2017 Life Logs, Day 336: Elf Run, Jingle Jog, Santa, and the Lighting of the Green
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2017
Weather: Partly Sunny; High Temp 44, Low 32 degrees F
Location: At Home in The Studio, Falmouth, MA
As expected, this day was jam-packed with holiday activities. All of the Goldstones spent the night last night and after a first breakfast of cereal and oatmeal and a lot of scurrying about to get dressed in holiday fashion for the Elf Run and Jingle Jog, we were all out the door, in the van, and drove around to the other side of the harbor. The Elf Run for the little ones was at 9 am and Jonah and Ollie, AKA Rudolph, ran in that event.
Just like last year, Jonah has no interest in dressing in holiday fashion, but Ollie was all into that today. When I picked the boys up yesterday, Ollie came up with a Rudolph costume that worked great. He got out his brownish tan overalls and he borrowed a brown long-sleeved shirt from Jonah and picked out a white t-shirt to wear over the brown. “You know, Oma, deer have patches of white.” Yes, they do. He added a winter hat that matched the color of his overalls. With the addition of a pair of light-up antlers that fit over the cap, he had the perfect costume. He was a little slow getting dressed this morning, but we finally got Rudolph out the door and he and Jonah enjoyed their run. After the Elf Run, Jed, Jonah, Ollie, and I drove the van back around the harbor to my place so we could watch the Jingle Jog. Sam started calling it the Jingly Jogidy yesterday and we have all adopted his terminology. He ran in the Elf Run last year, but this was his first long distance run. It was only three miles, but that’s long distance to me! As rang jingle bells as we watched the Jingly Joggers. Sam come by first with Heather close behind him.
And when we walked down the street to watch them on their return loop, Sam was still in front and doing great and Heather was right behind him, where she intended to stay until the end of the race.
After they passed our return watching spot, Jed, Jonah, and Ollie headed to the finish line and I walked back home to get second breakfast started. They all arrived back on this side of the harbor in time to watch Santa arrive on the other side. The boys had requested bacon and hot chocolate, so they had that while Heather, Jed, and I had a mushroom and spinach omelet. Then we parted ways. Jed went home to work on an outdoor project. Heather and Sam went home so Sam could practice on his drums for tomorrow’s parade and then went on a shopping trip to look for new running shoes for Sam and a winter coat. Jonah, Ollie, and I headed to Highfield Hall to meet Santa
and to see the Christmas decorations. There were craft projects for kids and train displays that they both loved.
And the room-sized Victorian dollhouse was of interest as well. As we walked back the beautifully decorated staircase, the highlight of my holiday season happened. Some started playing Christmas carols on the grand piano on the first floor. Jonah and Ollie both stopped immediately to look down on the piano. They were both mesmerized by watching the very grandmotherly looking woman play. She looked up at them and mouth “Rudolph?” The both shook their heads and as she started playing, normally shy Ollie quietly sang along. It was like magic.
Everyone on the first floor watched him singing and then applauded when the song was over. Jonah is usually the singer, but today Ollie stole the show. It was a truly magical moment that was enough to melt this Oma’s heart. But with little boys, magical moments are just that. We were on to the next activity which was rolling down the hill in front of Highfield and on to the Village Green to check out the displays. Then to the Goldstones to work on a craft project Jonah is doing for his third grade craft fair. We also picked Sam up and then headed to the British Beer Company for dinner and after that, back to the Village Green to sing Christmas carols under the holiday lights that came on at 7 pm tonight.
I think we are all exhausted, but it was a great day. The boys are spending the night again as Heather and Jed are attending a holiday party. But tomorrow morning, we gear up for the Falmouth Christmas Parade. Sam will be on a school float playing drums to accompany Christmas carols. Jonah will be walking in the parade with his soccer team. And Jed will be marching with the Scouts. Usually Sam and Jonah would be marching with the Scouts as well, but this year, there was too much competition. That leaves Heather, Ollie, and I to watch. So we will enjoy!
