Leading up to Christmas...

We sincerely hope you and your families had a great Christmas/holiday! We had a very nice and quiet time with just the 4 of us. Since I haven't posted for a week or more, I have some before holiday pictures.

I have a singing and dancing snowman and reigndeer dog that the kids love, and was one of 2 decorations that I told them they were allowed to touch.

2 weeks ago Nicolas was quite sick and we got pretty crazy staying at home all day, so a friend gave me an idea of putting the kids in the bath with shaving cream that had some food coloring in it. It was a hit!! Eddie asks almost every day if he can do that again.

Nicolas loved it too, and after they were done it really just washed away without any scrubbing.

I got a gingerbread house for Eddie to make while Nicolas was napping one day- he did one last year and absolutely loved it! He did a great job and was very methodical about it all.

Making sure everything is just right

Nicolas woke up WAY too early and had to confine him with chocolate pudding so Eddie could finish

Eddie with the finished product! GREAT job!

Nicolas fell asleep in the truck on the way home last week and I thought I would try to move him to his bed without waking him up. It worked!! But I had to leave his coat on so he would stay asleep.

He slept like this for an extra hour!!

And finally it was Christmas Eve! Eddie is having a grand time playing Polar Express on the PS2. He loves that movie!

Even Daddy is getting in the Christmas spirit with a Santa earring!

The Eddie's went to the store for some last minute Christmas breakfast items, so I decided to take Nicolas out to play in the snow and do some tiny sledding in the backyard.

Cheese Mommy!

He loved to shovel

And shovel

The kids got to open one present on Chrismas Eve and Eddie got Spongebob Operation! He was very excited to play until he heard the buzzing noise- then he wouldn't touch it and wanted Daddy to do everything. With time hopefully he will come to like it.

Nicolas got a little train- he LOVES trains!!

Time for the kids to go to bed and this is how the tree looked when they went to bed.

And this is how it looked when they woke up!! WOW!!
Everything was opened and played with by 6:15 am

So happy to have all these toys to play with!

Playing with Eddie's new Hess cars- they are awesome!

Doing some coloring in the new books

Playing with the new cars
Nicolas and his new Thomas pillow

Eddie and his new Cars body pillow

It's as big as me, Mommy!

Helping Daddy put away his new car in the "no touch" case

Playing with toys while watching a new movie

Laying around with all the new pillow toys

Nicolas giving Eddie some love and invading his space

Hanging out with the Buzz pillows watching a movie- for a minute or two

Playing with a new piano book

Laying on the couch with all the pillow toys- they got a lot this year because they like to beat each other with their toys and slam them on the ground. It's just a little less painful this way.

Playing with a little Santa

Eddie and Mommy doing a search and find book

Nicolas wanted to help too

CHEESE!!

Merry Christmas!

December fun!

I am really seeing a pattern here with my slacking! I have had these pictures anxiously waiting for me to post!

2 weeks ago we got a fair amount of snow. How much? Well, let's give Mrs. Butterworth's a chance to show us.
Didn't you know she is the official snow measurer??

Ok, it was a lot!

We also got to attend another kids dance party and this time Santa was there!! The kids were excited about the idea of Santa, but no so much about the man himself.

Here Eddie is cautiously taking a candy cane from the loud, bearded man

Keeping his distance (along with most of the other kids)

I agreed to go with him to talk to Santa

The dance party had plenty of games and crafts- Nicolas is making a beautiful Christmas tree

Eddie is dancing the day away

Doing the hokey pokey

Put your head in!

And turn yourself around

Having a snack while Eddie danced

Setting up the bowling pins, but not to bowl. Just to let Nicolas knock over.

Eddie and his friend Rocco sitting in Santa's chair

Later that day I wanted to get some Christmas shots of the boys. It wasn't really successful, but got some funny pics.

Now go in front of the tree and look at me!

Lost one...

Gave up on the nice poses and Daddy let Eddie help him put some more ornaments on the tree

And Nicolas got to help too- that was the end of the no touching of the tree.