A Merry Nonna Christmas
Since spending Christmas at home in Virginia means we usually miss out on celebrating with my family up in New York and New Jersey (we do Thanksgiving with them since traffic around Christmas is even worse when it comes to driving up there), we had a special pre-Christmas visit from someone… my mom! Aka Nonna.
She stayed for about four days of the week before Christmas (yikes, these photos are late!) and among other adventures during her stay, we took her to see the GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens here in Richmond. Since John’s parents (and Clara) enjoyed it last year, we knew it was bound to be a hit with my mom.
Clara’s favorite lights of the night were the ones that created a giant dragon at the entryway to one of the walkways. She was a little too excited to stroll right into it’s jaws, though. Where’s that self-preservation instinct?
My mom and I agreed that our favorites were these glowing orbs. The photo isn’t quite as enchanting as they were in real life, but both of us kind of wanted to sneak one out under our coats. That’s one way to start a prego rumor… haha!
Although we didn’t go home with any of those, Clara did take home one illuminated accessory: a light-up sword that kept her entertained after the decorative lights outside started to lose their toddler appeal. Let’s call it our lifesaver lightsaber.
Since Nonna had to head back home before the 25th, we also did a little early Christmas celebration with her. Clara got to unwrap a few fun presents like this wooden doctor kit (#3 on our kiddo gift guide this year). It was a strategic gift to help Clara feel more comfortable going to the doctor (she loves talking about it and pretending to check out her stuffed animals, but actually going used to make her cry). Since she had a regular old check up the next day – which my mom also got to join us for – we thought it might make our infrequent visits more bearable. (Jackpot, it helped).
Nonna didn’t forget about her fur-grandchild either. Just check out that tail wag! Don’t mind my crazy face. I’m obsessed with my fur kid.
Nonna’s also got Jingle (the dog from Hallmark that barks along with a story as you read it) which Clara is still quite obsessed with. Not necessary for its magical story-barking abilities, but just because she’s obsessed with stuffed animals. She even brought Jingle to Target and sat him in one of the kid-potties in the toddler aisle and screamed “Mommy, Jingle’s Pooping!” loud enough for everyone in a five aisle radius to hear. #thatreallyhappened
Nonna also got Clara her first set of Lego’s. She wanted to find something to go with the doctor kit theme, but none of the bigger toddler-sized Lego’s worked, so we got a regular Lego ambulance. The pieces were too small for Clara to work without a certain Lego-loving husband of mine’s help, but he was in heaven while assembling it. Basically that was John’s favorite ten minutes ever.
And once it was all assembled, Clara was completely in love too.
So glad my mom was able to come down and hang with us before the real Christmas insanity began just a few short days later. Thanks momma! Clara just looked over my shoulder as I was editing this post and asked when you were coming back. Aww. We love us some Nonna time…
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Haha, “Jingle is pooping” made my day. Kids say the funniest things to make their parents turn red.
Sherry, it looks like you had a great time with your mum! all of the pictures are lovely but those light up orb thingys had me gazing in wonderment!! I want one!
The doctor kit is such a great approach! My little girl cries everytime we have to go to the office so we may pinch this idea….=)
So sweet! I love it when my mom comes, as do all of my kids (and husband). There is just something about seeing grandparents with their grandchildren. Those lights look incredible. Richmond looks very cool.
PS Legos are probably the reason I had kids. :) Afternoons spent with my daughters, building all things lego = nirvana.
Hahahah!
xo
s
Hilarious that Legos are the reason you had kids! Another blog I read just talked about this…complete with drawings. :)
http://crappypictures.com/why-crappy-papa-had-kids/
Such a special time! Love all that love:-) xoxo
When I first read the title of this post, I thought you were making a play on “Merry Christmas, Strega Nona.” Pardon my kindergarten teacher brain:)…although the Strega Nona books are lovely, and Clara seems advanced enough that she’d already enjoy the stories! Looks like it was a sweet early Xmas for both your babies!
Hahh!
xo
s
We cannot wait for our daughter to be old enough for Legos. I think we’re going to have to keep reminding ourselves that sharing is caring. I suppose we could just keep getting ones that are too old for her so we build them and just hand them over. Is that acceptable parenting?
Hahah! John seemed to love it with the ambulance…
xo
s
I love that your mom is called Nonna! My mom wanted to be called her actual name as her ‘grandma name’. Her name is Nani and she thought it would be okay because it was similar to Nonna. As it turns out, my son calls her Nonna anyways! PS, I wish my son would sit still long enough to play with Legos!! :)
My husband can’t wait for our just-turned-3-year-old son to be old enough to play with “real” Legos. Several times I have said, yeah, go ahead, buy them … but you can’t open them until Ben is old enough. Not surprisingly, he didn’t buy them! :)
We love grandparent visits! Marc’s granny and grandpa are coming for a whole month in a few weeks, and he doesn’t know it yet, but he’s super excited! ;-)
Clara looks so happy with her Nonna!
So cute! Glad you got to spend time with her around Christmas. Do you pronounce Nonna like “Donna” or “Nona”?
Hmm, it sort of rhymes with Phone-uh.
xo
s
Legos are so much fun! There’s actually a Lego KidsFest tour. The 2013 tour dates have been announced and Richmond, VA is the first stop. I would highly recommend getting tickets. We went to the one in Austin last year and our entire family had a blast. Here’s the link:
http://wl1.peer360.com/b/P68YpE5XBXRzdx37yOT6/main.asp?hl=40536520&r=BCFBEDGI
So cool!
xo
s
I too love those glowing orbs – which just reminded me of a pinterest link a friend sent me in the summer (which i was supposed to remember to do in the winter!) where you fill regular balloons with water, add some food colouring and then freeze them. You can then put them outside where they look like giant marbles. I was going to link it to show you but not sure of the proper etiquette of linking on such a public forum… but a quick search and they pop right up.
Might be a fun activity on a cold wintery day!
We’ll be trying it out as soon as it gets cold enough here again!
That sounds awesome!
xo
s
Those lights are beautiful!
We got our little man the Lego Batman set (plane, motorcycle, joker helecopter)….wow putting those things together requires an engineering degree. ;-)
My husband loves Legos, he can’t wait to buy them for our kids, aka himself.
My parents got my son that same ambulance set and he LOVES it. (Almost as much as I loved putting it together :-) It’s the little things…
What a sweet post! Glad you all got some time with your mum, Sherry – looks like everyone had a blast!
Awwwww….I love posts about your family! Your mom is just as beautiful as you are!!!!
Have you guys seen Goldie Blox? It’s a building blocks set geared toward girls, and focuses on a story that guides kids through building a conveyor belt. http://www.goldieblox.com/
It looks really awesome – especially given that Legos’ products geared toward girls are a little simplistic and less-than-stimulating. It’s still in prototype, but I just ordered a set for my 15-month-old cousin, who may be old enough to play with it when she gets it for her 2nd birthday in October. Maybe this is something Clara would like?
Just a tip!
Yes! We actually sponsored that project when it was on kickstarter! We love that! Can’t wait to get a set for Clara!
xo
s
Awesome! Happy building! :)
I love these photos – looks like so much fun! I especially love the one of John and Clara with the Legos. That’s totally goin to be my husband when we have kids – I got him a little Lego set in his stocking for Christmas and I think it might have been his favorite gift. He’s gone out and bought two more since then already!
Wow those lights were beautiful! Great pictures. My three year old daughter is obsessed with being a doctor right now. We all get daily check ups even the cats. See link.
http://lovebakerenovate.blogspot.com/2013/01/everyone-gets-checkup.html
I like the kit you suggested and will have to look into it. I’m not sure her current set is going to hold up with the constant epidemics sweeping through our house and her imagination.
Haha, so cute!
xo
s
It’s always nice when grandparents come to visit. I’ve got a similar situation to you – my husband’s family is all near by, but my family is all about an 8hr drive away (we could make it in 6 1/2 before kids!). My family came down for Christmas this year and we spent it with them and my husband’s family in Williamsburg and my kids (especially my 2 1/2yr old son) were in grandparent heaven! Not to mentions that there were aunts and uncles and cousins and great-grandparents, too. I’m pretty sure my son thought that we moved to Williamsburg – whenever he talks about our house he says “dis my old house>”
When it comes to well-child checks we’ve found it really helpful to talk to our son about what is going to happen, including talking about if he has to get a shot and that it might hurt a little but then it will feel better, and that has really helped. He was actually upset that he got the flu “shot” as the nasal spray instead of the shot b/c we had told him he was going to get a shot! Yeah, he’s strange…
Haha!
xo
s
Love the family bonding time! Seems like you guys had a wonderful Christmas.
We made our first visit to Richmond last weekend – it was super! You guys live in a great spot. We were blown away by the VA Museum of Fine Art and the Chihuly exhibit there. Be sure to see it before it goes.
Oh yes, isn’t that awesome?!
xo
s
My 12 & 9 yr old love Legos and no longer need my help. I hover over them like a junkie needing a fix….”do u need help with that one?” “Can I do the next one?” “can I just sit near you and smell them for Pete’s sake???!!!??”
:)
I love that she got LEGO! I work for LEGO in their North American HQs and it is sincerely the most incredible company. I hope she continues to enjoy them!
FUN! Everyone loves a little Nonna/Nana/Grandma time !! :)
I love how the metal support on Clara’s stroller looks like the stem of the flower==kind of looks like she is holding it.
So sweet! I’m glad John had fun helping Clara with her Legos… girls have perks too.
When my son was young I was the one who helped him with the Legos. I Loved It!
BTW, your mom is beautiful.
Love that last photo! Your mom is really glowing with love for her granddaughter. Just lovely!
Oh yes, Clara has Nonna wrapped around her little finger.
xo
s
I love how John is hoarding the instruction manual. I do that, too, when our boys ask me to “help” them… did I mention they are 7 and 9? #desperatetotouchthelego
Hahah!
xo
s
We drove through Richmond on our way to Florida after Christmas (from Ontario). I would have loved to see more, we saw signs for some pretty neat stuff!
We went to LEGOLAND in Winter Haven, FL. Look it up, it’s amazing. It put a VERY, VERY busy Disney to shame for my kids. They are about to turn 3 and 6 and just LOVED everything.
Mmm Starbucks… =) I forgot everything else I was going to say!
Hmm, does that doctor kit come with a mini scale? Turns out THAT is the part of the doctor my 16 mos old doesn’t like. Need to check his ears? No problem. Shots? Piece of cake! Attempt to weigh him… he screams bloody murder and latches onto my head like a leech. Go figure. :-P Our normal doctor routine now consists of petting the scale as we’re leaving: “Nice scale, let’s pet the scale!” The nurses have stopped giving me weird looks about it. Mostly. haha
My mom-in-law is Nonna to our son too! (husband’s family is also Italian) Glad Clara enjoyed her Nonna time. :)
Haha, Clara hates that too! Wanna know our cheater way? I hold her and get weighed and then they weigh just me and subtract the difference (of course this is scary since I get to see my weight on a doctor’s scale, haha, but it’s for a good cause!).
xo
s
Thank you for sharing your Botanical garden Christmas lights pictures! College friends of mine got married to each other there last year and loved taking pictures in the gardens and that glass building =) I don’t live in Richmond but it’s only a few hours drive from Virginia Beach… love your blog and the fact that you do your fabulousness right here in this lovely state (er… commonwealth) not too far from me! Love you guys!!!
Loving the lego ambulance! My nephew got a lego helicopter and a lego Batman, and his uncle thoroughly enjoyed putting them together!
I can relate to the crazy/embarrassing toddler antics… my husband’s grandfather passed away last week and at the wake, my 2.9 year old attempted to climb the kneeler at the funeral home in order to get into the casket… #thatreallyhappened
..fortunately most of my husband’s family is pretty easy going and understanding!
I factually bought my 31-year-old husband legos for Christmas, and we don’t have kids:)
Haha, that’s awesome!
xo
s
Legos= the greatest thing on the planet. Ever. I am super jealous of her now… Oh, and just for a future idea… They have these cool NanoBlocks now. They are amazingly small Legos for adults. I don’t have the patience to assemble them, but my bf loves them. He made me a penguin and a giraffe. And about 12 other ones… :)
http://www.mynanoblock.com/site/
So cool!
xo
s
Why do they always have to yell the inappropriate things?? It never fails… :)
Legos= Fun
Stepping on Legos barefoot =not fun
But they are worth it…my kids loved them when they were younger!
OT, but how is Clara doing with potty training? Christmas threw a kink in ours, but back on track now.
Since we’re traveling so much for touring, we’re not really hitting it very hard (when she wants to, we sit on the potty, and if she’s no in the mood we don’t push it). Once we’re back in Feb/March and back on a more regular schedule we think we’ll commit a little more to the process, but since she’s only around 2.5 the doc said there’s definitely no rush. We do go crazy when she accidentally goes on the potty though. There’s dancing and phone calls to the grand parents to tell them all about it! Haha!
xo
s
Just out of curiosity, why did you switch the name from “out life” to “our family blog”?
We had more room up there (we also cleaned up our sidebar) so we went for it. It used to just say “Life” so we thought “Our Family Blog” was more descriptive and there was now room for it :)
xo
s
Legos rock, John – I’m with ya there! My nephew is into legos big time, the super intricate themes and I LOVE it. He calls me the “Lego Queen” because I assemble most of his lego toys :)
Seriously, best part of having kids is playing with their toys.
I love the rug in the photo with John and Clara playing with legos. Where did you find it? It would be perfect for my bedroom.
That was from jossandmain.com a while back. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Love love love that your mom is Nonna! Mine is too, and my grandmother (who passed away two years ago) became Ninonni after we had our first baby. Here’s to family traditions :) cin cin!
Aw so sweet. So sorry for the loss of your grandmother.
xo
s