Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Here is a quick recap of our day -- it was our first Christmas we have spent just the 3 of us so we had fun starting some new traditions and keeping some old ones. Andrew wasn't so sure about Christmas this morning. I walked in his room and said, "Merry Christmas" and he said "No!" and then did the same when Chad came in a few minutes later. He then told us he wanted to go downstairs and "play with Eddie! (one of the Fisher-Price characters that he got in several items last night).

But we went downstairs to open presents instead (with promises to play with Eddie later). So first Andrew found...

"Snowman Stocking!" with all sorts of goodies. Play-doh and a couple of candycanes and other little things with all got dumped out.


And a toothbrush! And when you are almost 2, you know what to do with a toothbrush, you brush your teeth! Even if it is in the middle of opening Christmas presents!


After going through all of his fun stocking stuffers, Andrew announced "I want to ride my tricycle". But, first, what is this?


Oh, a hat!


Chad got presents too (me too, but since I'm always the one taking the pictures...)


Oh, and Andrew got his first real pillow from Mommy & Daddy. I have to put in a commercial here for Kims Pillow Fights on Ebay.


Andrew played a bit (Play-doh, of course... expect a blog soon asking for advice on getting Play-doh out of carpet... oh, wait, I've already asked that about my rug at work... at least working with kids prepares me for what is to come!)




And we had Peach French Toast for breakfast (a new tradition, apparently) and a good lunch too. Andrew liked the ham. :)

We went outside to play...


And talked to family...


And played some more... and that will probably be it for the day!

Christmas Eve...

We started Christmas a little early and opened presents from VA tonight. Andrew is a pro at opening presents this year, he loved "colors" and coloring books and books and Little People and "Einsteins!!!" DVD. :)









Andrew also got his traditional Christmas Eve gift from Mommy & Daddy -- PJs to sleep in to wait for Santa! This year he got houseshoes too.





Then we set out cookies for Santa...



Read the Christmas story from the Bible and did bedtime routine...



And off to bed Andrew went to dream about Santa and sugarplums and all of that kidn of stuff! :)

Making Christmas Cookies...

Part of our Christmas Eve was making Christmas cookies for Santa Claus (and for dessert tomorrow!). Andrew loves helping to cook so of course he loved making cookies too. Here are a few pictures!

Spreading Christmas cheer...

Just some more videos and pictures! Andrew is loving Christmas sooo much, January is going to be such a let-down! :) He sings all of the time, including in stores while we are shopping... he only takes his "Christmas hat" off to sleep and when we make him... he loves looking at Christmas lights... he even likes Santa more this year as long as he is at a distance!

Singing Jingle Bells (yes, he made the drum set)

Zoo Lights

We went to Zoo Lights last night with Kim, Brennan & Rowan (yes, it has been an eventful weekend). Once again, the boys had a blast! They got to see all of the lights and hear stories and play games (we think that was their favorite part... they did the Hokey Pokey and Itsy Bitsy Spider and learned a dance... Andrew was too cute trying to follow along with the bigger kids). Oh, and decorate and eat cookies too. We had lots of fun... and we were glad that it was not as cold as last year and that we had our camera with us this year!

Kim always succeeds at getting great family pictures for us on the first try!


Listening to a story


Decorating cookies


Eeeww... I'm messy!


Playing games

Cookies & Milk

Friday night we went to Cookies & Milk with Santa and the Elves, a fundraiser for Agape. Kim, Brennan & Rowan came too. The boys had so much fun! They got to play games, make crafts, get pictures with Santa, and of course eat cookies and milk. Andrew has not been too fond of Santa this year, but Chad said he talked to Andrew earlier in the day about sitting on Santa's lap and Andrew said he would. So when it got to that time, he was brave and sat on Santa's lap and told him what he wants for Christmas. He was still a little scared though... I took this picture the second he got on Santa's lap and by the time the photographer for the event took pics, Andrew was looking a little sad. Santa was very nice to him and gave him a candy cane, which Andrew thought was great! Here are a few pictures!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

even if it has been warm outside! Last Sunday, we started Christmas decorating. Andrew is loving Christmas this year. He loves to sing Christmas carols (Frosty the Snowman and Jingle Bells are current faves) and every morning he runs downstairs and says, "Christmas lights! Christmas tree!" and puts on his "Christmas hat". He loves to point out lights everywhere and Santa Claus and "Frosty Snowman" (every snowman is Frosty) :) Here are a few pictures (and some video) from last week!

Andrew the Reindeer (these are Oliver's reindeer antlers)




Helping decorate the Christmas tree:




Helping Daddy put the tree topper on:


Wow, it's a long way down! (I think Andrew was a little scared of being that high up!)


Our Christmas tree -- I love the first picture because Andrew is looking up at the tree saying, "ooooohhh" :)




And a video from yesterday that shows how much Andrew is talking lately!