Christmas Morning

We had a quiet Christmas this year...well at least the kids and I did. Micah was on call, and had a very very busy day after he left the house. We got the boys up around 5:00 so he could be here when they opened their presents. Santa came :) and the boys enjoyed the toys they got.
Our family has been so blessed over the years, and the boys have so many things that this year we decided to exchange acts of kindness and quality time in exchange for presents this year. We have so enjoyed the many blessings both God and our loved ones have bestowed upon us over the past few years, and over time we have learned that time is so precious and is to be cherished. Thank you to our families who have helped us find the true Christmas spirit, and for being so wonderful to us. We love you and missed you on Christmas Day, but were so happy to have spent so much time with you over this past month. Merry Christmas!

Aiden was very excited about his new tool bench...he had to "work" all day long :)

He also got this cool globe, and was having fun flying the plane

Ever since Aiden played this game at Laura's house I have wanted him to have one. Unfortunately we got a defective one, and have to exchange it...but he was super excited about it.

I think he'll have a lot of fun with this game and it will help him learn a lot with counting and taking turns

He got this fishing Santa in his stocking that he made at preschool, and really enjoyed putting the candy canes on the hook and saying he "caught one!"

Devin got some cool clothes and a koala bear from Great Grandma and Grandpa Smith. Aiden got a full album of bible stories on CDs which we are looking forward to playing them!

It's so cute because this elephant is just as big as Devin is sitting down, and he loves playing with it :)

We have been napping Devin in his crib for the past month now and are ready to transition him fully into the crib at night (from the pack n play in our room). This toy will be fun for him I think (along with another crib toy he got from our cousins) and will hopefully occupy him in the morning for a bit when he wakes up...we'll see how it goes!

I think the boys had a great Christmas. It wasn't overwhelming, they enjoyed the toys they got, and Aiden remembered what Christmas really was about...the wonderful gift God gave us through the birth of his son Jesus. That family is everything and doing kind things for others is one of the best gifts you can give someone.

We videoed the boys unwrapping their presents, but unfortunately didn't get any photos until after. Micah got a new smart phone for an early Anniversary gift (I wanted him to be able to set it up and start using it, rather than waiting another week). Micah is very excited to give me my anniversary gift....on our anniversary :) but he can't stop talking about it! So I'll be sure to keep you all informed when I finally get it :)

In the evening, we went over to my cousin Tina's house for Christmas dinner. We were hoping Micah would have been able to get away from the hospital for a bit to join us, but unfortunately he was so busy that we didn't see him until early the next afternoon. We had a lot of fun with Tina and her family, and are so happy to have some extended family so close to us!

Aiden was very excited to watch the Polar Express after dinner, and Devin just talked and talked all through the movie :)

Isn't this the cutest? Devin posing with Marina in Grandpa Ron's hat :)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all :) I know this is posting late, but better late than never! I got the boys to take some pictures by the tree after we opened presents...so enjoy and hope you had a wonderful holiday!

Aiden's Christmas Program

Aiden's preschool put on a Christmas Program with its church's Sunday School classes on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately the teacher didn't get the material for this year's program until a few weeks ago, so she was a little stressed trying to teach her preschoolers the program. There were a few extra practices, one that we had to miss for being out of town. So I think Aiden was a little clueless as to what was really going on. It was quite funny to watch him, as he was 'that kid' who was in his own little world and doing his own funny things. They asked that we keep the flashes off our cameras in respect for being in church-so my pictures aren't very clear. I was also trying to take video at the same time, so some of the pictures I wanted (like Aiden holding up his star) I didn't get on the still camera, but do have it on video. But you can get the idea of how Aiden was by the different positions he is in :)

The little kids each held up a star while the narrators told us about each virtue named on the star. Then they carried it up to the tree and one of the older kids put it on. Aiden had the first star which was "Joy" and so I was caught off guard, not knowing what was going on until it was too late to pick up the still camera :( But he was funny and cute doing it!

My cousin Tina came to see Aiden's program, and we were excited she was there! She held Devin the whole time which was a great help :)

Here Aiden is not paying attention

He did try to sing the songs (I even heard him practicing at home a few times) but when I was reading his lips, I realized most of the time he was making up his own words.

All in all it was cute. This was his first program...ever. And I think he wanted to watch more than participate, but I'm still proud of him :) Maybe next time he'll get it a little more.

And Tina got Devin to zonk out :)

Devin's Christmas Photos

Devin was in a pretty good mood the other day, so I took the opportunity to do a little photo shoot with him. I actually think I did a pretty ok job :) Here are some of my favorites. It's almost like he's saying something a little different in each picture-I love it.

Gotta love the drool

After I put him on his tummy, he was really really really trying to roll over-and then getting pretty frustrated with himself. He actually did roll over a few days before I took these pictures-in our bed after he woke up. I missed it :( I went upstairs to his crying and found him on his back! He sleeps on his tummy!! I was so excited for him-then thinking I'm doomed! :)

I ended up helping him roll back over, and he had a lot to say to me after that!

This almost doesn't even look like him!

Here's my happy baby ;)

Cute huh :)

Ice Storm

We had a nasty Ice storm pass through last night. I don't know about you, but the only thing ice storms are good for is making the trees look pretty. Since we don't really have any trees-except our neighbors behind us-I decided to take a few shots of our outside garland covered in ice.

Thanks to Laura, we finally got a decent family picture taken-Thanks Laura!
Merry Christmas!