Santa Arrives Part 2!

Santa Arrives!

Seamus thinks he's getting the call...not yet...sit back down...

Santa is Coming...

Jesus Story

Outside of our church there is a beautiful life sized Nativity scene. Before Christmas Eve mass I was telling Seamus that Jesus will finally be in the manger (Seamus got to "born" him in our little nativity set at home right before mass).

As we walk past the scene it becomes clear that mom has lied and Jesus is NOT in fact in the manger (way to go mom). Nothing like a disappointment just prior to an hour and half long church experience with two toddlers. As it turned out, the boys were very good in mass and Seamus brought up the gifts with Nick and Erin's family and their 8 kids (he was replacing the loved but temporarily invalid daughter Shannon and Virgin Island living son Nick).

We are leaving church pleased that we've done so well, and Seamus takes off towards the Nativity scene screeching: "Jesus is here, Jesus is here."

Apparently, someone waits until mass has begun before Jesus is "born". It certainly adds context to the gospel. And a bright smile to little Seamus. Us too.

Can't wait for Jesus to come down the chimney with all the presents. Maybe he'd like some cookies....

Christmas Eve!

The little Irish boys...

"Dougherty boys...on three...Yeah Christmas!"

More presents...

Seamus models some of his new duds from John and Maureen - you'll see the boys in their new gap duds later also. Along with a bug puppet show...we need to make a puppet stage this summer - the boys will have a riot!

Also since the boys didn't get to fly this Christmas, you can see them pretending...the little people airplane was also a HUGE winner!

Pogo Pony & the Hats!

Marion and family wants to injure our children...one of the BIG Christmas winners - note that it says on the box that protective EVERYTHING is necessary but not included...Thanks O'Neill's :)

The Hats...you'll see later....a big hit that goes on and on...we wanted Seamus to walk into church last night and say "God bless us everyone..."

Pre-Christmas Christmas!

Batmas arrives!



















First stockings at home! Santa got us toothbrushes!


















Santa also brought us Walkie-Talkies!















(Santa might have learned you get what you pay for from an 8 year old at a garage sale...)

Santa's Computer

Quick story. So we're in the car yesterday and Seamus says: "Mom, I gotta go to the North Pole. I need help Santa. I gotta go now. I need to fix his 'puter."

Other kids want to get candy or to make toys. Only James Dougherty's son has to go to the North Pole to fix Santa's computer.

Nice. Nice.

Santa is coming to town

The Christmas Season

Well, I've taken some pictures over the last few days, but unfortunately I had the camera at the wrong setting so they didn't turn out very well. Seamus had his last music class until the end of January and I tried to get some pictures of the class - these turned out the best - which isn't saying very much. It was fun watching him progress over the last two months - the kids went from lots of jumping and energy to being able to sit and listen, follow directions and use their manners really well. If anyone is interested, the classes are from All 12 Notes on Randolph and they have small classes from 6 months through piano lessons. The teacher was a former music teacher at St. Mark's - fun, young and enthusiastic. Seamus loved her. You can see the boys went "skating" on slippery paper plates - Finny even got in on the act.



I suppose I should have a lot to say - I've been having lots of memorable parenting moments lately. Seamus has something curious to say everyday (in truth just about every minute) "Joseph was Mary's first husband..." - which I suppose it true but the implications are interesting. A whole new Da Vinci code... Finn is following directions and really starting to come into his own. It's strange that one day you see this baby and the next day he's putting toys away or giving hugs and trying to communicate. They are both very into wrestling right now and so I live in a constant state of "Stop that - or we'll end up in the emergency room." The problem is they are having so much fun.

Seamus helped kick off the Christmas season for us this year around Thanksgiving when he started to be aware of "gratitude". My dad said a very moving but simple prayer on Thanksgiving that prompted Seamus and I to chat about all the good things we have in our lives and he asked the obvious 3 year questions - why doesn't everyone have good food and comfy beds? Why can't we give everyone food and a place to stay? As simple as it sounds, he was right, we should and can help people who don't just have less than us, but who have nothing at all. It's helped us find ways to be more generous this year.

So many people I've talked to lately are stressed out about parties they don't want to go to or people they don't know how to buy for. This is a time of year when holiday giving can feel hollow and frustrating as often as it can feel satisfing and fun. We're pretty much all done with our friends and family gift buying and I have to say I enjoyed it more this year because I worried less about spending money and more about giving something meaningful.

I'm hoping this year that we can really give ourselves the gift of year round generousity. Raising small children makes some things very simple - if I want to raise children with a world-bettering sense of generousity and gratitude I'd better get my act in gear. James went on a silent retreat again this year and I think it helped all of us to quiet ourselves and focus on what's important and the real gifts in our lives. I'm already having a more meaningful holiday season because of it. I'm rambling. Sorry.

Santa happened to be stopping by Visitation on Saturday and so we got to see him as well as some good friends. Again most of the pictures didn't really turn out - but this at least gives you an idea. Seamus asked Santa for Bat Music (I think he means the theme song which I just discovered is James's new cell ring). Finn was wildly excited about getting to see Santa and as soon as we got up to sit on his lap, he was immediately displeased. Like he was thinking: "This is not at ALL what I expected..."








We also left with two helium balloons. I warned Seamus 100 times as we were leaving he had to really hold on to it or it would blow away. In the parking lot as I was trying to get the boys into the car, Seamus lost his (he was pretending it was a kite). And the pure sadness in his voice: "Oh balloon, come back to me, oh balloon, PLEASE come back to me. My balloon..." I actually got teary eyed. I wanted so badly to go back in and get him another one. I didn't. It felt like some sort of lesson for us both.




















As usual - we think Joe and Maria are very good looking.