Demolition!

Ian came over today and helped Dexter tear apart that gingerbread train!

It was easier to lift the train car out of the tray than to break it into pieces (that was some good frosting glue!).

Candies were easier to pull off.

With Daddy and Elissa's help holding down the engine, Ian was able to yank off a wheel!

Sweet victory!

Stalling Falling Asleep Alone

Shortly after Dexter transferred to a big boy bed about a year ago, he started to have trouble falling asleep alone in his room. He insisted that Mommy or Daddy stay in the room and "take care" of him. The care-taking involved nothing more than our mere presence until he fell asleep. When Dexter began asking for a Puppy Dream Light I thought this might be the opportunity to transition him to falling asleep by himself. For the past few weeks, when Dexy brought up that he asked Santa for a Puppy Dream Light, Daddy and I would get very excited and say things like, "That will be great when you have a Dream Light! Then you can fall asleep with your Dream Light on and you won't need Mommy or Daddy to stay with you! You'll have your Dream Light to help you fall asleep!"

Last night was the test of whether or not this method would work. Dexter got ready for bed and we set up the Puppy Dream Light that Santa brought him in his room. Dexter was excited to fall asleep all by himself, even telling Mommy and Daddy that we could leave after tucking him in. Within two minutes, he was out of his room saying he was thirsty. We gave him a drink of water and shuffled him back to bed. The scene was repeated about a half a dozen times with various stalling techniques (my favorite of which was, "Daddy, I  have a surprise I want to show you," while scanning the room for something to give to Daddy as a "surprise"). We just kept patient through it all and ushered him back to him bed. The last time, I told him that I believed he could do it and that Mommy and Daddy would be right in the kitchen.  And he did it!  This morning we made a big deal about what a big boy he is and how he should feel very proud of himself. He certainly seemed very proud of himself. We'll see if the magic continues tonight.

One-Tenth of a House

The packaging on the gingerbread house noted that "one serving size = one-tenth of a house".

The three of us wolfed down more than half the house last night.  Mommy probably ate four-tenths all by herself!

It may have been a pain to make but it was a delight to eat!  One of the yummiest gingerbread houses (from a kit) that I've ever eaten.

This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef

For his Christmas dinner. With Daddy's help, Mommy made an awesome Christmas dinner of roast beef, roasted potatoes, roasted brussel sprouts and cauliflower, crescent rolls, and sauteed onions. We popped the Christmas crackers before dinner and wore our Christmas cracker crowns throughout the meal. Dexy wouldn't eat the brussel sprouts and only ate the cauliflower when we told him he had to have a bit before we would give him a second helping of roast beef.

Giving

Dexter made a Christmas book at school. One page lists the things he hopes Santa brings to the important people in his life.  Where the heck was I going to find a tuba for Daddy?!

...On Amazon! When I showed Dexy what I was ordering for Daddy on his behalf, he said, "Yes. A tuba that he can wear on his neck and pretend to play it."






While Christmas shopping, Dexter came up with some more ideas about gifts for his parents. Like motorcycles with a ramp that goes "round and around". 

And a toy train as well as a toy car for Mommy. Dexter didn't bat an eye when I said, "Thank you, Dexter! Mommy is going to keep these in their packages so they don't get VG'ed." And they WOULD get VG'ed in Dexy's hands! Not to worry, I will open them up and play with them "with Dexter."

Unwrapping

It took a while (from 7am - 2:30pm with a break for cinnamon rolls and neighborhood cookie deliveries) but we eventually unwrapped all of our Christmas gifts. There were plenty of gifts to be sure but the length of time was more an indicator of pace than quantity.

 And the pace was dictated not by Dexter's desire to meticulously unwrap each gift without tearing the paper (as was my tendency) - he tore into each gift's wrapping paper with sheer abandon. Dexter's pace was slowed by his desire to play with each gift as it was unwrapped. We managed to override some of those urges but gave into some. Hence the all-day unwrapping extravaganza.