Rocky and Cranky Please

Today was my first day off of school - yahoo! Tonight we did Santa - round two for 2010 at Ottawa Beach Inn. Brighton was very hesitant again, but he eventually warmed up to Santa & Mrs. Claus proudly announcing, "I would like Rocky & Cranky please." Of course these are additions to his Thomas the Train collection, and thankfully they're already wrapped and hiding in the basement ready to appear later this week.

West Ottawa High School Lip Dub 2010

What is a lip dub?
A lip dub is a type of video that combines lip synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. It is made by filming individuals or a group of people lip synching while listening to a song or any recorded audio then dubbing over it in post editing with the original audio of the song. There is often some form of mobile audio device used such as an MP3 players. Often they look like simple music videos, although many involve a lot of preparation and production. Lip dubs can be done in a single unedited shot that often travels through different rooms and situations within a building. - Wikipedia

Walcott Ginger Bread House 2010

What was intended to be a fun holiday activity for Brighton quickly became a slightly competitive event over here in Walcott land. Brighton didn't really want to have anything to do with making a ginger bread house. Go figure. I should've seen that coming. Maybe better luck next year.Anyway, we decided to do the best we could under the circumstances. Three adults attacked this house project with creativity and vigor all while attempting perfection. Let me tell you, it's a lot harder than it looks people. I had ginger bread house experience, but not since my childhood with Grandma. There were other families doing the same thing around us, so the competition was palpable even though admittedly it wasn't a contest.

I think we might have won if it were.

The Polar Express Trip

We went to the North Pole this holiday season. Have you been lately?

If you have children or grandchildren that enjoy "The Polar Express" as much as our son does, you maybe take short excursions there. We make it out there a couple times a week via the book or the movie, and this is a journey we make year round - not just in December. So this December, we brought in the holiday season with a trip on an actual train. It's a holiday excursion out of the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso, Michigan.

As you can imagine, it was a huge deal for our train-lovin' son. He really thought we were going to the North Pole. We met the conductor, had hot chocolate, and sat with Santa and Mrs. Claus; there was even a jingle bell waiting on our seats when we returned to the train.

What's not to believe? As the last line of the book reads, "...the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe."