2010 The New Year

I usually think that celebrating the New year is a real let down in comparison to Christmas. Josh and I not being the drinking types usually bring in the new year quietly and a lone. However this year we didn't have to celebrate it a lone, we threw our selves in the car and made the treck to the D.C. area to Brandon and Kristin's house. YEAH! The struggel to get the kids in the car was minimized when I told Adam that we were going to Jacob's house.

Even thougth we got Adam and Jacob in bed around the same time as usual they still stayed up super late talking and playing games, as did the Adults. Around the midnight hour we busted out the sparkeling cider and did a little cheers. I love parent party time.

We loaded up the families and took our fun into our Nation's Capital. We went to the natural history museum. We only got through one floor and really we just skimed through it. Adam's favorite exhibit was a toss up between the fish and the dinosaur bones. Zach's favorite sight was the back of his eyelids. He decided that it was a good time to take a nap.

I was really empressed with my awesome cousin's ability to keep her baby asleep during our whole outting. She makes having three small children look easy. Way to go Kristin!

The following day we had another adventure with an old college frind of mine. She too just recently had another child and she made city travel with two in tow look like a dance. She had a bit tougher challenge because the elements were mounted aginst us this day. It was cold 23 F but with the wind it felt like 7 F. As we made our way to the botanical gardens from the metro station the wind blew so hard that I had to brace myself and sholder it into the wind. It was a short walk but so miserable. The gradens were nice I especially liked the humid jungle room. We called in the rescue squads and had Josh go and get the car and Paul came to get us too. It is on days like that, that I'm so greatful for modern conviences like central heat and cars. Thanks Dana for showing us a good time and having a fun adventure with us. I love good memories.

Josh got a new hat. Jacob loves to climb on uncle Josh.

Sunday was one of the big reasons why we sent down to Kristin's house. It was baby payton's blessing day and Brandon asked Josh to be in the prayer circle with him. It was a very nice blessing.

Nana & Grandaddy stay and play

After being super lazy on Christmas day we decided no matter what we better to get out. We went to Princeton and walked around the campus. All of the buildings are stone, old and beautiful. It is the kind of place that makes you feel like learning. After walking around in the near freezing rain and wind for a little bit we all thought we had enough. We warmed up in the car for a driving tour of the town, old neighborhoods and Princeton Battlefield. I love looking at the old colonial homes and thinking of history of the area.

Our next big adventure was going into the city to see the Rocketts christmas Spectacular show. Josh hadn't ever been to China Town and Nana and I wanted to buy some knock-off bags & jewlery. The show was the ultimate NYC christmas experience. Thanks Mom and Dad.

Christmas Day

Christmas day was great! Adam squeeled when he opened his gun, Zachary could hardly be pulled away from his train table and Josh and Grandaddy spent the day setting up his new TV and sound system. It was the most lazy that I have been in years. We stayed in our jammies all day long and just played. We even ate our ham dinner in our jammies.

I love being surrounded by my family and watching my boys excitment while they opened their gifts.

What a wonderful time of the year.

Christmas Eve

The boys woke up to Grandaddy and Nana being here. They were so excited! They spent a good amount of time familiarizing their Grandparents with their things. They formed a pile of presented toys and costumes in the hall way where Grandaddy sat with his full attention on them. Adam and Zachary ate up their Nana's praises and Grandaddy's intrest and excitement. It was so nice to have those simple moments with my parents being with my children. I don't get many of those and so I thought it was worth remembering.

Those first moments really set the tone for the whole visit: relaxing, pleasant, & fun. We took the morning slow. When Josh got home from work we all went to a Christmas Eve matene movie. We saw "The princess and the frog" not my favorite disney movie. It was one of those that anything good in the movie you already saw it in the previews. Both Josh and Grandaddy fell asleep during the film. However the boys seemed to enjoy it and it did make the day go by quickly.

We came home to a clam cowder meal. It used to be tradition in my family but I don't think that I'm going to keep it any more. On account that you gain 1/2 of the Holiday weight in that meal alone! Wow, that stuff is fatting and not worth it. Now, on the other hand a steak dinner......that is worth it!

We went on to having another lesson about baby Jesus, and we opened up our jammies (that I made). We slipped the boys in their jammies and read "T'was the Night Before Christmas". It was pretty picture perfect for my family. Zachary payed no attention to anything. He just ran around being hiped up on sugar and lack of sleep. Adam behaved pretty good. He really didnt' want to stop at the jammies present. He kept on saying "umm, I want to open five presents." It was cute. When we told him that if he didn't go to bed Santa wouldn't be able to bring him his presents (nerf vulcan gun) he quickly went upstairs.

Because Nana and Grandaddy were here they called Kevin in Tokyo and I got to be in on the conversation. SO SO nice to be able to talk with him and hear how the mission experience is for him. I can tell that he is just blazing through that Japanese. I'm so proud of him.

Grandma comes to town

Family is what the Holiday's are about and since we weren't going to be able to go to Grandma's house this year she came to us. while she was here we kept busy. While she was here she cooked, cleaned and crafted. She never stoped! I would turn around to do a chore and there she was already doing it or it was done. What a treat during one of the most stressfull times of the year. Not only I enjoyed Grandma but the boys did too.

She made them little aprons and they jumped in to be her helpers. Adam was very interested in her ability to make pies, bread, rolls etc. as am I. As we watched a baking instructual dvd Adam states, "Grandma makes that. Grandma can to that." I am so glad that Grandma does do that. We ate so good while she was here. Her grand finale was her cinimon rolls. Oh, yeah! The way to an Engstrom Man's heart is through Grandma's Cinimon Rolls. She left extra frosting and Adam and Zachary had to have that over every square millimeter of their roll.

Jo really didn't waste time while she was here day two of her visit Josh took off of work and we all went into the big city. We got tickets to "West Side Story" and ate lunch at a really nice deli tootled around, saw "the tree" etc.... After our show was over we were done with the big city. I always enjoy my time in NYC and I always love coming home to quite NJ.

We dicided that it was too cold for the boys to go to the "the Big Chill 5k run" So it was just Grandma and Josh that went. I'm glad that Jo got her new running shirt.

Visiting Santa Clause

This year is the first year that Adam has really been into the Santa and gift thing. Around Thanksgiving time we got those wish catalogs. Adam scanned through those and even had a growing list, but then he found the Nerf Vulcan Gun. His list was wiped clean except for that gun. That was his only wish that Santa bring him the automatic Nerf machine gun. I told Adam that in order to get his wish that he needed to ask Santa Claus.

Now in the past taking Adam to see Santa was a torture session for our family. We would try to get that annual photo of our children on Father Chirstmas' lap while Adam, being totally freaked out by this strange old guy, would cry the whole time. We would try to calm him and he would resist even more. We were quite the scene. I'm sure that we got looks from passing empty-nesters that have long since forgotten what it is like to have a 2yr old.

Now that Adam had a mission and a purpose to accomplish he seemed to swallow his fears and do that which was necessary in order to accomplish his Christmas wish. After all he really wanted that gun. I took the boys to see our local Santa Claus at the mall. The BEST Santa that I have ever come across and I have even been to Macy's on 34th in NYC. He called Adam by name and they just had a nice conversation. Adam didn't sit on his lap but I didn't expect him to, that is just not Adam's style. When Santa asked "So, what would you like for Christmas?" Adam respectfully gave his rehearsed answer "I would like a NERF Vulcan Gun, please." Then Santa asked something that Adam wasn't prepared for, "Would you like anything else?" Adam just looked at him confused at the question. His reply "no."

After their exchange was over he gave Santa a hug and got a toy for Zachary and himself. Zachary really wasn't interested in sitting on this strange man's lap and wanted nothing to do with it. Being a smart person and learning from my past mistakes I didn't push it.

The Tree

We had a great time this Christmas. After our expensive fix-it summer we decided to change our travel plans to staying home. I got really excited and awoke all of those family holiday traditions of: chocolate dipping, klejner cookies, matching jammies, and going to cut down our own Christmas tree.
That was an adventure. We went to go cut down a tree at a local farm. We packed the boys in our little Saturn car, sang carols on the way, got to the farm, bundled up, plopped the boys in the wagon and were ready to start our search for the perfect tree. Then we learned the prices of these Jersey Fresh trees....$60! We got back in the car, went to the tree lot in front of the mall and bought a tree for $24 instead. It is cheaper to buy a cut tree that has been shipped from North Carolina than it is to cut your own in New Jersey. That is New Jersey property taxes for you.
The tree lot had some advantages over the farm. Adam and Zachary were greeted by a nice man that gave them candy canes, and they loved watching the tree go through the tree bailer. Shoot I liked it too. I mention the nice man becuase here in Jersey a pleasant person is a bonus.

It was our first year to have a real tree and it definitely set the "Christmas" mood with its charm and lovely smell. Our tree was worth it!