Pomerleau Family Blog: Fun holiday activities in December!

Brandon turned four this year on a Tuesday. We celebrated his actual birthday day by going to the Zoo Lights and getting McDonalds Happy Meal. Brandon also got to celebrate as well at his school and we brought yummy cupcakes for his class to share. He then got to open up his presents from us when he got home. He got a fun spiderman scooter, some Rescue Bots, a rescue helicopter, and a kitchen accessory set where he can blend his own smoothies in. We had a really fun day despite Olivia getting freezing at Zoo Lights and crying most of the time.

A trip down memory lane Brandon at 8 months

Five month old Brandon such a cutie!

Go Ducks at 6 months and so happy

A day old

My favorite photo first morning at home

1 years old birthday party

2 years old birthday party

3 years old birthday party

3 1/2 years old and silly!

Brandon and mommy Bridal Veil Falls 3 years 9 months

3 years 9 months

3 years 10 months

Olivia and I on the zoo lights before her melt down

Zoo Lights on Brandon's birthday

Happy boy on the zoo lights train

He loved the zoo train and was so happy it came back this year

Sean and I took the Friday off before Brandon's birthday party (December 5th) so we could watch the Ducks play in the Pac 12 championship game (which they won!) and so we could get organized for his party. We took the kids to Macy's Santa Land in Downtown Portland and were amazed that there were no lines and no one there. We were able to hang out with Santa for quite a bit of time. Olivia amazed us as well that she did not freak out and cry with Santa. She has been quite apprehensive with strangers lately. She kept pointing to Santa and said "Santa!" I got several cute photos of them with Santa, which is another reason why I love Santa Land because you can take your own photos and are not obligated to buy their photos. Brandon also received Santa quite warmly. Santa Land is super cute with several decorated trees and Christmas displays. The kids loved going in and out of the mono rail replica train they had. Brandon also loved watching the electric train display they had. We finished off our Santa Land experience by letting Brandon pick out an ornament-he loves penguins and got a little stuffed penguin.

Brandon at Santa Lane

In front of the reindeer display

All dressed up to see Santa!

Olivia at Santa Land

Brandon and Santa

He loved Santa!

Olivia and Brandon with Santa 2014

Quite calm with Santa!

Another cute picture of these two with Santa

Olivia playing in the mono rail

Go Ducks! Pac 12 Championship game

And the Ducks win!

The day after we celebrated Brandon's birthday party with his friends we went and got our Christmas tree at Al's Nursery. We have been going there for the last four years since Brandon was a baby because it is warm in there and they have very cute Christmas decorations and a huge electric train display that Brandon loves to look at. Olivia had a lot of fun with the train and all the decorations too this year.

At Al's looking for our Christmas tree

On the roam!

Looking for the perfect tree

Brandon at the train display

Olivia by our Christmas tree!

Olivia by the Christmas tree all ready to be hauled off

Big Christmas tree ornaments!

So much fun pounding the drums

Brandon joining in on the fun and was having fun with the big nutcracker

Manager display

Beautiful flocked tree-looks like snow mom!

Another fun display

Me and my kiddos love these guys!

Family shot at Al's

Decorating our Christmas tree

Olivia loved the ornaments. Brandon was a huge help and helped me hang all of the ornaments this year.

Being silly with his hair in the bath tub!

Uncle Brendan and Sara came over and gave Brandon Super Hero Squad Chutes and Ladders for his birthday!

Silly Brandon-Sean captured this beauty

Double mohawks in the bath tub in mid December

Brandon and I had a ton of fun making a gingerbread house. I loved the kit I got from Costco, it had the house already pre-made so we just had to decorate. Then later that day, Brandon and I went back to Zoo Lights in hopes of being able to ride the steam engine train this time (it was not operating the first time we went due to it being too cold). We left Olivia with Daddy and it was a good thing because we had to wait in line for about an hour for the train. But we got on the Steam Engine train and Brandon had a blast and did not mind the wait. It was nice being able to do something with just him.

Decorating gingerbread house

Zoo lights the second time with the birds in the trees

Peacock!

Somehow I caught this cool picture

Brandon with the cow that was hanging out at Zoo Lights

Steam Engine train all decked out in lights

All aboard!

Some more displays

Outside of the zoo train

Zoo train selfie

Another selfie!

Before we headed down to Corvallis to celebrate Christmas, we walked around our neighborhood which has tons of very nicely decorated houses and lawns. We rooted for the Seahawks to beat the 49ers! We celebrated Sean's 33rd birthday with me taking him to Prime Rib and Chocolate Cake and my mom babysitting the kids. Sean got NBA basketball tickets to go to a Blazer game with Brandon for his birthday. We also celebrated the holidays with the kids' school with a very cute Christmas program they put on. Olivia's baby group held up stars and had jingle bells and did "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Jingle Bells" with the help of the kindergartners. Olivia loved adorable up there holding a star and was quite relaxed up there surprisingly. Brandon's Jr. Kindergarten class sang "Where is Santa?" and wore little Santa hats and they also said a poem "Santa" and sang "Santa Claus is coming to Town!" Brandon was a ham on the stage and even danced!