Traditions

It seems a little silly to speak of traditions here, in this little family that is not yet three years old.  But we seem to be making some at Christmas time.  Stealing, for instance, the gingerbread cookie tradition that has been with the Cowans for a long long time.  We continue it when Grandma and Grandpa come to visit.

Grandpa gives Dex a turn at rolling.  Traditionally, he is terrible at rolling.  He did not disappoint this year.  Dexter, I mean.  Not Grandpa.  Grandpa can roll him some cookie dough.

The actual cutting of the cookies.  Traditionally, Dexter only cares about the star cookies.  He did not disappoint this year.

Waiting with anticipation for Grandpa to free his (as yet uncooked) star cookies from the surrounding dough.  Traditionally, Dexter just shoves the raw cookies in to his mouth.

He did not disappoint this year.

When it comes to rolling dough, everyone's a critic.

This is basically how the whole cookie making adventure goes - always with Dexter's mouth filled with cookie.

Somehow the child became a teenager, in one split second.

Longwood at Christmas has been a sporadic tradition since before Dexter, but now that the small one has a say in things like trains and lights and Christmas trees with baubles, and fountain shows...  Well, let's just say we're certain to see the lights every year.  Maybe more than once.

Trains!  Goddamn TRAINS!  In the really really COLD!

Grandma and Grandpa are part of the Longwood tradition

Traditionally, Grandpa does not smile in pictures, and Dexter doesn't look at the camera.  Neither disappointed this year.

Traditionally, John's eyes are closed in pictures, and Dexter doesn't look at the camera.  John was a bit of a disappointment this year, but I am ok with it.  I like this cute little picture.

Traditionally, Longwood has water in the middle of this Christmas display.  They did not disappoint.  Dexter thoroughly enjoyed watching the fountains.

The gingerbread men are not traditional for Longwood, but they were a cool touch this year.

Traditionally, Dexter chases the water like a lunatic, giggling and paying no mind to any grown-up legs in his way, or to any other small children he may have to run over.  He did not disappoint.

Traditionally Dexter walks out of the Children's Garden the wettest child there, in serious need of a clothing change.  He did not disappoint.

Traditionally, Longwood's light displays are amazing and are much emulated in neighborhoods surrounding Longwood (including ours).  And as always, Longwood did not disappoint.

And a bit of a new tradition for us - gazing with wonderment at the eight billion miles of train tracks and the eleventy-billion different model trains romping around in the Brandywine River Museum.  Dexter was fascinated.  We spent far too many hours in there.

Traditionally (if you count last year as "tradition") Dexter loved watching the train crossing go up and down.  He did not disappoint.

All Things Christmas

The Norman household is getting in to the Christmas spirit.  We've been to see Santa.  We have a tree.  We have lights.  We've been to Longwood and we're going again tonight.  Presents are wrapped and under the tree.  Cookies have been created and consumed.  I think we're all set.  Here's a few Christmas prep photos.

Our first visit with Santa in November at the local toy shop.  Dexter, as you can tell, is thrilled.  But he did tell Santa he wanted some more cars for his train.

Visit Number Two, at John's work.  Good way to win over the small one?  Let him touch your snow globe...

And yet, still not super psyched.  His actual official photo turned out ok, because I was standing by the camera holding up three fingers.  Dex, how many fingers?  It's kind of like "say CHEESE" but for nerdy kids.

I haven't scanned in the official work Santa shot yet, or the official mall Santa shot.  Which is about as stellar and exciting as last years shot.  I'll try to post those before Christmas.

John went to pick up our tree on Wednesday, so Dexter helped bring it inside.

He's tremendously helpful.  Also, still wearing pajama bottoms, left over from nap time.

Dex helped me string up the lights the next morning (he's an excellent supervisor), and has spent pretty much every waking hour since that morning looking at his new animals going up and down.

You're damn lucky, Katie Gehrt, that this child is fond of the animals you gave us.  Because that damn music is annoying as all hell.  John finally put a piece of tape over the speaker this morning, so it's much more tolerable now.

Dex picked a school bus to put on the tree first

And then the train that we got at the train station when we went to see Thomas

That's my tiny carousel.  I sorted ornaments first and let him hang all the unbreakable (ish) ones

Still with the train

Dex and I hang one of the seven katrillion tractor ornaments we have

Crafty old me thought it would be cool to have Dex make some wrapping paper for the grandmas

It took every bit of my willpower to rein in my OCD tendencies when it comes to paint and just let him get dirty

Despite the look in this picture, I think he actually had fun painting.

I only had to shriek "Stay ON THE PAPER!!!" about four times.

And then I carried his painty little body upstairs and plopped it in the tub.  You grandmas had better appreciate this...

Here we are, in the place that I love

Dex and I are visiting the Burg this weekend, doing much of this:

Awesome company, great horse, town that I love, mountains that I miss.

Tomorrow we might actually go IN to town, go on campus, etc.  We'll see.  This is pretty nice, right here, just like this.

We'll Bring Longwood to You. You're Welcome.

I know it's not quite the same as being there, but really - being there is crowded and a little bit annoying some times (unless you're like us and go at the crack of dawn 9AM, and then the place is EMPTY).  So enjoy a little taste of Longwood from the comfort of your own couch.  Besides, when you go, you won't have the benefit of my cute small child being in your pictures.  He totally adds to the whole experience.

The new conservatory

Small child, tree, lights, ornaments, etc.

I do believe I have created a complete photo ham.  Video is even worse.

Gingerbread trees.  As was the theme at Longwood this year.  Very cool, and also impressive to think of the amount of time people spent on all the gingerbread that was made.  And how much did they consume while creating?  How do pastry chefs not weigh three billion pounds?

Acres of poinsettia on display.  As an aside, I asked Dex yesterday what they did for a craft at school.  He said they made flowers.  Actually they made poinsettia, somehow.  But hey, he was close.

We spent a long time looking at the fountains.  Mesmerizing, as the fountains came out of LIGHTS.  And there was another faucet of water that sprayed out REALLY FAST.

Eight million hours spent here, doing exactly this.  If he were allowed under the rope and could lay down with his eyeballs right at track level, he'd have stayed there all day.

Main conservatory exhibit

Gingerbread trees up close and personal

Working it for the camera.  John taught him this.  And when I stop asking him to "work it" he says "Want to work it some more."  Well go right ahead, child.  Work it.  Who am I to stop you?

For Aunt Jeanne.  Cute ornaments made by local kids.

Conservatory

Conservatory is filled with these kind of flowers.  Lily?  I dunno.  They are very fragrant, and I liked this candy cane striped one.

Explained below

Waterfalls.  Aside - Dex and I were both wearing black shoes.  He said as we were walking - I have black shoes.  Mama has black shoes.  WE MATCH!  Love this child.

Totally the look of a child doing something he's not supposed to be doing...

Watching trains.  Again.  Some more.  Dear lord kill me now.

JAMES!

So there you go.  We saved you a trip, eighteen dollars, and much claustrophobia from the crowds when you went in the evening because you wanted to see the lights.  Lights, schmights.  We saw all the cool stuff.  We even saw the fountain show.  Sans lights.  Because, you know, it was noon and we were on our way out to the car.  I love Longwood in the morning.