Christmas

There was much to be thankful for this Christmas!  My parents were here, Lindsey and Jason were in town, and Dana and Brad joined us Christmas night.  It was great. We set our tree up on the playroom/sunroom this year. I loved it there.

Miles and Noah woke up a little after 7am and we let them open their stockings, while Griffin slept in for about 30 more minutes.  They were all excited to find a new book (thank you, Santa!), bakugans, lego toys, animal nesting dolls,  matching scarves that look like snakes (super cute!), and holiday pez.  Within moments, they were eating pez, building legos, and tearing into their nesting toys.  The first thing Noah wanted me to do was read his book.  It was so sweet.

I think Griffin was anxiously awaiting a pez candy here. :)

It was still dark outside, and my dad was already helping the boys build their new lego guys/vehicles. (Notice the boys' pjs.  This was the first year their new jammies weren't matching holiday ones.  Noah had asked for Bakugan pjs for Christmas.  Miles and Griffin wanted Mario Brothers.  They couldn't have been more excited when they opened these on Christmas Eve.)

Santa also gave the boys a new Mario Kart driving game for the Wii. Miles has already logged many miles on this game. He loves it. Noah loves to watch from the grandstands (i.e. positioned on the couch, with his treasures of the day around him). Griffin zooms in periodically to get in the way of the game, turn off the system, or just make mischief -- all while smiling, laughing, and running to escape the fury of his older brother. :)

This was the first year Miles and Noah had a big part in the gift giving for me and Mike. Noah wanted to give Mike and frame with this picture inside. He picked out the frame by himself and selected the picture from our family photo shoot with Hope. He was elated when Mike opened it.

A very special snow globe of mine (passed down to me from my Nona) broke while we were decorating for Christmas this year. Miles remembered how disappointed I was and he selected a new one, very similar one, for me. I was teary.

The boys opened all of their presents Christmas morning (we adults waited until my sisters arrived that night). It was so nice to have my parents here during that time. Extra hands to break open packages, insert batteries, take pictures, share funny moments. It was awesome.

After unwrapping gifts, my mom and I started cooking. My dad proceeded to spend H-O-U-R-S building (off-label) lego cars for the boys. It became pretty clear, early on, why I'd found them at TJMaxx. The instructions were awful and they kept falling apart. The boys love them, though. I just have to store them high up -- they are more for looking than playing. :)

Dana and Brad spent the morning in TN with his mom and then drove to Charlotte so that we could all be together. Check out Dana's tshirt. L.O.V.E. it. :)

Dana and Brad gave the boys these super cool bball hats with lights built into the rim. They added different patches onto each boys hat to personalize them. Griffin got Lightening McQueen, Noah got Iron Man, Miles got Speed Races. They also gave each of them a pair of those awesome fuzzy crocs.

Before the adults opened presents, we decided to take a few pictures of us together.

This memory cracks me up. Remember this, Lindsey & Dana?

We had a fun night opening presents, laughing, taking pictures of each other with our new stuff (Brad in his headlamp, Lindsey and Jason in their reflective pinnies, haha). Love this picture of Lindsey and Jason as they opened their surprise gift from my parents (a much needed tv/dvd combo). No more old tv, stored on a roll-away kitchen cart/in the closet for them!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!