Just Call Me Santa....

This year, I got the principle part in the Christmas performance and given my shaky tearful reindeer performance last year, I was out to impress. Consequently, I decided to employ an acting technique used by many of my fellow thespians. For four days before the performance, I insisted that I be referred to as only "Santa" in my daily activities and when called my actual name, I failed to respond until addressed by my character name. Even my nursery school teachers had to call me Santa if they expected me to tidy up, sit down to lunch or otherwise behave as I was told. In addition, I referred to myself in the third person as "Santa" as in "Santa has finished his dinner now" or "Dad, come wipe Santa's bum!" It was also not a coincidence that I "accidentally" wore the pants from the Santa costume home once during rehearsals. It isn't easy to just come out of character, you know. I also was a bit confused as to who we were talking about when we discussed this Santa character who would be coming to visit Gammy's house in a sleigh. I kept trying to make my parents understand that I would be arriving on a big airplane. In the end, it got sorted out...sort of. Although I still like to call myself Santa sometimes....

Oh! Last minute wardrobe fix...that's what you get when you mix a paper belt with a robust girth.
My brilliant solo! I sang "When Santa Got Stuck Up the Chimney" loudly and all by myself!
Gripping my own props on and off the stage...hey, it was a very low budget production.

Nobody but Santa sits in the chimney.Jingle Bells!
.Group sing: We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Santa loves mince pies!
And I wanted to include a picture of my Gingerbread house just because it is so gorgeous. (Note Santa stuck up the chimney...)

Birthday Party Number 2

But the three-o-rama gala did not end with just one party. I had to celebrate at nursery school too. Continuing with the NeeNar theme, I had a fireman cake.
















A little pre-party snack....


















Here I am basking in the glow of the adoration of my peers and teachers as they sing happy birthday to me. You have no idea how many times I had to sing "happy birthday" to one of the other children as they got to stand up there like king of the world. FINALLY, it was my turn!






















Even Trixie got into the spirit of the party and clapped along with everyone singing "Happy Birthday."









And they even let me cut my own cake with this fantastic huge knife!!!!

Only the MOST AWESOME birthday party!

So, as you know, I recently turned THREE! Mom and Dad planned a birthday party at a wonderful place called Gymboree and invited all my friends. After a mildly emotional beginning regarding the transportation of my precious cupcakes (see Beatrixed for more details), we got the party started.

As per my request, the theme was firetrucks or as I call them, "Nee Nars."





I drove the fire truck.








I climbed up on the back of the ladder truck.













I put out fires.


















I slid down the firepole.


















Even Trixie played firegirl.


















I jumped around and popped bubbles. (Not fireman themed but fun anyway).












Then, we had pizza and...


















....CUPCAKES! We sang happy birthday to me.













Needless to say, I went home, passed on dinner, skipped the bath and told daddy "no story tonight please." I was shattered.

The next day, I woke up and asked my mom first thing, "Is today Saxon's birthday?" which in threeyearoldese means "I had a rockin' good time!"

Whose birthday is coming up?

MINE!!! That really isn't the subject of this post but I had to mention it. I talk about it at least twenty times a day....just so my parents don't forget. In fact, this post doesn't have any theme. Instead, I decided to share a few recent photos because I know that, after years of being a Saxontologist, you just like the occasional paparazzi shot. You are a fan. That's okay. I accept and welcome you with open arms into the fold of my personal fan club.

Here I am standing on the Mall in front of the Queen's house. It is only 3pm and already nearly dark....holy Northern Latitude Batman!

Over the weekend, my dad and I went to the hardware store and bought screws, bolts, various screwdrivers and a big piece of wood. We built a screwing unit (sorry grandma...is that lewd?) that has kept me busy ever since. Did I mention that I LOVE tools? Did I mention that my birthday is coming up?

What a football hooligan looks like...

There is a very famous footballer who plays for Manchester United.

If he has taught me anything, it is that the more hair product you use, the better football you play.

My Boris Karloff Moment

BLAH! I am a very scary vampire who wants to drink your blood...or fruit juice works just as well. By the way, do you find it an interesting coincidence that I share a birthdate with Boris Karloff?


Every modern vampire needs a reliable set of wheels!
Here I am with the little girl in my nursery school class who I call "my girlfriend." We like to hold hands.

These photos were taken BEFORE I got so hopped up on sugar that I became a...

BLURRRRRRRR!
When not playing the role of scary vampire, I am exploring the art of pumpkin carving. The best part is scraping out all the gooey seeds and stuff.
The French kids next door helped me with the carving. Note the intense concentration necessary for the sous carver.

BOO! Which is scarier--the ghost or my eyebrows?

America the Beautiful

Hello! I am back to recount my adventures in America! It has been a long while since last we communicated and, as usual, I have lots to tell. I rode a plane and that was pretty exciting...for about 45 minutes. About halfway through, I told my mom and dad, "I want to go outside now." They seemed to have real difficulty explaining why I couldn't just go outside. I stayed at Gammy and Poppy's house and systematically dismantled all loose parts that might be attached to the house.

Then, I ran riot with my cousins Sarah and Adam! Here we are playing pumpkin leapfrog.

But the highlight of the trip was going down to see the train each morning with Poppy.

I met the conductor, Mr. Curley and the engineer, George. One day, the most amazing day of days, they invited me to ride the train with them. I got on and Mr. Curley gave me the ticket punch so I could punch my own ticket.

I rode the train to Southeast with Poppy.

Then, George asked me if I would like to RIDE IN THE ENGINE!!!! The train is a shuttle that runs between Southeast and Gammy and Poppy's town and doesn't turn around so the engine is located at the back of the train on the return trip. George went to the other end of the train to drive it back and I got to sit in the Engine at the controls.

Well, first George "disabled" the Engine controls which he explained means that it makes the controls are more suited to my abilities. And then, I drove the train! Okay, I drove it backwards...and with disabled controls...but it sure felt like I was driving!!!! And that, was probably one of the coolest things that has happened to me in my nearly three years.

Oh yeah, I also helped Poppy with chores around the neighborhood. In order to tire me out, Poppy discovered that I like to push trash cans up peoples' driveways from the street after they have been emptied on garbage day.

So, I helped out all the neighbors along the street by pushing up their garbage cans on trash day and I brought their morning papers right up to their doors every morning. Yup, I am just a helpful (and very energetic) guy, I guess.

When it was time to go back to England, I wasn't too sad because I know that I will be going back to Gammy and Poppy's house for Christmas to see Gammy, Poppy, the cats, the dogs, Kate, Mourad, Sarah, Adam and of course, George and Mr. Curley. And now, I am home in London and I am happy to be back to my routine. After all this exotic travel to faraway countries, this nearly three year old could use a little routine.

Bonjour! Merci! I speak French!

Say fromage! I am back from my holidays (that's what I call vacation) in Brittany and boy do I have some photos to show you! While I admit that I was THRILLED to get back to nursery school and away from those geezers known as my parents, I do miss the French countryside. Yesterday, in fact, I casually referred to the tree house where I stayed in France as "Saxon's treehouse at my home." Now, if you understand me and my convoluted toddler logic correctly (and I think that you do), this means that the London mews house is no longer "home" only to be usurped by a much better place called France where people live in trees. But, more about that later...

Anyway, here are some photos of my adventures in no particular order...

First, we drove our car into a boat which we then sailed across the sea....mind bogglingly awesome for a two (nearly three) year old. The boat was especially cool because we got out of the car, went upstairs and ate chips, drank juice and ran around like a manic for three hours. Wierd how dad seemed so tired afterwards....

I met a nice little kitty cat that I named "Saxon's kitty cat" at the cottage where I stayed.

I played in the swimming pool at the cottage.

I went to St. Malo and took photos of the boats.

I did lots of sightseeing with my hairy-faced dad.

I whispered (sort of) in a church in Dinan.

I went to the beach and announced immediately upon arrival with a note of genuine panic in my voice, "Mommy, I NEED my sand tools." ps. The tiny pink thing in the chair is Trixie!

I ate lots of ice cream. My new favorite flavor is 'sundae'!

I met Arthur and Margot who seemed suprisingly unimpressed with my highly developed communication skills honed after many in depth toy-related conversations in nursery school.

I went to Omaha Beach and re-enacted the agony, emotion and terror of the D-Day invasion. (Actually, I was just mad at my mom and dad for walking too fast.)

I went to Mont St. Michel which is a mouthful so I just call it the "castle."

Speaking of mouthful, I ate yummy omlettes at the castle.

I visited my mom's friend Edwige and her three sons, Antoine, Vincent and Maxim and I tried gallettes (Brittany pancakes) for the first time. Why can't MY mom get an electric gallette maker so every day can be gallette day?

At Edwige's house, I met a donkey in love with a sheep whose sheep husband also lived with them in what the French call a 'manage a trois.' Of course, the complicated situation is only more confusing because the donkey's estranged ex-husband lives across town at Edwige's parents' house. Personally, I think it is easier to keep the chicken relationships straight...lots of hens, one rooster.

And finally, the pièce de résistance (as they say), I lived in a tree house for three days. That is correct Saxontologists, I lived with the birds, 30 feet up, amongst the leaves and branches and breeze. And I loved it!

I slept in a big boy bed....

....ate croissants for breakfast on the balcony...

....and paid the composting toilet my highest compliments....

This is the moulin (that is 'mill' for all you non-Frankophiles) where my friends Artur and Margot live and where the treehouses are.

This is Cyrus, the biggest teddy bear in France who lives at the moulin, guards the treehouses and plays with kids.

Finally, after nearly three weeks of pancakes, ice cream, frites and fun, it was time to cross the channel and go home again. My mom made me stand here in front of the ferry even though it is very, very obvious that I really needed to go wee wee. Just after this photo was taken, my mom did take me to my final French public toilet...but, as those of you who are familiar with the horrors of French public toilets know, that is an entirely different epic tale....