Surprise Guest

Grandpa A and his big red rig rolled through our town yesterday!  Being a trucker, you'd think he'd come this way more often, but that is just not the case.  Daddy also had the day off, so we made a day of it.  First Daddy and the boys went to pick Grandpa up from the truck stop nearby.  They even got to climb in the cab and blow the horn!  M liked it but, N - not so much.

Grandpa A with the boys and his big red rig

The four of us had already planned to see the Macy's display together, and this time, stop to see Santa, so Grandpa just came right along with us.  The fellas love, love, love the animated elves - there's an Elfin school, singing forest, Santa's workshop, Reindeer flight school - you name it!  They, however, felt quite differently when we got to see the big red man. 

They freaked.

That's putting it mildly.  *Sigh* 

I'm sure they thought the best part of the day was when Grandpa produced two big semi-truck toys for the boys.  In fact, I know it.  M hollered all the way out to the van when we left for Macy's, and only relaxed when Grandpa retrieved a cab for him to play with on the ride.  Whew!

It was a Monday full of surprises: Grandpa, semi-trucks, Daddy home, and Santa.  That last one was not a nice surprise, after all, I guess.  We have plans to meet him again on Saturday at the Multiples club Christmas party.  However, I am lowering my expectations.  There will probably not be a cute Santa-and-kids-pic this year.  At least, not a smiling one!

Festive Fellas

Aunt L and the fellas overlook downtown Minneapolis

On Wednesday morning, Aunt L, the boys and I forsook all housework and ventured into Downtown Minneapolis to see the Macy's Holiday display on the 8th floor.  The fellas were quite festive and enjoyed watching the animated elves, the singing Christmas trees, and especially people-watching while strolling through the skyway - but they weren't really in the picture-taking mood! 

Baby N

Mrs. Claus, me, N, and a thoughtful M

Here we are visiting "Reindeer Flight School," trying to snap a pic with Mrs. Claus.  She was not received well, so we skipped Santa's visit at the end altogether.  Maybe the boys will be up to it when Daddy goes with us next time.

 Believe it or not, the boys were very well-behaved while we dined in the Skyroom on Macy's 12th floor.  Even though I brought them PBJ's, M ate a large portion of MY tortellini!

There was a Salvation Army bell-ringer at the Skyway entrance to Macy's, so I stopped the stroller and gave each boy a quarter to drop in the bucket.  They both laughed and giggled, the bell-ringer rang his bell and we all cheered when the coins dropped.  They had so much fun that I promised them we'd stop on our way out, and we did it all over again.  The bell-ringer was prepared for us the second time because he gave each of the boys a candy cane afterward.  It was the best buck I spent all day! 

And we didn't know it until we reached the elevator, but M busted his candy cane and was sucking on it all the way through the skyway!  How did he know it was candy?