Our Hollman Family Christmas 2011

I know that I'm still super behind. I'm try to catch up, I promise. Christmas was something like three or four weeks ago, but you know, we're still in the holiday spirit here, so I'm just going to go on pretending like this blog is current.

This year, we tempted fate, put both babies in the car and made the trip to Milwaukee (just for an overnighter) and then on to Michigan for the Christmas holiday. A week before this trip I was already ready to pop a Xanax and enter the twilight zone that would be the crazy of a trip fo this caliber with two little kids. The day neared with trepidation and finally, we were ready to go on a late Tuesday afternoon. We piled in the car, equipped with toys, food and GASP- even the Ipad for emergency situations. We still don't let Collin watch TV but we've given in to 15 minute spurts of interaction with the Ipad while on road trips only. It works for us and I don't feel like we are letting him kill too many brain cells.

Anyway, there we are, in the car, travel potty in sight, seatbelts fastened, window shades up, blankets, Benny, Parsley, pillow pets, etc abound. I had an internal wager that we could probably make it 45 minutes without someone crying/having to pee/deciding they are hungry.

So, guess what happened? I was all worked up over nothin'. The kids were fine. It seems we are getting better at this gig of driving long distances. They slept mostly and played a bit, we stopped a few times and got there in something like 6 hours. Which is a 1/2 LESS than it took us to get there last time.
That's what I call progress!

We stayed the night, wore the kids out in the pool and put them back in the car for nap. Low and behold, they fell asleep! They actually did great! We pulled into my parents in Michigan about 7 pm their time and the boys were ready for bed- I was amazingly surprised that there were no major meltdowns or hissy fits. It was fairly smooth sailing.

Now, I know I said last year that we weren't sure if we'd be traveling again once the kids were in the picture- especially after getting to spend Christmas here at home last year- but we decided until we add on to our home and have the capacity to hold everyone, we'd travel. That means one more Christmas in Michigan and then we expect then to come to us. Thats right family- if you are reading this, we hope to have added on considerably by Christmas of 2013, and so, since we'll have space for you, we expect you to come here. Start making arangements now.

Anyhow, back to this year's story.
It was fantastic to see my family and be home. I hadn't actually be there in quite a while and they had recently renovated the basement, which was a huge surprise for us. My dad and brother are rather handy and they did a great job. It looks amazing down there.
Being home also leaves me with that nostalgic sense- there's no Christmas morning like the ones in the house you were raised in, and it was so fun to see Collin have that same Christmas morning while we were there.
I won't swoon over how amazing it was for us, but I have to say, Christmas is pretty special in my family. They sure do make a lot of magic happen (not to mention turn every last one of us into gluttons with all the food) and I sure hope I can replicate that here in my own home. Maybe someday (soon) my mom will teach me the tricks :)

To appease your appetites for seeing how the boy's holiday went I've put the photos in a slide show because there are just too many to put in the post. Take notice of how OVERBOARD my presents went with the gifts. We even had to stop openning gifts and let Owen take a nap because there were way too many. They wouldn't even fit within the lens of my camera- I had to take three continuous shots!

A Farmer's Daughter

Its not all that infrequently that here in the cities I get called out on my farm-girl roots. Growing up in the country equates with a lot of strange things to people here in the city. People tend to think living in farm community means I must have hoed fields with my hands (only once did I ever hoe a field with my hands. I was about 12 and it was for 100 dollars, which seemed at that point in my life to be an exorbitant amount of money. Turns out it was a STEAL for my uncle, and so, apparently, we both won) and really truly walked up-hill both ways to school ( I rode the bus). Pretty much its a lot of old school ideas about living in the country. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved growing up in the country with a huge family and lots of fields to play in. It just makes me the spectacle in the city sometimes.

City peeps: "Whats it like to ride in a tractor? me: boring
City peeps: "Were there cows and pigs?" me: No, just vegetables. the word farm does not = animals. We were mostly about potatoes, sugar beets and corn.
City peeps: "How do you know how to change a tire?" me: because I was raised in the country where you had to change your own tires. City peeps: oh, you mean on a farm? me: No, just in the country.

It goes on like this frequently.

 Lliving in a farm community did teach me some fantastic things though- a dose of humility, an intention to be hardworking and loyal, these things are some of the qualities that I try to keep part of my daily life. But, the farm thing never really gets away from you, and city folk are sort of enamoured with it. Thus the facination with animals and tractors.

When we had Collin I imagined that he would have an interest in farms- but I didn't intend to push it on him. If he wanted to learn about it, I'd be happy to take him to the farm while we were in Michigan. If he didn't I wasn't going to force a John Deere tractor in his hands.

As it turned out, its more like we have to pry the John Deere tractor out of his hands. Collin, without much guidance from us is all things farm obsessed. He loves farm animals, he loves tractors and every sort of construction equipment known to man. So, when we went home for the holidays and Collin had the opportunity to head to the farm and drive the combine and new tractor, he nearly jumped out of his skin.

He adores the idea of a working farm. Feeding animals, tilling soil, planting seeds. I think he's drawn to it because of me (genetically disposed I guess) but also because Drew's passion in life is to grow green things. I pretty sure that this fascination makes my dad's heart beam. I'm pretty sure that he's over the moon happy that Collin loves the things that were such a big part of his very own childhood.

 When we got to Michigan my dad set up a time for Collin to head down to one of the barns and get to sit on the tractors. We figured most were put in the for the winter, so we just told him he'd be able to sit in the cabs. The farm is only about 1/2 mile from my parent house, so it was all of 2 minutes away, and super convenient for Drew and my dad to take him down to visit on morning of the eve of Christmas Eve.

 Collin was super excited just knowing that he was going to be able to see the tractors- which is a rare occcurence here in Minnesota because we live in the city. You can tell by the ridiculous grin on his face that he's beyond elated. Collin could have gotten to visit the tractors for his one and only christmas present and he would have been fit to be tied.

 So, off they went, my dad, Drew and Collin down to see the menagerie of tractors. First on their visit they found the combine, which is an enourmous monster of a machine, but to collin it was like two stories of pure happiness. He crawled right up and was right at home in the cab.  Pretty much as though he owned the place.

 Then things got bigger and better. The GIANT tractor with the tracks was next in line and Collin was in awe. He climbed up in it with a cousin and learned that they could take it for a ride, which I'm pretty sure nearly made him pee his pants.

When all was said and done I'm failry certain we had made his day. He ended his visit with a little love for the riding mower- it is a John Deere after all.

So as it turns out, I think we might have a little farmer on our hands after all, and I'm sort of happy about it. A little humility, good work ethic (and a bit of dirt under your fingernails) and loyalty never made life any worse for anyone, now has it ....:)

Santa's House

During our visit to Michigan we were able to visit Santa's house. Its a pretty cool little house filled with toys and trains, Santa and a sleigh. The kids loved it! (as you can see below).

Jayla waiting in line for the house to open

Collin asking if Santa lives here?

First steps inside with Auntie Andrea

Taking a look up at all the toys and trains

Santa's Sleigh and Reindeer

Checking out the Reindeer

A giant Nutcracker

Waiting with Nana to see Santa

Telling Santa what he wants

Jayla's turn

and together <3 Cute as a button.

Were you on the nice or naughty list?

December started the whirlwind of preparations for Christmas for us, which was fun and overwhelming all at the same time.

Early in December we celebrated  St Nick's day because thats what any good Wisconsinite does. Or so Drew tells me. As a kid I didn't celebrate St Nick's day (December 6th), but he did, so we started the tradition with Collin and Owen. St Nick's day is a "truth be told" get your act together warning about Christmas- if you're having a rough go of it, Santa gives you about 3 weeks to turn it around. On St Nick's day he leaves you something not so very nice- a lump of coal, sardines, you know- the yuck stuff. But if you've been doing well and are on a path toward success on Christmas morning, Santa leaves a little preview gift. In either case, Santa puts these fun things in your shoes, so you wake up to something in your shoe awaiting you. This year Santa left the boys Christmas tree ornaments and Collin was super excited to open them. His featured Snoopy, who lately he's had an infatuation with, and Owen's was a little Fisher Price firetruck.

Once both boys were in the clear, we decided to go right to the soure and visit Santa. In Minneapolis Macy's hosts a 7th floor wonderland where every year they create a whole world based on a theme that kids can tour ending with Santa claus in the flesh. This year it was the day in the life of an elf, and as usually, it amazed all of us (myself included).

At the end Collin got in line to see Santa and worked it like a Pro. He climed right into his lap and when Santa asked what he wanted for Christmas he said "a present", which was easy enough for Santa to agree to.

After visiting Santa we wandered out to the Nicolette Mall to see the Holidazzle parade. I didn't take any photos becuase my fingers were frozen, but Collin loved the electric lights and seeing Santa with his Reindeer at the end.

Every year I complain about living in the cities during winter. Its bitter cold, the snot in my nose freezes the minute I step outside, our heating bill is outrageous and there are more cold and flu bugs than I can shake a stick at. But, the cities have something magical during the holidays. The midwester values nestled in the hearts and minds of the people here channel happiness and Holiday spirit. Everyone is happier, everyone seems to believe, and everywhere you look there is something that celebrates Christmas, or Hanukkah, or whatever you want to celebrate- its all here, ready and waiting to hold up the tiniest of children who believe. I love this part of the cities, the way there is so much to share with Collin and Owen during the holiday, to teach them the value of helping others, being compassionate and caring for the world at a global level.

So here we are--ready and waiting for Christmas, but also remember why the holiday is so special to us,a and remembering how grateful we are for the many many blessings in our lives.

Thanksgiving 2011

I know. Its already 2012. Past Christmas, Past New Years.
But I'm still way back here at Thanksgiving.
You know, back in November.

Thanksgiving wasn't anything really special for us. Typical family, food, weekend in Milwaukee. The boys had a blast enjoying time with family and Owen's first Thanksgiving was filled with lots of  fun, super cuteness (he's maybe the most adorable baby ever) and lots of new food- turkey, mashed potatos, etc. As usual he ate it all up like a champ. This kid really really loves his food. He wore this adorable shirt that said "momma's little turkey" and a "baby's first thanksgiving bib". I'm a huge loser of a momma though and somehow deleted the images before downloading them, so Owen's first Thanksgiving is forever deleted from the photographic choronology.

(These photos are from some snap shots that Drew's aunt sent us, we scanned them in and thus resurected some of the Thanksgiving fun).





I really feel awful about this. It fits under the second child neglect category and its another FAIL for me. Ugh. I wish I could get good at the documenting of BOTH boy's lives, instead of just one or the other! I'm making a resolution to do my best to document both boys lives more appropraitely in 2012.

When I escape my guilt thought, I think about the happiest part of the trip. Our first encounter with the best sort of transportation. No baggage restrictions, no worries about car seats not traveling well, ample room to lay down. Oh, pure bliss.

We took the train.
And it was HEAVEN.

Seriously. I'm so so so over traveling with two kids. One baby who needs to eat/nurse/get a diaper change every 30 minutes or so, and one toddler who needs to go potty NOW every 45 minutes really makes us feel like we'll never get anywhere, and by the time we do get anywhere I am less than pleasant to be around. Read: GRUMPY.

So, travel to Milwaukee in the car before babies= just shy of 5 hours.
Travel to Milwaukee with two babies =6 hours and 45 grueling minutes.

Ish.

But Amtrak came to our rescue. We booked a room and found our selves in the lap of luxury riding first class for 6 glorious hours. Naps, food, bathroom breaks, diaper changes, walks, and relaxation included.

We loved it.
Really really really loved it.
I even took pictures, but apparently in my haste to get the camera card cleared before Christmas I accidentally deleted them from the camera before they were downloaded. Sorry. There were some really cute ones of Collin sitting in the seats pictured above, and a few others of the dining car and the viewing car. Imagine his cute littel face with a tiny smile plastered from ear to ear while I took funny photos as the train jostled us from side to side.

Collin was also over the moon about traveling on the train. When we got to the train station he admired the whole line of cars and asked "Where's the train's tender". It was adorable. I had to explain tha the Amtrak trains are different from Thomas in that they don't have tenders. He was so very excited to get onboard and spent most of the trip gazing out the window watching the cities and rivers go by.

Oh, the things that make us happy as parents.

Who knew I'd have such a soft spot for trains?

Just a shout out to the folks who ride trains and make lives easier for the rest of us.

That is all.