Christmas Day 2009

Paul & I stayed up pretty late on Christmas Eve so we were in a sound sleep when I heard Elliot wake up on his baby monitor around 7am. I stood up half asleep and realized the hall light was on. Noah's door was open and his bed was empty. I quickly woke up Paul. We were so upset we were going to miss his reaction to his big Santa gift. I walked into the playroom expecting to find him playing, but it was empty. I am freaking out at this point that he's out wandering the streets in his sock feet in the snow, when he walks out of the kitchen holding a box of club crackers and casually says "Want a cracker, mom?" as he's already munching on one.

We got out the video camera and recorded most of our Christmas morning and didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked. The boys enjoyed their stocking stuffers (especially Noah). He got in his the only thing he asked Santa for: Diesel 10 & Toby, along with lots of other goodies. The thing he plays with most is his Lightning McQueen flashlight. He also loves those big punch balloons. E got a new bath toy, some cups and a phone in his. E loved playing with his new Leap Frog activity table. Noah is enjoying his new kitchen, especially with the addition of some accessories from Aunt Sarah and Grandma Anita.

With the blizzard, there were high drifts and snow plows unable to clear many streets. We opted to have a lazy morning at home and take the kids sledding over our traditional brunch at the Nicholson's. We already had plans to get together the next day at Grandma Lo's for bingo and dinner, so we could exchange presents then.

Noah helped Paul shovel, both boys played lazily in their PJ's, E had a good morning nap and we drug out gifts the whole morning. We didn't buy much and when they opened a gift they wanted to play with it at that time. So it was easy to enjoy for a long time.


After sledding (pics posted seperately), we decided to try to head to Belton for dinner at my parents house. The roads had some snow and it took awhile, but it wasn't bad by that time. We enjoyed our time with family.
Elliot wearing the same Baby's 1st Christmas hat that Noah wore
I love this of E with his Great Grandma Lois

Despite missing our traditional brunch, it turned out to be the most fun Christmas I've ever had. Noah is at a really fun age and finally gets the Santa thing. The blizzard was SO fun and forced us to just slow down, stay home for awhile and enjoy some family time. I'm positive that Elliot's first Christmas will be one that I won't ever forget.

Preparing for Santa

This is the first year Noah gets the whole Santa concept. We had Noah write a note and bake some cookies for him. Noah dictated what I was to write on the letter: "Merry Christmas". Then he colored it. We left out 2 cookies, milk, and his note before going to bed.

Christmas was always fun as a kid, but I think being Santa when you have your own kids is even more fun!

Noah writing his letter to Santa:

The letter Santa left for the boys:

This was a seperate letter that was in Noah's room, along with his huge collection of trains. Him & Hudson have been recently finding great fun in throwing things down the laundry chute. Including trains. The 3rd time they were doing it, I let him know if they do it they would be gone for good. Well they did it. And I stuck to it. It's been nearly 2 weeks. Noah keeps saying how he and Hudson threw them down the laundry chute and now they are gone "FOREVER!". So he found this note, along with his trains on his train table:

Santa washing down his cookies with milk (we put it in a sippy cup so Noah wouldn't spill it carrying it from the kitchen to the fireplace - haha)I had to take a picture of Elliot in bed on his first Christmas Eve.

I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the milk, cookies & note. Or the stockings and presents Santa left out. I think it might be because we were so sleepy ourselves! I enjoyed watching It's a Wonderful Life while playing Mrs. Claus. What a fun Christmas Eve night.

Christmas Eve sleigh ride in the blizzard

A blizzard came in on Christmas Eve. After our family left, we couldn't resist getting the kids out in the middle of it all. What a magical Christmas Elliot got to experience for his first Christmas ever! We loaded the kids up on their sleds to deliver presents Noah picked out for Hudson and Addison a couple of doors down.

We went inside their house to warm up for a bit as the kiddos exchanged their little presents. Then we decided to just walk down the block to the church and back. We didn't even make it to the end of the street. The wind was just bitter cold on all of our faces. I kept looking back at Elliot. He would be grinning so big and then the wind would blow his face and he'd just get this surpised look like it would almost take his breath away.

When we came home and made Noah hot chocolate he was sipping it and said "There's nothing like hot cocoa." <3

We had just enough time to gear up for Santa and bake him some cookies before getting ready for bed.

"It's not over yet"

We had an awesome Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve at our house with the Thomas side. By the time everyone left the blizzard had started. It was so exciting. Then Christmas Day we got to go sledding along with presents and family of course. Last night at around 9:30 I asked Noah what his favorite part of the day was. He looked at me like I was nuts and replied: "It's not over yet." I guess he was holding out for something better - haha. It cracked me up.

More to come on our awesome Christmas (and Elliot's FIRST!) soon.

Second annual trip to The Polar Express

We went on our 2nd annual trip to ride the Polar Express last weekend. We were thrilled that it's now in Branson! Although, Durango was an awesome experience, it was not a trip was up for with both the boys at this age. This was a doable roadtrip. Best of all, we were with extended family as well.

After the train ride with Sarah, Charlie & Greg, we joined Mom & Rick, Grandma Lois & Grandpa Gene, Sam & Keith for a belated birthday dinner for Sam. Then we had cake. Wish we would have had more time to spend together. Next year, we'll go for more than one night for sure. Warning: this post has a ton of pictures, but I can not and will not apologize :) I love them all!

Our best attempt at a family pic.

Me with my boys

"Tickets, please! Tickets!"

"Hot Hot....yeah we got it.....Hot Hot Hot Chocolate!"

Notice my son had to pick his own, as the chef is trying to hand him one. Silly, silly chef!

And the sugar high has kicked in. We had dancing in the aisles. And wrestling in the aisles.

Maybe we should have tried before the sugar high kicked in? With Uncle Greg

We are now in the North Pole. Elliot was bashful at first meeting.

So I took his bell for him.
Charlie & Noah are ok with the big guy...
E tested to make sure he was the real deal. Yep, the beard is real.

Wild? Yes. Out of control? Maybe. But, no fighting. Only love.
This face makes all the effort worth it.

My sweet little E was passed out halfway through dinner. He woke back up when we went to the hotel for cake without a fuss. Such a trooper! He fell back asleep on the way to our Condo and was out for the night. Big day for my little guy.