Loco-Charley

Lest you think that I gave Charley away after that last post, here is an entry dedicated to Charley and his one true love: trains.

The local train club set up a demo at the library last week and, as you can imagine, Charley was enthusiastic.  Like twitchy, vibrating enthusiastic.  It's quite scary, really.

 "Hmmm... Yes.  I see what you're saying, wise sir".

 I'm not exaggerating to say that there isn't a human on earth who make him this gleeful.  He was over the moon happy.  I guess I should just accept that he'll be living in my basement painting tiny trees and boxcars forever.

Lost in the meditation of circling trains.

We were at a party last night, and there were about 15 kids there.  14 of them were running around playing hide and seek, and my unique 1 was sitting in a Harry Potter-closet under the stairs playing Mouse Trap by himself.  When I asked him if he needed anything he said "No mom, but thanks so much for asking".  

Then he said "could you close the door so that none of the other kids will come in here".

Oh, Charley. 

Take a guess...

...How much Charley likes this display in the park downtown?  His delirious grin should give you a clue.

As a bonus, here are a few pictures of my husband 'tebowing' at the nativity scene.  And teaching my child to do the same.

Does it seems strange to anyone else that our town hall has a nativity scene set up?  A reeeally big nativity scene?  Maybe it's just me...

Yep, we're kickin' it old school here in Po-Ho, peeps. 

p.s.  My eldest child called the shepherd in the scene 'Little Bo Peep'.  Ummm, blaspheme much, Charley?  Of course, look at his father.  Not the best holy-inducing role model.

Holiday hoopla

It's that time of year when things run a bit amok and get away on you.  (And thus, I apologize for the delay between posts).

All is well here at the homestead.  The boys have been generally healthy and happy.  You know, the epidemic school-age perma-snot-nose is in effect, but that usually lasts until about June.  Chris is busy with an overload of work (real work, not house work, alas) and Kismet has some kind of itchy, scratchy allergy thing going that causes her back leg to thump-thump-thump on the floor 22 out of 24 hours.  (She's now on steroids and I expect her to be uber-buff in no time).

You know, the usual.

Funny Charley update:  When I picked him up from school one day last week, he announced that he had a new best friend.  I was so excited that my Aspergian child had finally "discovered" his peers.  A real friend?!  Of his choosing?!  With bated breath, I bent down and said "REALLY!? Who is it?".  He replied "It's a rock!!".  The teacher sighed and produced the rock which has now joined us for countless meals and bedtimes.  Whatever... it might be a human friend one of these days, right?

(While I was typing this he has been singing a very serious, professor-ish rendition of the LMFAO song "I'm sexy and I know it".  Imagine that, folks.  It's pretty great).

Okay, so what have you missed?

We went to see the CP Holiday Train go by last week.  We waited upwards of an hour for it to pass and the kids just got more and more insane as they waited.  I think it was an appropriate way to start off the mayhem-filled-season.

Woo hoo!  Here it comes!  We told the kids that it was Santa's sleigh, filled with toys and headed to the North Pole.  With Santa driving.  And elves in the passenger car.  Their heads almost exploded.

 The beauty of non-flash night time shots.  Groooovy traiiiiin.

 Success.  The mad posse is appeased.

 We celebrated Chris' birthday, and Charley lurked in the background, clutching a knife.  Good times.

 And we did round #1 of gingerbread house decorating.  I made the houses myself and discovered the pure, satanic evil of melted sugar glue.  Like lava, but hotter.  On the plus side, Haley appears to be delighted with her icing bag.

Note to self:  The decoration 'buffet' is not the best idea.  Perhaps single servings in the future?  Controlled portions?  The sugar consumption was truly epic.  It made my teeth hurt.

And, for a finale shot, here's Charley's best friend, Rock.  My kid is SO much cooler than yours.  
Nerd power forever!!  hahahaaaa

Okay.  I think you're all caught up now.  One can only imagine what the week ahead will bring:  Christmas tree farm visit, the legendary Millbrook parade and more! 

Stay tuned.

Thomas' everlasting presence

There are days when I think the trains are becoming less a part of Charley's world, and then out they come again.  I might as well accept that the Island of Sodor is a permanent extension of my world.  Like, forever.

 Sometimes Sam cannot stand to hear Thomas' name again.  That's when we call him "Cranky the Crane".

Blissed out kid, too busy to look up for a photo.  He is, after all, a very useful and reliable engineer.

Choo Choo!

We went to the model train show in town today.  Do I need to say more?  Charley's brain came within a hair of exploding and even not-so-train-crazed Sam was deeply interested.  Charley's best friend, Nathan, was actually more excited than Charley, which I didn't think possible.  Many photos, so click to see more after the jump.

A neck-craning first glance.