Ready for Christmas, More Shirts, and a Field Trip

  • Post category:Holidays / School
  • Reading time:3 mins read

We’re Ready for Christmas

Christmas is still two weeks away, but I think we’re ready. We’ve got our decorations up, we’ve been to two Christmas parties, and have seen three Santa Clauses.

 

Christmas Decorations

A front yard is decorated for Christmas with a large inflatable sock monkey wearing a red Santa hat and holding a candy cane. In front of it, three spiral Christmas trees made of white lights stand in a row, each topped with a glowing star. The house behind the display has beige siding with brick accents and two white-framed windows. The scene is photographed at dusk, making the illuminated decorations stand out brightly against the dark background.

 

A nighttime Christmas yard display features several large inflatable animals dressed in festive clothing. A tall bear in a green shirt and Santa hat stands beside a log while holding an axe. Nearby, illuminated inflatables of a rabbit, an owl, and another small woodland animal glow warmly. Behind them, bushes are wrapped in Christmas lights, and a red vehicle is parked in the driveway in front of the house.

 

A row of small spiral Christmas‑tree light decorations stands along the side of a house, each topped with a glowing star. To the left, a snowman figure in a red and white hat holds a sign that reads “LET IT SNOW.” The decorations sit in a garden bed bordered by reddish‑brown bricks, with green plants around them. The scene is photographed at night, and the lights create a bright, cheerful holiday glow.

 

A festive doormat sits at the front door, decorated with the lower half of Santa Claus — red pants with white fur trim and black boots with gold buckles. A red‑and‑white candy‑cane stripe borders the mat, and the phrase “Santa Stops Here!” appears on the right side. Part of the mat is tucked under the dark metal wheelchair ramp outside the front door.

 

A small rectangular sheet of canvas hangs on a wall, displaying two green painted footprints positioned vertically like a pair of leaves or sprigs. Above each footprint is a small red bow drawn in marker. Below the prints, the word “Mistletoes” is written in black, creating a simple, pun‑themed holiday craft.

 

The photo centers on a decorative black wrought‑iron mirror frame covered with hanging ornaments. Several Christmas‑themed decorations dangle from the swirled metalwork, including small festive figures and a cluster of four monkeys hanging from a banana at the top. Stacy appears in the reflection wearing a blue long‑sleeve shirt.

 

A wooden console table is arranged with a dense, festive Christmas display. At the center sits a red‑and‑green carousel surrounded by holiday figurines, including Santa, reindeer, and small decorative pieces. A plush reindeer with lights on its antlers stands behind a framed Christmas picture, and several holiday‑themed candle holders fill the remaining space. Above the table, small Santa ornaments hang on the wall, extending the decoration upward. Beneath the table, baskets hold assorted household items, while to the right a plush snowman and reindeer sit together beside a small wooden Christmas tree with a star on top.

 

Three Christmas stockings hang from snowflake‑shaped hooks on top of a wooden cabinet. Each stocking has a green cuff embroidered with a name: “Dad,” “James,” and “Mom.” The Dad stocking is green with a Santa design, the James stocking is green with a penguin in a hat and scarf, and the Mom stocking is red with a snowman in a top hat. Below them, the cabinet shelves display stuffed bears, glassware, and small figurines, adding to the cozy holiday atmosphere.

 

A dark wooden shelf displays a curated collection of Barbie ornaments, each styled as a woman in an elaborate gown. The dresses range in color — white, red, black, gold, green, and pink — and the ornaments are arranged in two rows, with the back row slightly elevated to show the full lineup. Below the shelf is a row of books with colorful spines, adding a bright band of color beneath the display. To the right, a large plant with dark green leaves and a decorative glass bowl frame the scene without pulling attention from the Barbie collection.

 

A tabletop nativity scene is arranged on a light blue cloth patterned with white snowflakes. A small wooden stable with a star on the front sits at the center, with figures of Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus inside. Around the stable are the three wise men, a shepherd, and several animals including a donkey and a sheep. The figures are spaced neatly, creating a traditional Christmas display.

 

A small Christmas tree is decorated with purple tinsel, white string lights, and a mix of ornaments including small figurines and red baubles. A sign hanging on the tree reads “Don’t go BACON my HEART.” A small angel or fairy figure sits at the top. The tree stands on a red tree skirt featuring a Santa face and gold stars. Nearby are storage bins on a shelving unit to the left, a window with white blinds to the right, and a wrapped gift in red‑and‑white paper partially visible on the floor.

 

Santa Clauses

Is there a limit to how many Santa Clauses a kid can see in less than a week? Last Saturday we went to a Christmas party given by our township’s Disability Services. On Sunday we went to see the Caring Santa at the mall. This is a special Santa for the kids with disabilities. And then on Wednesday there was another Christmas party for kids with disabilities near my work. James saw 3 Santa Clauses in less than a week. Stacy calls the Caring Santa the real Santa; all of the other Santas are just his “helpers”.

Here are a few pics from the Disability Services party:

 

A large holiday mascot with a tall red hat, white beard, and bright blue eyes stands behind James seated in a stroller. James wears a red outfit and has a red neck pillow. In the background, people sit at tables decorated for a festive event, creating a cheerful, communal holiday atmosphere.

 

A four‑photo collage shows a large elf mascot with a round head, big blue eyes, pink cheeks, and a green hat interacting with James seated in a stroller. James is wearing a red outfit and a red neck pillow. In each frame, the elf leans close or poses beside James, creating a playful, friendly series of moments. Behind them, people sit on folding chairs in a festive indoor space with a decorated Christmas tree visible. The bottom of the collage includes the text “SANTA’S HELPER.”

 

Santa Claus sits beside James in a stroller, leaning in and handing a small gift wrapped in blue wrapping paper decorated with snowflakes to James. James is wearing a red sweatshirt and a red patterned neck pillow. Behind them, a Christmas tree decorated with red, green, and gold ornaments glows with lights, creating a warm holiday backdrop.

 

Here he is at the mall meeting the “real” Santa Claus:

 

James sits in a specialized wheelchair on a floor covered in artificial snow. Behind him is a winter display with glowing ice‑like structures and a lit Christmas tree. A box with colorful graphics sits off to one side, adding to the playful, themed backdrop. The overall scene feels like part of an indoor holiday attraction with a snowy, illuminated atmosphere.

 

Santa Claus sits beside James who is seated in a wheelchair, posing together in front of a snowy winter backdrop with snow‑covered trees. Santa wears his traditional red suit and white trim, while James wears a white shirt with a red design and jeans. The scene has the warm, staged feel of a holiday photo taken at a Christmas event.

 

At the second christmas party, James made an ornament with Mommy, and got his picture taken with andother one of Santa’s helpers:

 

Stacy, wearing a purple hoodie, sits at a table decorating a clear ornament with James, holding it carefully while pressing small blue and white snowflake pieces onto its surface. More snowflake shapes and craft supplies are scattered across the table, along with a red container. The scene captures a quiet, hands‑on holiday craft moment.

 

James sits in a stroller with a patterned cushion behind his head, looking toward a clear ornament being held up by an Stacy's hands. The ornament is a round, transparent decoration filled with colorful pieces, including a small elf figure and bright shapes like flowers and snowflakes, and it hangs from a sparkly red loop. The close‑up framing captures the James' open‑mouthed expression and the festive, detailed ornament they’re focused on.

 

Santa Claus sits on an ornate red‑and‑gold throne at the center of a festive display. Behind him, two tall toy‑soldier figures made entirely of balloons stand side by side, built from red, white, black, and gold balloons. To Santa’s right, James in a stroller looks toward him. The backdrop includes a curtain and a large balloon sculpture shaped like a wrapped gift. A white border and a holly graphic frame the image, emphasizing the Christmas theme.

 

Update December 28th – they posted a video of this Christmas party on YouTube. You can see Stacy and James making their ornament at 1:21.

 

 

More Shirts

James has two more shirts to add to his collection. I think we need to have an intervention. He was at 80-something shirts in October, and he keeps getting more. This first shirt came from a friend. The second one Stacy bought.

 

Two side‑by‑side photos show James lying laying on a cushioned surface, wearing a yellow shirt with a Minion graphic. The shirt reads “I tried to be good but I got distracted,” and the Minion illustration fills most of the front. In both images.

 

Stacy holds up a black T‑shirt with bold white lettering that reads “MY MOM’S OUT OF YOUR League,” with three stars separating the top and bottom lines. The text mixes block print and cursive styles, giving the shirt a fun, novelty look.

 

To be honest, I think she’s out of my league, too! She is truly an amazing woman and I have no idea what I did to deserve her.

 

 

Field Trip

I remember as a kid going on field trips to places like the zoo, or the Shedd Aquarium, or The Art Institute of Chicago. Where did James go on a field trip last week? They went to Mariano’s, which is a grocery store. I laughed at first, until I thought about it. It’s actually a pretty good idea for a field trip. It provides a real-world education. They can learn about different foods, see how much things cost, and learn about weights by using the scales in the produce section. And best of all, you can bring Mommy and Daddy home some cupcakes! Red velvet, Mommy’s favorite. I just hope he paid for them!

 

Two cupcakes sit in clear plastic containers on a light surface. Each has a swirl of pale frosting topped with small chocolate shavings. The left container has a label reading “Bella Cupcakes PLU #51985.” The cakes beneath the frosting are a deep red color, giving the cupcakes a rich, bakery‑style look.