Benjamin made a hermit crab from a clay kit he got. It comes with a pull-string motor, so it wiggles around when you pull the string.
We let the boys open most of their presents on Christmas Eve Eve this year (the 23rd, that is), since we spent Christmas Eve with our friends. The boys didn't mind opening their gifts a little early... or a little late, actually, since in past years we start opening one per night whenever I feel like it. This year things were just so busy that we didn't get around to it until the 23rd, so we saved some to take to our friends' house, and let them open all the others.
Transformers, Legos, Playmobils, Erector sets, books... Santa Claus definitely spoiled them this year. Or family, friends and we did, since neither of them believes in Santa Claus.
Last week I had a moment of panic when I realized I hadn't made anything for the boys' Christmas party at school. After mixing some butter and sugar together to start a cake, it dawned on me that it wasn't that week, it was this week. Ah well... I finished the cake and popped it in the freezer, so only had to thaw it out and frost it yesterday.
However, I then had another "eek!" moment yesterday when I remembered I hadn't done anything about teacher Christmas presents. So this morning I made some chocolate cookies, and at lunchtime (this is when that coming-home-for-lunch thing comes in handy) the boys made cards for their teachers. Benjamin made an "aquarium" on one side and Christmas tree on the other, with a sweet note to his teacher.
I don't think they sing that song about "Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat" at their school party. Not really sure what they did, other than eat - the plate we sent back back totally empty and washed, which I guess is a good sign.
Despite the party, both of them came out of school in kind of crummy moods. Which led to this conversation:
Me, to Benjamin: Hey. Tomorrow, be nice. Because Santa Claus is watching, and he doesn't bring presents to kids who aren't nice.
Benjamin: Hm. How does he watch?
Me: How do you think?
Benjamin: I think Santa Claus. Doesn't. Exist. Because you put the presents.
Somehow I don't think that Elf thing that is so popular would work in our house.
We had been thinking about getting a dog since this summer, when we thought my friend's dog would be having puppies this fall. That didn't happen, so we had to find a dog elsewhere.
We found one online and started pursuing its adoption through a rescue, "Association Adoptions Sans Frontières," who turned out to be a royal pain to deal with. They were entirely anti-crate-training, for starters. Next, besides an EIGHT-page pre-adoption form, they then wanted a phone conversation, and a home visit. We did all that, but even though they "gave in" and agreed to let us have the dog despite our terrible, cruel idea (according to them) of crate training it, we then decided to end the proceedings. Part of their conditions were that you send them a vet report every year, and that you give them news of the dog regularly, and they retained the right to take the dog back at any point they deemed necessary.
Since they thought crate training was such a terrible thing, we felt that might decide it "necessary" at any time. So we let them know we were not going to continue with them. (And that is fair warning to anyone in France who finds a cute, adoptable doggy through this association. Just say no!)
Instead, we found another that someone was giving away, and Tuesday Frédéric and I drove 2.5 hours up near Dieppe to go pick her up.
Gala is an 18-month-old cocker spaniel / spaniel mix, and is very affectionate. She's already housebroken, which is definitely a plus, but she does need more obedience training. Her crate arrived today, and she has warmed up to it quicker than I thought she might. She has some separation anxiety, so we'll be working on the crate training a little more slowly than we might have otherwise.
She adopted us from the minute we walked into the home we got her from, and the boys have gotten more into the idea of having a dog, and are enjoying her (except when she jumps up on them, but we are working on that). They love to pet her and brush her.
Time flies... Benjamin celebrated his 7th birthday a week early, two weeks after we returned from the U.S. He chose a dinosaur theme, and we guided his thoughts on his guest list so that we didn't end up with the entire K-5th classes (hey, even in our small schools, that is still 40+ kids!).
His friend Léa was able to come, so he was very excited about that. And he told me he was very glad he picked out the mini-dinosaurs cake pan.
And so our trip to the US had to end. My mom was kind enough to drive us down to Houston from camp to fly out. The flight attendants were extra nice to us, and Noah even slept for a few hours, so it was a good flight home.
And then we jumped feet first back into "real life" - school, work, and for Benjamin, it even included some literal feet-first jumping with his first swim meet.
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| What fine form! Future Olympians, for sure! |
