While we were packing up Christmas, Austin and Logan got a hold of two Santa hats and had a little fun!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Jingle Bells!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Christmas Part 2
Getting ready for the Big Man....pouring him a glass of milk... 
Writing him letters, "Dear Santa I want stickers and Diego back packs. I love you."
Singing "Happy Birthday" to Baby Jesus.
Night-night Baby Jesus.
Hanging up their stockings...
And then - the big day! Coming downstairs...(We're SO lucky that they like to sleep in. Christmas morning didn't start until 9:00 AM for us!). When the woke up, they heard everybody talking downstairs and said, "Santa's here!!" Ugh, Not quite - Santa came, but Santa's not here. He brought you presents and then had to go deliver more.
Santa brought us a train table! Woo-hoo!! Seriously, Christmas could have ended right here! At least for Austin it could have. Logan had to carry the weight of opening most of the presents!
Opening their "big" gift - Deigo Rescue back packs:
Below is a great little story - see all the people laughing...
During an insane moment, I thought it would be neat if the boys went Christmas shopping for everyone. So a few days before Christmas (I wanted it to be fresh in their minds), we went to the Dollar Store. Truth be told, this is an idea I've taken from my best friend, Anne who thankfully joined us with her three children on our shopping trip. Both Austin and Logan carried a basket and I'ld say, "Okay - find a 'prize" ('prize = surprise = present) for Nonnie." And luckily one of them would always hold up something for that person and out it in their basket. Midway through our shopping trip, we had to sit down (amidst the chaos of the Dollar Store) and I completely emptied their 'overflowing' baskets and as I put items back in, I'ld say, "Okay - who is this for?" Mason. "And this?" Daddy. etc. However, I also got a lot of "Me! It's mine ga-prize!" During the day on Christmas Eve, I pulled out all the presents and together we "wrapped" them - in easy to fill bags. I held up all the gifts again and they pretty much stuck to their original purchases. "Who's this for?" Uncle Barney.
So, during a lull Christmas morning, Austin and Logan distributed their gifts, "Merry Christmas, Patsy." "Merry Christmas, Lory!" and I told everyone that Austin and Logan hand picked their gifts.
Needless to say, there was much laughter as these gifts did come from the Dollar Store. I wish I had taken more pictures. Mason got a Monkey face puzzle, Nonnie got a pretty note pad. Patsy was supposed to get pretty smelly stuff, but when Lory opened up her plastic pig, Austin snagged it and said, "NO - that's Patsy's!" and made them switch. One of the funniest gifts was my brother Mitch's - a nice blue hat!
Anyway, I thought it was a pretty cool tradition that we'll keep for future years!Overall, Christmas this year was a very good, nice day. We stayed put (despite Evan's outcry of "What, we're NOT going to Grandma's (Nonnie's)!?! We go there EVERY year!). It was just easier and more relaxing not to have to pick up and move everything midday. We had a nice big brunch. A long, leisurely day and Austin and Logan really spent the whole day just playing with and opening presents. It was just wonderful!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Christmas - Part 1
Here's our Christmas in Review!
Last year's Santa picture left a little to be desired.
So, this year, we went by to see Santa 2-3 times before picture day. At home, we practiced saying Hi to Santa (either they, me, Daddy, Nonnie or Evan), sitting on his lap, telling him what they wanted for Christmas (stickers and Diego back-packs) and finally saying "cheese" for the picture!
Big day arrived. Everything went great, they climbed right up on Santa, no fear, no hesitancy. They chatted with him. They were smiling. But we quickly realized the error of our ways when Santa's helper went to assist in getting the boys attention for the cameraman.....by "tickling' their tummies with a puppet.
This year's photo will be captured: "Puppets? Nobody said nufin' about no stinkin' puppets!"
Seriously, we have a HUGE fear of any and all puppets - be it TV or real. Puppets usually send them screaming out of the room. So, right before the shot, laughing and talking. This shot: Logan on the left, "Oh crap is she coming back again with that puppet?" Austin, "Hey! No like puppets! No touch my belly! Mommy?!"
Sorry, boys!
Next up, as a family (see family pic in "Merry Christmas" post), we were chosen to light the 4th candle of Advent (Love!) the Sunday before Christmas. Here's Gary with the two littlest dapper boys:
(Can't you tell that every picture for the last 5 -6 months has had that "cheeeeeeeze" expression?)And then we went out to eat afterwards. This is a typical restaurant experience for us.
Note Evan's, "I'm so glad we're eating out like real people" expression! Not!
We ordered these off a fellow blogger's website. Adorable little Guatemalan outfits...or as Mason calls them, "African Boy's Choir" outfits. Christmas Eve, Austin and Logan were part of the Christmas Pageant. They were the MOST adorable littlest shepherds I have ever seen!!! 
Or as Mason calls them, "Omar and Kadavi Eartern Oil Drillers."
More of Christmas 2008 to come!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Christmas Lights!
One day last week, when the kids were sick (but not feverish or puking), we loaded them up in the wagon:
This is Austin and Logan's snowman! They watch from the window every night as he "comes alive!" Then we headed around the corner to my neighbor's house.
This house is famous - it's in TLC, on a special about way out there decorated houses!
On this night, Santa and Mrs. Claus saw all these lights from the sky and just HAD to come down and see them. But Austin and Logan are pretty sure that this house IS Christmas and that Santa lives there!
Yum - candy canes!
Our door mat - how cute is that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
