight gift: iPad. Though we hide it from him most of the time he really loves that thing. It has made car and plane trips much easier!

Cedric also loved this cool racing car but it lives at Grammy's house so I couldn't count it as a "favorite".

We managed to squeeze in a little fun of our own too, an afternoon in Lawrence and a KU basketball game. 

It was a busy Christmas and Cedric loved every minute of it!