Christmas + 11 = 12

We celebrated Christmas in Cashiers again this year with Annie, Poppy, Mamere, Papere and Aunt Allison.  (Graham and Bart stayed in NYC to celebrate their first Christmas together.)  Santa found us and somehow managed to fit a new 24" blue and red Scott bike in his sleigh for Thompson and William's "surprise" came in the form of a wii video console.  They were speechless.  There were several other fun gifts (e.g. Legos, card games, wii games, luggage accessories, Pictionary Jr.) with Annie and Poppy surprising the boys with new Wilson golf clubs.  With it being cold outside, the boys enjoyed practicing their putting skills in Annie and Poppy's foyer.

This Christmas also marks the first year we are celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, a tradition Mamere and Papere started in the Harrelson family many years ago.  The 12 Days of Christmas refer to the period between Christmas and the Epiphany (January 5)...the days the Wise Men journeyed to Bethlehem to meet Jesus...and reminds us Christmas is more than just one day.  For the 11 days following Christmas Day (the 1st day of Christmas), a gift is given to someone.  Seeing presents they couldn't open and that remain under the tree intrigued the boys at first, and then they quickly got excited.  (And I can remember those same feelings as a young girl!)  They love looking under the tree each day to see which person (or persons) is receiving a gift.  And is warms my hear that Thompson has already started his working 12 Day of Christmas gift list for next year.

The Spirit of Elfred

Elfred, our friendly elf, arrived the day after Thanksgiving this year (yes, while we were still in NYC) and helped to increase the anticipation leading up to Christmas.  Thompson took to writing notes to Elfred - and Elfred obliged by writing back.  Santa sent him with red tinsel, which he donned daily.  The boys often debated whether touching the tinsel counting as touching Elfred.  The day he landed on the shelf in William's room, he had left his tinsel in previous day's location.  Thompson's attempt to get it to Elfred resulted in Elfred falling onto the floor...and both boys were distraught.  The following day, Elfred was in his very own make-shift bed resting with a band-aid on his forehead and bandage around his arm.  Among his many other adventures, he was in the garage, upside down in front of the TV, in the Christmas tree, brushing his teeth, in a Lego boat in the bath tub (and tumbled overboard after the boys decided to play with the water), playing football & scoring a touch down against Santa, stuck in an empty cereal box, in the refrigerator, on the bed post, beside the printer, in the M&Ms, gliding in over the dining room on T's birthday, and many more.  Thankfully, Elfred found his way to Annie and Poppy's!

Visit with Santa

The boys got to visit with Santa this afternoon at the annual Biltmore Forest Country Club Santa Lunch!  3 days and counting...

2013 Christmas Card

Thanksgiving Week in the Big Apple

I am severely overdue in getting this post out, so here it goes.  We had a great trip in NYC last month to celebrate they boys' birthdays.  I've included a link to the pictures below and a somewhat detailed recap of each day's events.  It was COLD all week so we stayed bundled up most day.  (The boys learned the importance of wearing scarves in the city.)  Thompson talks often about loving the "big city", so he felt at home where he could walk nearly anywhere.  And of course, both boys loved the subway.  William thought it was magic to be able to go underground one place and pop up in an entirely different location.

SEE PICTURES

• Monday - we drove to Charlotte and took a direct flight to Laguardia (William's first time on an airplane); afternoon arrival; called DoubleTree Hilton on 7th Avenue and 49th Street our "home" for the week; met G & B for dinner at Landmarc in Columbus Circle complete with a cake from Magnolia Bakery to celebrate William's 4th birthday
• Tuesday - morning stroll all around Times Square including visits to the M&M store, Hershey's store, Disney and Toys R Us; walked to Rockefeller, saw the rink and went to the Lego Store; visited G's office on 29th floor followed by lunch with G and B at NBC Commissary; met up with Mamere and Papere after their arrival in the city; dinner at PJ Clarke's where William fell asleep; G and B hosted a "sleepover" at 5J, including a priceless game of UNC vs SC football on PS3
• Wednesday - G and B took the boys to Lenny's for breakfast; we spent most of the morning touring the Natural History Museum; lunch in the UWS at Serrafina; evening walking tour of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloons in the cold and misty rain; dinner at Cafe Frida
• Thursday - the parade! we were able to enjoy it from the bleachers (4th row)...it was COLD, so we only lasted about an hour, then took the subway to G's office were we viewed the rest of the parade from above; then onto Hoboken for Thanksgiving Dinner with the Craft, Craft, Smalley, Hanlon and Harrelson families (18 adults + 8 kids)
• Friday - a day of walking!  Herald Square, to Flat Iron Building, up 5th Avenue past the Empire State Building, over to Grand Central Station and Chrysler Building; subway from GCS to UES for lunch at JG Melon's; walk through Central Park; more PS3 football at 5J; subway down to the financial district  (W caught a cat-nap) where we saw the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower; subway to Little Italy where we had pizza at Lombardi's; concluded the night by personalizing M&M's at the M&M store
• Saturday - return home after a great week in the big city

Swim Team Season Ender

To conclude Swim Team's fall season, Coach Laura turned last night's practice into a team-swim meet, with each youth swimming the age-appropriate distance in backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle.  It was a fabulous ending and I thought a great way to wrap up the year.  It was awesome to see swimmers giving it their all, seeing how much they have improved, and most importantly, cheering one another on!  As for Thompson, his stroke is improving each week and with that comes improved efficiency in the water.  Last night's unofficial results show he's shaved approximately 2 seconds off his 25-yard backstroke, 20 seconds off the 25-yard backstroke and 2 seconds off the 25-yard freestyle.