We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We started the Christmas celebrations early this year...a trip to see Santa at Engine 6, the school holiday program, holiday parties at school (where Santa made a second appearance for AJ!), and of course Du-Poulio-Rosiers Christmas the week before.

It's always fun to watch the cousins get together.  They grow so quickly and play so well together, it's like time and distance don't exist!  I apologize for the lack of pictures at this particular gathering...I spent more time "in the moment" watching them play together.

 



But really, it isn't the PICTURES you want to see from that get together....it's the VIDEO of Ryan's "Force Training Club". (You can all thank me for taking this video later.)  Ryan was more than excited to be the leader of the brand new club that teaches others to use..."The Force".  This isn't any old club...I mean you had to sign up for it.  Pay particular attention to the bickering of the elders at the first official club meeting...HA!  Then watch happens when the leader of the club isn't so impressed with your training.

(** If you can't see the videos, make sure you go to the actual blog site from a PC to view them!)

 

 

 





The main Christmas event this year was absolutely magical no doubt about it.  The boys' reactions did not disappoint.  Of course, Santa was EXTRA good to them...they did after all work super hard at being kind and very good listeners.

 

(** If you can't see the videos, make sure you go to the actual blog site from a PC to view them!)



 

 

 

 

Robert definitely has the "opening presents" thing down pat!

 

 

 

Every kid has a number 1 wish list item.  For AJ, it was the Fisher Price Imaginext Supernova Battle Rover.  Adam and I couldn't disappoint him.  (I mean really...how long will the kids be this little and BELIEVE in Santa?!)  His reaction was priceless.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

And my goodness, this toy does it ALL!  (I'm not going to lie, I very much enjoy playing space station and aliens with the boys these days.  These toys are COOL!)

 

 



 

We hope you had a wonderful day filled with the magic of Christmas!!

 

 





Tis the Season

This Christmas Season was absolutely magical.  Everything about the season was exciting and filled with joy and happiness.  We started the season right after Thanksgiving when we put up the Christmas tree and decorated the house.  This year, the boys got to help decorate, so that was fun.  (Well it was fun AFTER they went to bed and I could nicely rearrange their haphazard décor ;) !)

This year AJ and Robert participated once again in the school holiday program.  They acted out "The Night Before Christmas" where each classroom of children had a special role in the production.  AJ and his classmates were adorable Christmas mice while Robert was part of Santa's team of Reindeer.  As you can imagine with a group of children from ages 3 months to 4 years old, ANYTHING can happen...and if they manage to NOT burst out into tears (as AJ has done every year), then you consider it a huge success.  Well, this year, BOTH boys managed to make it through the performance without shedding a single tear....though AJ stood stone-faced and Robert refused to wear his antlers.

 

All Ready for the Holiday Show!

CUTEST Mouse EVER!

 

Enjoy...although I will advise that you turn DOWN the volume for the first song.  (You'll see why!)

 

 

Hooray for Big Boys!

Operation Big Boy is in full swing. Today, we entered Phase I...no more suckers. We had big success with making a "sucker monkey" for AJ, we decided to head back to Build-a-Bear for Robert. The whole family talked up the big day and we hopped in the car to say goodbye to suckers forever!

Everyone, meet Ellie Phunt!    

Pressing the pedal to stuff Ellie!

Keeping those suckers safe in Ellie's belly!

Ellie gets lots of hugs already!

Ellie comes with his own house too!!

Of course he insists on carrying Ellie in his house by himself. 

Notice that Monkey has been resurrected from the stuffy bin as well. 

Beyond Excited

For once, I'm excited for the kids to wake up in the morning. It would be a very nice Christmas miracle if they both slept until at least 6:00 AM. ;-)

I can't wait to see what the boys think of what Santa brought them!

It's almost time!

Christmas is just around the corner and I can hardly wait. I think I'm more excited than the boys!!  Check out the present that AJ got in the mail today...all the way from the Big guy himself at the North Pole. 

Because how else is Santa supposed to get in when we don't have a chimney?!

"I REALLY REALLY Need to Talk to Santa!"

The boys are growing fast...and so is their list for Santa!  This year, we stocked up on all of the toy catalogs that came in the mail and let AJ have at it. He circled pictures and put stickers on all those fancy wish-list items and we sent his list with a letter to Santa off to the North Pole. 

As Christmas is getting closer, the anticipation of what the jolly big guy will bring is ramping up. AJ's number one wish list item has been mentioned at least a dozen times. And you can't even imagine the excitement that sprung from his little body when a commercial came on for this hot ticket toy. "MummyMummyMummy!  It's the BATTLE SHIP!!!! oh I wish I could need that!"

Of course like every parent, we have to keep reminding AJ that he needs to be a good boy, to remember his good listening ears, and be nice to his brother (because Santa is watching after all). A few days ago on our way home from school, AJ announced that he "really really needed to talk to Santa" so he could tell him that he was "a good listener and gets green" (the color of good behavior on his behavior chart at home and at school). When I asked why it was so important, he said that he had to make sure Santa knew he wanted the battle ship. 

Well, we got our opportunity to see Santa at Engine 6 yesterday and wouldn't you know, he actually talked to Santa and told him alllll about it. He even took a picture...our first without him crying hysterically.  Even Robert followed AJ's "almost 4 year old" big brother queues and had a chat with Santa!  

It was an awesomely good time!