Sunday, December 30, 2012

Christmas Festivities!!

Well this Christmas was just as busy as year's past, but with many differences.  It was probably one of the most fun Christmases we've had since we've been married, because we got to share it with a little boy who was able to enjoy all of the festivities!
We had six Christmas celebrations this year again, but this year was MUCH more tolerable because they were spread out.  
The biggest change/adjustment for me was that I didn't wake up at my parents' house for the first time in 30 years on Christmas morning.  For as long as I can remember I have been woken up by my Dad blasting the Hallelujah chorus loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear.  I was a little sad but seeing Tucker enjoy opening his presents at our house Christmas morning made up for it.  We also didn't go to Max's mom's house on Christmas night for the first time since we've been married.  We've been celebrating with his sister and mom on the day after Christmas for awhile now, but we usually go up on Christmas night.  Despite the change in tradition, we really enjoyed not having to load the car with everything extra we would have needed to spend the night at the various houses. It made for a bit of relaxation amidst the craziness of our Christmas celebrations.

#1: Christmas Eve brunch at my parents' house with my grandparents and my uncle mike's family



and no, the color coordinating and spacing was not planned.

#2: Dinner at our house with my family- complete with Just Dance2 dance offs and lots of laughs and funny stories being told!

we had one candle, but our neighbors had 26 candles lit in memory of the 26 lives lost at Sandy Hook.  
#3: Christmas Morning at our house!
yes most of the gifts are for tucker....but half of them were clothes that he needed that I wrapped up so he could have fun opening:)

we had to wake him up at 7:30 so that we could get the gifts opened in time to get to my parents' house for brunch.  Tucker was a little cranky and sleepy still.
it didn't take long for him to dig in!

Brayden's first Christmas morning!

he picked the two biggest gifts to open first





thankfully we got snow yesterday so now he can go try it out!
we're tempted to have him wear this around the house since he's so clumsy!
he has cultivated a major obsession with Thomas and Friends...ughhh 

#4: Christmas morning at my parents house!
i think he has enough match box cars for life! They are getting rationed
everyone got great gifts made by disabled artisans in Tanzania from a business one of D's friends started called Karama (I think that's how you spell it).  They are all awesome! This is a cute ball! Tucker and Brayden also got prints that my dad made frames for and they both got Owl stuffed animals.  I got an awesome headband and necklace and bracelet.  I'm sure there were more but I can't remember. 
here's the headband 
having fun with DD...he kept taking pictures of everything.

these are the most adorable PJ's Tucker got from my mom-of course they are Thomas.




my bro's girlfriend Anggy came this year too! It was so fun having her there!



my dad made tucker a stool just like the one the one he had made my brother when he was little! It's awesome!!
 #5: Christmas dinner at my aunt's

our fam:)
 #6: Christmas at Max's mom's!

opening gifts from the Baldwins!

I might be more excited about T's new play kitchen from GG than T is yet:) Max is getting it set today!

cousins pic...minus Brayden-he was asleep!


Well it was a fun but tiring but very fun few days!! I can't wait until next year:)

Sunday, December 23, 2012

More Advent Activities!

We have done a surprisingly good job of staying up with our Advent Calendar.  We've switched some days around, but overall, we've done a good job! The first few pictures are of days mentioned in the first Advent post, but I didn't put the pictures up last time.
Day 4 Read a Christmas Book
Day 5 Open a new ornament

Day 6 Watch a Christmas Movie

Day 7 Play with Addie

Day 8-Visit with Baldwins and GG
Day 9-Shop for a gift for a child in need
Day 10-Visit Grandma at Work

Day 11 Visit Dad at Work
Day 12 Make Christmas Cards for Friends
Day 13 Open a Christmas Coloring Book

Day 14 Make a Gingerbread House...



I didn't follow the directions very well and it collapsed!

Day 15 DD comes home!!

Dance Party with DD

Day 16 Go see the lights on Roseville Street
Day 17-Go on a field trip with DD (we all went to Panera with Grandma, DD, Uncle Chris, and Anggy
Day 18 Open another Christmas book

Day 19 Build a fort and have a snack in it
Day 20 Make Christmas Cookies with Friends
The finished product-all by himself! 
Day 21 Go look at more Christmas lights


Day 22 Go on a Field Trip with Dad (they had a blast at Stepping Stones)

Day 23 the Firetruck with Santa on it came!!

family photo with Santa
she was so excited-making up for what we missed out on as kids:)

so awesome!

opening the gift Santa brought him

Harold and Thomase-"choo choo"-he was in HEAVEN!
Only a few more days until we sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and get to see lots of Family!!!!
It has been so fun doing all of these things with Tucker! Next year will be even more fun as he can do and appreciate more things-and Brayden can get in on the action too!