James Christmas Shopping Spree
James at the store spending the money he got from relatives and friends at Christmas time.
Edited: January 7th, 2013
Christmas 2012
James began celebrating Christmas on Christmas Eve as we went to breakfast with Grandma then everyone visited Aunt Peg who is scheduled to leave the rehab center January 3rd. Upon returning home James was allowed to open one gift and it was Battle Ship from Criss and Kenny.
Christmas Day Idgie was the first up looking for gifts, then Mom, and finally a tired James made his way to the Christmas gift opening. Lots of good educational toys for James this year. Mom, Dad, and Idgie got gifts from James as well. We then sat down to Christmas lunch and watched the final season of Smallville while James played with every gift he got. The snow came down pretty hard and we had a definite white Christmas this year.
James went out after Christmas to spend some of his Christmas money on Angry Bird stuff.
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Edited: December 28th, 2012
Christmas 2012 Trip To Bronners
A trip to Bronners in December is special, especially as the sun sets and all the Christmas lights turn on. We had planned to get to Bronners to surprise James with a Titanic Christmas bulb which we saw in an ad. James also got a Statue of Liberty bulb and a free bulb for spending over $25.
Meanwhile Mary got to visit a cupcake bakery that she had seen on Cupcake Wars (a reality series on cable). Seems this bakery in Frankenmuth came in first place so we bought some cupcakes while we were there and ate them on the way home.
As the sun began to set the Christmas lights came on in the city and it was a gorgeous spectacle. We drove through the town and across the covered bridge then headed home for the evening.
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Edited: December 22nd, 2012
Colon Christmas Celebration 2012
Once again we attended the Colon Christmas Celebration. James got plenty of treats as pretty much everywhere you went there were cookies, juice, cocoa, and even a chilli contest. Mary got to shop at the antique stores and James got to see Santa and also pet the live reindeer that were outside the library. Inside the library James got to pick out a free book – he chose a Madlib book. Outside the library James got to pet a couple live reindeer! The elementary school had a craft show which included some awesome tasting snacks and some homemade Amish bread. A Santa parade went down mainstreet and there were carolers on the corners. A fun time was had by all. (more…)
Edited: December 9th, 2012
Thanksgiving then Christmas Decorations 2012
It was a traditional Detroit Thanksgiving for us. First James watched the parade and enjoyed it, later Dad watched the Lions lose (again) on Thanksgiving (this time in overtime, an agonizing defeat). The meal Mom cooked was delicious and everyone gobbled their share of turkey, stuffing, and deviled eggs. Later we pulled out the Christmas decorations (at James request) and got to work on setting up Christmas inside and outside.
The highlight for James was setting up his Christmas countdown ornament which is on its third year. Mary and James will add more bulbs and ornaments later in the week and we will be all set for Christmas 2012 (assuming the Mayans are wrong).
Edited: November 25th, 2012
Frankenmuth & Bronners 2012
James visited Bronners then went shopping on the streets of Frankenmuth. James picked up a few Mario brother characters, a hard hat with a light in it that says Frankenmuth on the side, and an Easter bunny from Bronners (yes, he went to the Christmas shop and bought something for Easter). James had lots of fun and the place was strangely quiet for such a pretty day. We had most of the place to ourselves and had no problems getting seated for a chicken dinner at the Barvarian Inn.
Highlights include James feeding a horse named Gus, flinging about 100 pennies into various fountains, and the many photo ops where you stick your head through a hole (in one James could not reach the boy fairy hole with his head so he stuck his head through the next hole which was the girl fairy). The picture is very funny looking and we all had a little laugh at the fairy pic. You can see that pic and about 100 more by clicking the ‘read more’ button below.
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Edited: June 3rd, 2012
Christmas 2011
How quickly the year went by this year. James has been counting down for Christmas since, well, last Christmas and finally it came. James certainly was not disappointed as Santa, Relatives, and Friends really went all out for James (and a big thanks to you all). Mary made lots of fudge this year and everyone enjoyed it, although the calories were a little high but what the heck, its Christmas.
Again, we watched our “Traditional” Holiday movies – Dead End, Holiday Inn, The Ghosts who stole Christmas, and the Post Modern Promethius.
This year James does not have to go back to school until January 9th so its a good thing he has lots to do during this time. He will be attending a Birthday party after Jan 1 for his friend Jonathon and we are all looking forward to that.
Edited: December 30th, 2011
Christmas Gallery 2010
James stayed up very late Christmas Eve waiting for Santa, finally falling asleep in the living room. The cats actually beat him to the punch when they surrounded their Christmas sock early christmas morning while James slept in. When he finally did wake up Christmas Day Santa had arrived and put many presents under the tree for James. Mom wore her “Bumble” slippers for the morning festivities (Bumble is the abominable snowman from Rudolph and a favorite of James). James decided to open and play with each toy rather than opening them all at once so he was still unwrapping gifts hours later, keeping Mom and Dad busy assembling toys and taking out the wrappings. Mom kept everyone happy with ham, casserole, and deviled eggs throughout the day and Jame’s was very happy with the gifts he received from everyone and we all wanted to take the time and thanks everyone for making this a very special Christmas!
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Edited: December 26th, 2010
Christmas Eve Gallery 2010
James had a busy day Christmas Eve, he opened his first gift from Aunt Criss and Uncle Ken in the morning, then headed out for a brief roadtrip. The first stop was Aunt Peg’s house where we exchanged gifts. Aunt Peg’s visitor parking area was full so we had to park where we weren’t supposed to. James got $$$ from Aunt Peg and wanted markers so we stopped and let him have a little spending spree. After that we went to the China buffet for lunch, James was pretty good there, then we headed to Grandma’s (who parking lot also was full). Grandma also gave James $$$ to spend but he will have to wait till after Christmas for his second spending spree.
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Edited: December 26th, 2010