Powder Play

Two snow storms this week left a nice snow cover over South Hadley. So here's what we did:

• After breakfast, Grafton and Dad suited up in their worker snow gear and headed out to the garage, grabbing our snow shovels.
• We spent about half an hour clearing the snow from the driveway (2nd time this week).
• Headed back inside for a snack.
• Suited up for 20-something degree weather and packed the cross country skis in the car.
• Drove to the Ledges Golf Course, 5 minutes away.
• Took Neva's skis out of the car.
• Decided it was too windy and cold at this spot and drove to the nearby Orchards Golf course instead.
• Put on our ski boots, realized Neva's skis were still at the Ledges course.
• Neva drove back to retrieve her skis, while the boys got suited up and hit the trails.
• Grafton and Dad made it about 1/10th of a mile before Mom showed up.
• Grafton and Dad skied together for about 45 min, then Mom took over watching Grafton.
• Back at the car, headed home.
• Back at home, unpacked the skis, ate lunch, suited up and packed the car for afternoon sledding.
• Drove to nearby hill.
• Got out of the car, started to unbuckle Grafton, realized we forgot his winter coat.
• Drove home, got his coat, drove back to the sledding hill.
• Met up with Landon and his family.
• Grafton and Landon sledded for over an hour, catching air off jumps, wiping out, and diving out of the way of other sledders as they re-ascended the hill (Mom and Dad got a few runs in themselves).
• Grafton throws major tantrum at the bottom of the hill on what would be his final run (due to absolute exhaustion, no doubt). 
• Back at home, had snack, then watched out our photos and videos from the day.

Further Practical Considerations Regarding Holiday Gift Delivery

As a follow up to Mom's recent post, I'll add that Grafton really is giving a lot of thought to the practicality of Santa Claus and his gift delivery duties.

A few days ago, he asked me if Santa Claus came to my house when I was a boy. I said he did, and Grafton followed up with, "Did you have a chimney in your house when you were a boy?". I had to say no, and of course he was curious how Santa could have delivered the gifts. I explained Santa had many tricks for getting his gifts inside houses, including knowing how to open doors!

This morning, Grafton and I were sitting by the fireplace, and he was asking about how Santa can climb up and down a chimney, asking about ladders and such. I explained that he must keep his hands and feet pushed against the inner sides of the chimney as he descends and ascends. Grafton was concerned that he would wear out his boots shuffling along the bricks. I quickly explained that Santa replaces his boot every year.

I think Grafton is on the cusp of an epiphany about the realities of the man from the North Pole...

The Holiday Inquisition

Rudolph-Fact or Fiction?

On the way home from school on Monday Grafton asked, "Mom- is Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer really one of Santa's reindeer or just a nice story?"

Mom responds, "Well, Grafton- I haven't met Santa's reindeer so I'm not sure it Rudolph is a real reindeer." And continued, " Even though I don't know for sure if he's a real reindeer, I love the story about Rudolph and I like to believe that he's real."

Grafton quickly responds, "We won't get to talk to Santa again this year, right Mom?"

Mom replys, "That's right, Grafton."

Grafton suggests, "Next year when I see Santa, I'm going to ask him about Rudolph!"

Santa

Grafton reminded his parents that they should not light the fireplace on Christmas Eve.  Santa might get burned when he comes down the chimney.

Snowman 

Grafton told us this morning that when it snows we can build a snowman.  And that this year we have a top hat to put on the snowman.  We have all the right supplies this year!

Basement Runner

When Dad is working out on the elliptical trainer, Grafton comes running down and joins in by running laps around the staircase in the basement. Not just 2 or 3 times. More like 90. Seriously. He has run laps for 15 minutes straight, at about 10 seconds per lap. Without stopping once. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw him do this. He kept telling me we weren't going to stop until the "race was over."

When Dad is not working out, Grafton will have me time him with a stopwatch. He can hold 6-7 seconds per lap for 10 or so laps.

If Dad can get him to exert this level of effort on a hiking trail, we could start working out together on a regular basis.

Diminishing Parental Need

Grafton showed us this morning that he can button up his own dress shirt.

Super-G turns four

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewneev/sets/72157632081779821/

Twitter over Blogger?

With the amount of time I have to blog these days, I should probably just start a twitter account for Grafton, because this is about all I have time to jot down:

Grafton is now:

• Willing to pee standing up, toilet height permitting (thanks to his buddy Kayden)
• Checking himself in at daycare on the computer using the mouse
• Able to tie a simple overhand knot
• Learning how to ice skate (2 lessons under his belt); he can shuffle around and get up by himself after falling down.