Christmas Eve

This year we celebrated Christmas Eve with my mom (as we always do).  We didn't go to church until 6:00 which gave us plenty of time to just relax during the day. My sister stayed the night and played with the kids during the day. I ran a few last minute errands, got in a workout (first since beginning of December when I strained my back working out) packed for our upcoming week of travels and wrapped some final gifts. 

We made it to church on time and the kids were very well behaved. My mom always gets the first pew (just like when we were kids) and it helps Will and Erin pay attention.  The kids got a little squirmy towards the end of Mass, but then again I do too. :-). 

This is what it looks like if Will and Erin don't want to
have their picture taken.

After church, we went to my mom's house. Santa had made a stop there while we were at church. The kids were excited to see all of their presents. We ate our traditional ham dinner and then W & E got to open presents. 

It was so much fun to watch them get exited about their gifts. Erin wanted to open her presents and then move on to the next one. Will opened a present and then wanted to play with it.  The kids got Bitty Baby twins from Aunt Krysten. The twins look like them with blond hair and blue eyes. I don't know who was more exited about the new additions to our family me or the kids.  I've always wanted Bitty Babies (I guess I had my own Bitty Baby twins almost three years ago).  Grandma Melanie got Will a car ramp that he loves, an airplane he got to build, trucks and some other fun things. She got Erin a pretend cupcake kit, a Minnie Mouse boat, a Doc McStuffins kit and other great things.  

The night flew by and before we knew it the time was 10:00 and Erin said, "mama can we go home?" We got the kids home and in bed by 10:30, just in time for Santa to come to our house. We all had a fun night and before we know it Christmas Eve will be here again. 

 

 

Christmas Dinner at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Ron's House

 My Aunt Kathy always puts together an amazing Christmas dinner for all of us. I love the appetizers (I had to take a picture of the food table) and the dinner too (although, I forgot to take a picture of that buffet).  I only get to see this side of my family on Christmas Day. 




It means a lot to me that we are able to spend this time together.  I was able to take a lot of pictures to help me capture this special tradition.  We figured out that Aunt Kathy and Uncle Ron have been hosting Christmas Dinner for 35 years. That's a long time!! We have pictures of me at the same age as Will and Erin drawing on the chalkboard in the basement, eating dinner downstairs, opening presents in the living room and playing with older cousins.  I love that my children get to experience these same traditions that I had growing up.

 Erin wanted to eat with her big cousins, Adam, Joseph and Brad.

 Erin loved the Blueberry Surprise. It's a recipe that Aunt Kathy's mom, my 'little' grandma used to make for us. My sister LOVES it and always requests it for family events.

                                  Aunt Diane and Aunt Kathy- They are my dad's big sisters.

 We were taking a 'girls' picture and Will ran over and started saying 'Cheeeeesseeee!'

Cousin Kylie with Will and Erin

Christmas Day

  We loaded up and drove two hours to Grandpa Paul and Grandma Connie's house.  Will and Erin had fun opening more presents at their house. 

 They are at such a fun age for all of these festivities.  They get so excited about every present they opened.  It could have been bubble bath, a new shirt or an expensive toy. 

It's so much fun watching them open their presents.



Christmas Morning

Will and Erin must have been good this year because Santa made a stop at our house.  He brought them just enough toys. Erin had been asking for a 'My Little Pony.'
 When Will was asked what he wanted he would say, 'not anything' or sometimes he wanted a 'talking car.'  Well Santa was able to find Will a fun Lightening McQueen (a talking car) race track thingy. So he didn't get 'not anything.' Erin got a super pack of ponies that she loves to play with.

Will and Erin's presents were each wrapped in their own color of wrapping paper.  The paper was high quality and Erin had a difficult time ripping it open. I had to get the present started for her and then she was able to open it. Erin would open one present and then want the next one.  Will opened a present and then spent time playing with it. They followed true to this with each time they got to open presents.

 
 










After we opened presents, Will made himself some waffles (he's been doing this for a while now). He needs help with the plate, butter and syrup, but can get the waffles from the freezer and toast them all by himself. Erin can do the same thing too.

The Things They Say...

Erin-
"I just not" when referring to not wanting to do something.

She LOVES to sing songs, read books, sing songs, read books...you get the idea. She is always singing a song at home, in the van, while playing or in the bathtub.  Some favorites are "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," "The Wheels on the Bus," "Twinkle Twinkle," "Little Teapot," "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme Song,"

Erin loves to watch TV and will watch it for hours if we let her. Some of her favorite shoes are Little Einsteins (pronounced Little Wine-steins), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sophia the First, Doc McStuffins, Minnie Bow-Tique and Henry Hugglemonster. 

They both love books and are starting to "read" them. They'll read the pictures. Many of the books start with Once Upon a Time which is funny to me because most of the books don't really start that way. I don't know where they learned it from.  

12/19- while helping me cut the green beans for dinner Erin said, "mama you're my best friend".  Aaawww!!!! 

12/19- Erin wasn't tired tonight. We put her down at 8:00 and at 9:00 she started calling "oh mama where are you?" Over and over until I came into her room. When I walked in she said "I have a bugger for you" and started laughing. I took the bugger and left (after she wanted me to help her get another one out of her nose). 

20 minutes later I went to check in her and she's laying there wide awake. I go to leave and she says "mama let's talk". I said okay what do you want to talk about boys? She said "no, that'd be funny. Let's talk about a sandwich." She then proceded to talk about a cheese sandwich and a ham sandwich. She is so funny!

Will
When singing "Twinkle, Twinkle" it sounds more like "Tinkle, Tinkle."

He LOVES to play with cars, trucks an trains. He'll line up all of his cars, drive them down the ramps and all over the house.  

He's really getting into pretend play. In the bath tub tonight, the two Ducks were having a conversation. It's very cute to listen to Will make his toys talk. 

Will has to have his blankie and Blueberry (blue stuffed bear that I got when I was pregnant with the kids). 

12/13. While putting Will to bed he said, "mama I don't want my bucket loader in here."  That's a sign of an irrational boy who didn't take a nap today. 

Baby Austin

Mark's sister, Sarah, had her first baby on December 4. We were finally able to see Austin this weekend. He's so cute, sweet and tiny! He's weighing in at 7 lbs. Austin's a great sleeper  and eater.  Will and Erin had fun seeing their cousin too. Sarah and her hubby Marc make having a newborn look easy (which I know it's not). We are so excited for the newest addition to the family!