LS Ayres Tea Room and Santa With Grandma

On Tuesday, we headed down town to The State Museum to visit Santa and eat in The Tea Room. We just love all the Christmas Trees in The State Museum. It is just so festive! The Children's Choir was singing while we were there also. We made our way to Santa's village and rode the train to Santa's house where we were greeted by Mrs. Clause. The boys even got to sit in a sleigh. The boys were so eager to see Santa. While on our train ride, we also saw Raggedy Ann. What a nice surprise and she handed out Christmas Cards. Grayson told Santa what he wanted as did Grandma and myself.

After our visit with Santa, we headed down to The Tea Room. Grayson got a Shirley Temple. Rogan enjoyed Grayson's drink also! My boys don't drink any carbonated drinks so it was a treat for them. The food and service was wonderful as usual! After lunch the boys got a special gift from our waiter. They got hand crafted train whistles. They have been enjoying them ever since. This is the second year we have made this special adventure with Grandma. It has become our tradition with her and we are looking forward to many more years of doing the same!

We also have been to The Children's Museum for Jolly Days. We love going down The Yule Slide! I took Rogan down the slide after Marc did. The boys had to make two trips down the slide. We have breakfast with Santa this Saturday..can't wait. The boys just got their letters back from Santa. We took them to his special mail box last week and Santa wrote back to them. Grayson also went to his first Pacer game last Friday with Marc and stayed the entire game. Grayson loved it. He is really into basketball so it was a very special trip for him and Marc. As you can see from the photos, the boys have also been enjoying baking with me and making big messes. We hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season. My boys like waking up every morning and scowering the house to look for Nigel our elf from the north pole. That is another new tradition thanks to our Aunt Pam! The boys get so excited to see where Nigel has hidden each day. Our elf watches over the boys and reports to Santa every night their behavior.

Marc went to Grayson's Christmas party at school on Wednesday. I have been fortunate enough to attend all of Grayson's special school events and field trips thanks to the help of Grandma. I figured Marc would want to spend some time in Grayson's classroom this time. He said Grayson and his classmates had a great time with their gift exchange, holiday snack and singing songs and hearing special stories. Thanks to Marc's job, he is very flexible and can take Grayson to school on the days that he goes. It is special for both him and Grayson. Peace, love and happiness to all of you!

Turkey, Family and Grandma

Well, Thanksgiving was wonderful, spending it with The Lyons side of the family. It was great to see Kelly and her two children, Andrew and Megan. The food was yummy and family time made it even more special. That day we also put up our Christmas Tree. The boys were so excited. Rogan was amazed and mesmerised by the lights. The boys enjoyed helping Marc put up the tree and lights. Grayson told me, "Mommy, our tree is beautiful!" Rogan was such a good helper like big brother Grayson with hanging all our special ornaments.

Shortly after Thanksgiving Day all our attention became focused on Grandma Callaway. My mother, myself and Sarah had just been to visit her on Monday (before Thanksgiving) and by Thanksgiving Day, she had taken a down ward spiral with her health. Her kidneys started shutting down as did every thing else. It was so hard seeing her in so much pain but to hold her hand and comfort her made it worth every minute. In the next few days, Grandma got worse by the hour. Saturday morning she was no longer able to communicate with us but she could still hear us. She was ready to 'Go Home' as she had been stating the last few weeks, meaning she was ready to meet her maker and ascend to heaven. Around 1:30pm November 27 th Grandma got her Christmas wish and was taken to heaven. Her passing was so peaceful and beautiful. I feel blessed to have been by her side as she was taken to heaven, what a wonderful gift. She came home for Christmas just like the song. We all know she is in a better place but I still miss her each and every day. It is funny how many things remind you of that special loved one when they are no longer with us. I know she is with us in spirit but I still see her and think of her every where I turn.

Thanksgiving was a bitter sweet time for us all. Lots of joy and lots of sorrow. I know Grandma would want us to rejoice for her so that is what we are all trying to do. Her memory will live on inside of everyone she has touched. We are now counting down the days for Christmas and getting ready to visit Santa at The Children's Museum and The LS Ayres Tea Room. We also are having breakfast with Santa and squeezing in a trip to Christmas at the Zoo and a drive around the circle. Earlier this week we went to Grandma Lyons house and had lunch and helped her put ornaments on their tree. Love and happiness to all of our families! Today we are enjoying staying around the house, playing in the snow and baking.