So this guy's comin' over tonight...

  

A very Merry Christmas to all.

Though I'm on the naughty list for neglecting EnlargingMarge, I'm on the nice list for dedicating that extra time to my family, my health and my passions. 

Santa 2013!

Not quite Santageddon, but Lucky #1 was on the verge of a meltdown the entire time...

And everybody, Santa included, complemented us on our "adorable baby boy!"

At least we got one keeper.

Loved this Kerrytown "quality" Santa!

And thanks to Susan K. Photography for the free snaps...

Gobblers and Ho Ho Hos

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the Milford Christmas Parade, and this year marked the third annual Gobbler Gallop 4-miler. For the Spurgeon household, it was our third  MCP, Maizey's second MCP, and Maizey and Will's first Gallop.

 It was Maizey's first race, so she was slightly dubious. 

But warmed up to the idea after a Santa Dada pep talk.

Lucy and I abstained.

On your marks. 

Get set.

GO!

This was moments before Will hollered to me: "The tires on this thing are completely flat!" Love him, but imagine my holiday joy when I was able to respond, "Not my problem!"

And 38 minutes later
(he blames the tires - I blame the pre- and post-partum supportive bowls of ice cream)...

Finished!
All jokes aside, I do see more races in the Spurgeon Family future.

After the race we went to meet up with our fave parade partner.

Jack. Future Milford Mayor.

Two years ago...

 And today...

 How fast time goes.

But the cluster $%& that is our parade group never changes.

Only compounded by the parade line-up occurring on our street.

 Come on everybody!

 Hustle. Hustle.

Stroller brigade.

Despite Maizey's recent obsession with The Grinch and the Whos, 

she didn't warm up to their human counterparts.

Can't really blame the girl though. 

As they were more Edward Scissorhands than Cindy Lou.

Good thing Milford has these two spunky gals,

keeping the Girl Scouts from Huron Valley extinction. 

Happily, unlike the memorial parade,

there was candy.

 costumed weiner dogs,

Jaclyn's family,

Bundled Lucy,

And Santa.
It was a fab kick-off to the holiday season.

P.S. As an aside, Will and I experienced our first "Where's my kid?" We were settling into our parade spot when I looked over at Will, expecting to see Maizey nearby. She wasn't. I hollered to him, "Where's Maizey?" He got a confused/panicked look on his face. We started scanning the crowd, looking for a purple-clad little person. Shouldn't be hard to find. But, she was. Hard to find. We couldn't find her. For about 2 minutes, with my heart beating increasingly faster, we searched the crowd for her. Calling her name. One of our tallish fellow parade goers spotted her about half a block away, alone, looking scared and lost. The emotion I felt when I saw her was unlike anything I'd experienced before. As cousin Molly said, "Parenting. Not for the faint of heart."

Santageddon

Last year Miss M met the Jolly Old Fellow at a Huron Valley Mom Club Christmas party (the one and only club event we ever participated in - back when I was still panicked about my droll social life and lack of adult stimulation). And, loved him.

The year I was ready to make the magic happen. After thoroughly researching our options, including Santa's Cabin (fully booked), Somerset's Santa and Twelve Oaks' Santa (too pricey), I settled on Milford restaurant Bakers' campy-fabulous "Brunch with Santa."

We were rearin' and ready to go at 9:30 a.m. and on the drive to the joint Will channeled his Scripps prep-time parent persona and drilled Maizey on Santa's name and M.O.

Will: "Maizey. Say 'Santa.'"

Maizey: "Tanta."

Will: "Santa."

Will (again): "Maizey. What does Santa say?"

Maizey: "Oh oh oh."

Will: "Close enough."

And, repeat.

We rolled up and my toddler toddled into the eatery, smile in place. I whispered to the hostess, "When does Santa arrive."

As she led us to our booth, she gestured toward to seating area, "Santa is here."

Ole Saint Nick was holding court with a kid clearly not buffet stranger. 

Maizey spotted him, whispered "Tanta?" and when the man in the red suit (and a REALLY bad beard) turned his sites on her, promptly attached herself to my calf and began whimpering.

"Noooo. Nooooooooo. Buh-bye Tanta. Buh-bye."

Luckily, the man of the hour got the hint and made himself scarce. Clearly, this isn't his first rodeo.

We commenced with brunch... Maizey stacked half-and-half...

And crammed carby breakfast lovies into her maw.

A short 35 minutes later, little lady was all done and Will and I strategized...

Will: "We have to pass him to get out."

Me: "Yeah. I know. I want a picture."

Will: "She's going to scream."

Me: "Yeah. I know. I want a picture."

Will: "She really doesn't like him."

Me: "Yeah. I know. I want a picture."

Off we went.

She spots him sitting in his throne by the entry...

Pregnant pause...

She protests...

Mom ignores...

And, scene.

(But really. I don't blame Girlfriend. I was a little skeezed out sitting on this guys lap - hence the lazy eye. It's like Lady Godiva aged and this dude glued her locks to his face.)

Anywho...once outside, she was happy as a reindeer with a Popsicle
(or a kid with a candy cane)...

Thank my lucky stars I didn't splurge on Santa's Cabin.

And, in this time of tragedy,

thank goodness I have these two to call home.

xoxo