Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Santa Clause

What Is That On The Back Of The Town of Aurora Truck, No Not The Grinch?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:33:38 +0000

While writing his letter to Sanata, Matthew noticed a white truck outside our window. It was the Infrastructure & Environmental Services Town of Aurora truck. They were cleaning leaves from the blocked manhole covers.

I must admit that this year our street residents didn’t do a good cleaning tree leaves job. Well, these guys came in and did it for us. I wonder if they know something, that is, more snow coming. However, I do know that it will be warming up next week and weatherman is forecasting more rain.

Infrastructure & Environmental Services, Town of Aurora Truck

I explained to Matthew what the two Aurora man were doing. I looked closer and closer and I saw something green on the back. Glad I had my camera handy. Just before they left I was able to snap two photos so I can analyze later.

I still cannot figure out what it is. Some kind of mascot on the back of their truck. I thought it might have been the Grinch from the Christmas parade, but no nothing close. May be an octopus, a green lion, a frog – who knows. Oh well I thought that was interesting snap to share.

So I mentioned above Matthew writing a letter to Santa. Last year when Matthew was 3.5 years old we only managed to draw a picture of his gift in the letter to Santa. We never sent it. When I gave Matthew his gift (yes I dressed up as Santa), I ensured that I acknowledged that I received the letter.

Matthew’s Letter to Santa, North Pole, Aurora

This year when Matthew is 4.5 years old he is able to write one. I helped him with spelling and I tried to come up with something short and sweet. There was fuss, and ifs and buts but he was able to accomplish the mission. We addressed to Santa, North Pole; put a stamp and mailed it. Let see what will happen next.

We also decided to do something different with the Christmas tree. This year the theme is Lind chocolate Christmas tree. We bought a box of Lind chocolates on sale at Costco and I hanged them on the tree. This will be a good test to test Matthew’s patience and cravings. Matthew loves chocolate. At some point we had an internal joke that he was choco-holic, but then so is my husband.

The test is working so far. But I did find Matthew hanging around the tree, starring at the chocolates, and sometimes playing with them. The rule is that he has to finish his Advent Calendar first and after Christmas we will be able to eat the treats from the tree.

Aurora ‘s Santa Under The Stars Parade And How The Grinch Stole The Christmas Parade

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 04:59:41 +0000

Looks like Santa arrived from the North Pole this morning and brought snow with him and some cold. And then Dr. Seuss’s Grinch stole the parade.

I think Grinch stole the parade this year …

I enjoyed last year parade, but this year I was able to capture exceptional moments. Despite the cold and windy, the parade was filled with Aurorans.

I am not sure if I am a big fan of the decorations presented during the parade, but I am big fan of the participants. The people’s faces and expressions who participated in the parade – were priceless.

Santa Under The Stars Parade, Aurora

Unless I missed some, I did see over four live Grinch appearances throughout the parade and few un-live – on pictures. No offence to Santa who didn’t age at all or look any different this year, definitely Grinch took over and was my favorite.

I was also surprised of all the different mascots out there today. Even Mr. Peanut showed up, but he was moving too much and gotten no pictures of him.

Unless I didn’t look down during the last year’s parade, many dogs participated in this year’s parade 2012. It was interesting to see many many dogs. They were nicely dressed up for the occasion and did very well.

Unless I missed something, we had beautiful horses pulling wagons. Every once in a while the horses were bowing which was neat thing to watch.

Santa Under Stars Parade, Salvation Army Singer

Unless I missed them zooming by me last year, we had many many dancers. I am still practicing, night or low light photography, but dancing activity in the low light is still hard for me to capture.

It is always nice to see children. They were everywhere – dancing, singing, performing gymnastics, held by parents. It was a site to see.

Santa Under Stars Parade, Aurora

It was so hard to reduce the amount of photos I wanted to display. This is probably the biggest gallery posted here yet. I really enjoyed photographing the Aurora’s Santa Under the Stars Parade, 2012.

I probably would have much bigger gallery but I was really cold and shaking in the low light didn’t help. I never knew that frost bite can hurt so much. I know it wasn’t that cold, but holding metal camera wasn’t helping. After all I am happy with the results.

Enjoy.

I Always Wanted To Be St. Nick, I Am Santa Mommy Now, Future In Jeopardy

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:59:19 +0000

Remembering Christmas … I always wanted to be St. Nick. When I was 12 years old I said what the heck, no body will know that I am a girl under the red suit. So I did. In 1983 St. Nick arrived for the first time at our home for my sister (7 years old) and my brother (2 years old).

Many years passed by and in 2006 I was back again knocking at the doors. I spent two weeks before Christmas hand sawing my Santa suit and I putted into a good use that year and the following year. In 2008 and 2009 I took maternity leave; however, I was back on the job Christmas 2010 and 2011.

Santa I, 2006

In 2010 Matthew was about 2.5 years old. He understood the concept of Christmas and knew that Santa will bring presents to him. He was ready for Santa to show up at our door.

Santa ‘I’ arrived on the Christmas Eve. I knocked at the door. I came in and delivered his presents. He stood there and studied me, and of course was holding on to Daddy. I said something to him and instead answering to me Matthew started to look around, Mommy? – he asked. He was looking for me. Oops he recognized my voice. I guess next year I will have to be a silent Santa.

Christmas 2011. This year we were celebrating Christmas Eve at my parents in Mississauga. Since Matthew wrote letter to Santa for the black Nintendo DS I thought it would be fun to bring this letter with me and show him that I got it. At 3, Matthew somehow thought himself to draw faces and been drawing them everywhere. Sometimes he adds extra hair and if you lucky you will get a brain.

Letter To Santa From Matthew, 2011

So I arrived once again at the door. Matthew was happy to see Santa, surprised to see the letter and would not take eyes of me. He studied me once again from head to toe. I only released few ho-ho-hoes, but remained silent for the rest of the time.

Another mission accomplished, so I thought.

I left the room and as quickly as possible I changed back to Mommy. I came back and looks like everyone was busy laughing at me not even knowing I arrived.

I stood at the entrance. My eyes met Matthew’s eyes from across the room, and to my surprise I heard him say ‘Oh, it was Mommy‘. Oops he noticed the Santa eye-glasses I forgot to swap. When I came back up again he was busy opening his present and forgot all about.

I guess next year I will have to make Santa suit for Daddy.