Christmas Holidays at the Library 2018

My prescholar and I went to some events at our local library for the festive season.

Frosty the Snowman visited a story time and stuck around for picture taking. We also got to do a craft that made a snowman with only three snowflakes!

Frosty dances to his own song!

Working on the snowman

Maybe we needed some more snowflakes?

Smiling now!

It's cool to high five a snowman

Waving to some other camera

The next week, Santa came to visit story time. He came and danced like Frosty did, but we were unable to get good pictures. We did do a Christmas tree craft and the photo op with Santa.

Practicing for putting together our home tree

Finished product!

Sitting with Santa!

Just before Christmas, they had a "Hello Winter" story time (I guess to fill out the last week?) with no celebrity but with a craft. We decorated a pair of mittens. I had to do the tying together part of the project. They make a nice ornament!

Purple on purple, huh?

On the tree

Christmas Photos From Before Christmas

My daughter's American Heritage Girls troop had a "Breakfast with Santa" fundraiser. We were too busy eating breakfast to take pictures of it (pancakes, sausages, tatter tots) but we did get some snaps with Santa.

Facing Santa

Us and Santa

Adding Granny and Grandpa

Our local library had its traditional week of storytimes with Frosty the Snowman, including a fun craft for our prescholar. The craft was more interesting than the "surprise" visit by Frosty. My son was blissfully unaware and continued building his own Frosty. Later, he had no problem both waiting in line and getting a picture taken with Frosty.

Gluing a snowflake

Gluing on his nose

Finished snowman

Frosty visits the classroom

The photo-op

We put up our tree on December 9. Festive music played from our online account. We have a fake tree that we've been using for years. Putting it together is a fun puzzle for the kids (which branches are bigger and go on the bottom?). Team work on the tinsel and lights is a little more challenging. A good time was had by all.

Adding the angel to the top

Adding ornaments (and silliness)

More silliness

Making sure the back of the tree is ornamented

Final result

The library then had its traditional week of storytimes with Santa, so we went back for another fun craft and photo op. The craft was a tree with presents under it. My son's version may not look like it, but it's true.

Craft was a Christmas tree with presents

Ignoring Santa

Adding tinsel to the tree?

Finished product

They gave specific instructions for the photo op--Santa was a bit tired out from sleigh riding and couldn't have any kids sit on his lap. My boy was a bit standoffish anyway.

The photo op

Looking cute

We did our annual cookie making and decorating with my sister and niece. We had a lot of fun cooking cookies. Decorating was a little more challenging since my daughter and we parents had to go to the Court of Awards for her American Heritage Girls troop.

Rolling dough

Cutting out the dough

Ready to bake

In the oven

Out of the oven

Decorated

Displayed

Library Christmas Fun 2016

Our local library has its usual holiday-themed story times for the first couple of weeks in December. Frosty the Snowman was up first. My toddler and I went on Monday to story time but it was too crowded in the room and he asked to leave. Rather than insist on staying and making everyone unhappy, we headed out into the main part of the library and wandered around. About twenty minutes later, toward the end of story time, Frosty arrived and waited patiently outside the room. My toddler spotted him and was fascinated. We walked over. At first, he was too shy to go near Frosty. I suggested I high five, which got the desired result.

High fiving Frosty

The girl was another refugee from overcrowded lands. She was slightly braver. They both got a hug from Frosty.

Hug time!

The library staff took some pictures too. Frosty went in and we watched from outside as he danced. My son had a good time but was unwilling to wait in the line for an official photo with Frosty.

Tuesday night the library usually has pajama time, at which children can come in their PJs for some stories and songs. My wife took the toddler (the other kids weren't interested) and managed to get the whole program in, including the craft!

At the work station

Lovely final product

They did manage to get a good spot in line and have the traditional picture with Frosty.

Becoming good pals (with the block)

The next week featured Santa at story time. My son and I went on Monday, arriving late. We were so late that we could get in the photo-op line and not wait long, which is what we did. The short wait was enough for my son to pick a book out. When we went into the alcove where Santa was sitting, my son was nervous about approaching him. I again suggested high-fiving, which he was perfectly willing to do. He sat down with his book and we tried to get a picture of both of them looking at the camera.

Reading to Santa

Looking warily

We were unable to make it to a story time later in the week, so no Santa craft. Maybe next year!

Library Christmas Storytimes 2015

December story times at the Savage Branch of the Howard County Library are always a fun time because they have two weeks of Christmas celebrities visiting.

The first week Frosty the Snowman came to the library. My toddler and I went to the storytime and enjoyed the songs, stories, and massive crowd. Toward the end, the librarian handed out a craft. My toddler has no fine motor skills (except for putting coins in piggy bank slots) so I gave him a bunch of help.

Snow man craft without any snow!

During the craft, the special guest showed up, to the delight and amazement of all gathered.

Who's there?

Frosty!!

We finished up the craft (that means I finished up the craft) and then headed off to a different part of the library for the Frosty photo op.

Where does the nose go?

A finished product

I'd like to tell a charming story of how my toddler was too frightened to sit on Frosty's lap or even stand next to him, but truth be told, he doesn't have the focus for that right now (another problem with doing the craft). I was able to get a picture with both of them in the frame:

Frosty with the "What's going on?" look

Later, in the car my toddler did finish the craft...finish it off, that is!

A fate worse than melting?

The next week was Santa's turn to show up. Unfortunately, there was a scheduling snafu with the North Pole and we only had a Santa craft and not the jolly old elf himself.

Getting supplies

Opening a glue stick--danger ahead!

 

Results with a little help from dad

The trip home for Santa wasn't nearly as traumatic, mostly because he rode in the front seat of the van.

Safely home (to our home, at least)