Christmas 2012 was extra special, it was extra magical and it was extra fun, and all because Marguerite and Jude had Ben to share it with. Here is one of those lifetime special moments, Ben's first pic with what's his face, yer man, what's his beaak .........oh yeah .... Santa.
This was the Saturday before Christmas and Ben was excited to help out Santa this year. So he got all suited up for the occasion. But, this year, was Ben naughty or was he nice?
Last year's tree had these cool wee stocking decorations for Marguerite and Jude ....... but this year's tree was full of cool yokes like that wee blue pram there (taken from the cake Clare had brought over for Thanksgiving ..... remember the cake that broke in half) ..... and ...... 
....... this really cool wee one which Ben's Granda Michael had sent over for him ...........
............... or this wee skiing Penguin which Ben's Auntie Emma had given him. For now this does not seem like a big deal but in the future it will be fun to tell Ben where all these decorations came from as he sticks them on the tree!
One of Marguerite and Jude's favourite shops in Boston is Zara (due to it's European styles) and every time Marguerite goes she has to get this wee lift. It's only about 4 steps but it's safer and much better than other shops where you have to pile onto an escalator and hopefully make it to the top without writing something or someone off!After the shopping on Newbury St they continued in ..........
..... the Prudential Center where Marguerite posed beside possibly the world's biggest Christmas wreath decoration. Maybe it's not the biggest but it sure was huge! 
Jude pulled this cool pose and then they went to ...... 
...... go see yer man. Folks Marguerite and Jude have seen Santa many times. The first was when Jude spotted him one Christmas Eve many moons ago munching on biccies his Ma had left out. He left dirty big footprints on his Ma's good carpet too, that was quite the drama the next morning trying to get it cleaned! But this Santa was thee real Santa. He told Ben he was the real Santa and he really was! His beard was ..... well you can see it here for yourself ....... none of that auld elastic beard stuff here ..... this was the real deal. He even confirmed that yes, Ben had been a good boy, and that he could look forward to a ball and some rattles on Christmas morning. 
For Ben at this stage the excitement was nearly getting too much so a wee feed and a winding session was called for. Ben really does pull some funny faces when getting winded, just like this one.Then the moment arrived .............
...... and it was priceless!Well technically it was not priceless as it was actually $20 .......... daylight robbery and all that jazz folks .....wha? But come on naaiy don't be scrooges ....... it's a priceless pic of a special moment.
I'm not going on about it ...... but it was still $20 ............. I'm only saying!
Here are two very different but both beautiful views of the Hancock Tower in Boston. This was taken earlier in the day during the shopping run.
And this was taken from the top of the Prudential Center later when Marguerite, Jude and Ben went for .......
....... some cocktails, a goak out the windys and .....
........ a few emotional looks at those first Santa pics!
Ben also had on his super cool Christmas breeks today ..... wha?
Most folk who have visited Marguerite and Jude in Boston will have visited the top of the Prudential and will know just how nice it is.
And as the Nutcracker here shows, before you knew it, it was Christmas Eve. 
On Christmas Eve Marguerite, Jude and Ben stopped into Emmet's for lunch. Here's Ben having his.
Then a quick scoot to Wholefoods in Beacon Hill helped sort out the goodies for that evenings 'Christmas Eve Party'.
Like this class Triffle for example. Jude reckons Christmas is just not Christmas without a great big bowl of Triffle to scoof on all week. 
Maybe Ben was thinking 'oh Triffle, yum, yum'.
Triffle topped with custard, Cadbury's flake and fresh cream with .............
These stuffed bacon yokes are just the business!
And just like every other year there were loads of presents under the tree.
But this year's best present arrived a little early .......... on 26th October in fact.
Actually ...... here he is under the tree with all the other nice presents.
Christmas cards are always nice .... but this one in particular was extra nice .... it's of Portaferry in County Down ...... where Jude is from (sent by his Mum).
Ben will not remember this Christmas but he will hear about it, and thanks to this blog ..... he will read about it. Now it was time to open a present or two.
Even the wee nutcracker man was excited at this stage.
So Ben was new to this Christmas presents game but he did well for a beginner like ......... he did get his Mama a couple of gifts for Christmas. The very first gift he got her, (which his Dad had saved up all Ben's pocket money for) ....... was a packet of Tayto Cheese and Onion. Marguerite's favourite of course!
The excitement of Christmas Eve totally drained Ben. Here he is on Christmas morning looking cool in his wee Santa outfit and snoozing away goodo. 
A Christmas Day bath, sure what could be better. Ben loves it!
Ben is the greatest wee man ever and just having him here made this Christmas the greatest ever.
...... and Jude got to pick some from below the tree.
'Ehhh ..... is it a football, ehhhh .... is it a new jumper? Jude tries to guess what this is.
Marguerite's gift of 'Alex and Ani' bracelets was well appreciated. Each symbolizes different things. The Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May (Marguerite's birthday is in May), the Rose / Topaz is the birthstone for October (Ben and Jude are both born in October) and the other two are for 'Mother' and the 'Path of Life'. Pretty cool. 
Oh ..... and Ben used some more of his pocket money on these lovely Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons ....... and .......
...... these lovely snug socks. Nice. That's a lot of pocket money used there folks!
And for these gifts he got a nice big ........
....... kiss on the head! Check out the kiss mark there!
'Thanks for all my lovely gifts Ben, your the best son in the whole world', said Marguerite.
Christmas number one for this new family.
More kisses for Ben. 
'Ok, what's happening now then', thought Ben. 
Just like on Christmas Eve Jude had stocked up on goodies for a good auld Irish breakfast over Christmas. Potato Bread, Irish sausages, Irish bacon, fried Christmas pudding, tomatoes, and egg. He even had Irish butter and spot the HP sauce there too! You could say he had the heap. Delicious!
Later in the day and Marguerite, Jude and Ben dandered down to .......
'The Fireplace' for Christmas dinner. This was the same venue as last year's Christmas Dinner ..... so it must have been good last year then! 
Marguerite waiting to be seated.
'What would you like for Christmas din dins Ben', asked Marguerite.
'Milk Ma ...... milk will be fine for now sure', Ben might say (if he could speak like)!
Jude checking the menu. 
Ben is chilling out big style as Marguerite and Jude order their meals.
Cheers!! These cocktails were cheeky wee numbers indeed. Very tasty!
As was the red wine!Happy Christmas!
It may have been dessert time but Ben needed fed ...... and winded. 
He really does pull some funny faces when being winded.
Jude took his turn to allow Marguerite to scoop the dessert up.
Back in Winchester St and it was time to ....
....... open more presents (see folks if you drag it out over Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning and Christmas night it's much more fun ..... three sets of presents opening .... sure that's magic .... though Ben might not be quite so disciplined this time next year .... or the year after, to wait until Christmas night that is). 
Ben does not really know exactly what is going on but he likes the look of this wee tracksuit do-ans Santa has left him.
Jude hands Ben the gifts that Santa left him.
And then he opened them for Ben.
And sure Ben was just thrilled as you can see here. Wha?
'This Christmas thing is great altogether', thought Ben.
Marguerite and Ben are well wrapped up as they head out to the shops on Boxing Day. 
Ben having fun on Christmas Day.
Ben loved this year's Christmas tree so much he did not want it taken down - Marguerite and Jude could sense this from how he just loved staring at it all aglow.
'Wha? ......... seriously ........ you cannot throw it out ...... it's class and sparkly and bright and colourful and I just love it .... why would you chuck it out? Ben may have been thinking. But ultimately the poor tree finished up where all poor trees end up in Brookline ......... on the kerb out front (to be collected by the City Council of course)!
So there you have it folks ............ that was ........
Born in 2012.
....... Ben's first Christmas ....... hohoho!
No comments:
Post a Comment