Christmas

Christmas is always a time of year I cherish.  Both Dave & I have so many wonderful memories of Christmases of times past and hope to create the same for our boys.  

Christmas this year was extra busy.  My card business was in full bloom and I thank everyone that helped make that possible by utilizing my services.  I've decided to actually put my etsy shop on vacation mode for the time being and focus some time on my family.  I will reopen but need to regroup first.  Time with my boys was definitely compromised for a few months and I'm enjoying the extra moments to soak in this special time with them.   I cannot believe how fast they're growing!

Christmas Eve is always spent at my Pappy's house.  The day before Christmas Eve, I read on my cousin's facebook status that she & her mom both had the stomach virus (aka  the Christmas Plague) BUT were on the mend and were planning on coming the next day to celebrate, per tradition.  Being paranoid of the boys getting "the bug" (I have severe phobia of vomiting)...I seriously contemplated not going.  After discussing it with Holly, she says, remember all those times she had it and we still went....basically, "get over it".  I knew she was "right"....not really calming my anxiety but I decided we'd go and my boys would enjoy the night as I had all the years in the past.  How could I keep my boys from seeing Santa? Soooooo, we go.  When we arrive, we find out that my uncle also came down with it....AND my cousin that visited them overnight also came down with it, causing her not to come.  I was then doubting my decision but said to myself...okay, too late to turn back now.  We enjoy our night.  Here are some photos displaying what a wonderful night we had.

Alex checking out the presents

Mama Allie & baby Kensington

Kensie's 1st Christmas

Blakey the Reindeer

Classic family photo

and another

Dave & Nikki

Mommy & Blake

Santa & Alex

Santa and the rest of our family were very generous with the boys and they received QUITE a few presents that they LOVE.  

By the time we left Pappy's, another victim was hit with the Christmas Plague and unfortunately within two days, all four of us as well as another 3 family members were struck with it.

Thankfully we're all better now and hopefully have seen the last of that.

Here are a few pictures from Christmas and of the boys playing with their gifts.

Christmas cookies....a snowman, Micky & a tree

Our stockings...too heavy for the fireplace mantle

Alex's lion puppet peeking out

Blake's monkey puppet peeking out

Blake chillaxin' on Daddy

Alex wearing his construction protective goggles

Blake with his dinosaur

Daddy & Alex reading

 

my little construction workers

Blake confiscating all the tools

Alex ready for work

Daddy & Alex creating a fort

 

Next time I'll be writing  will be in the New Year....wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!  Hope its a truly remarkable one.

The Tree

As per tradition, we always go and get our Christmas tree on Alex's birthday (December 6th).  Dave did a wonderful job picking ours out this year in the FRIGID temperatures that resulted in me & the boys waiting in the car.  He always does such a great job.  We added two new items to our tree this year....one, was an angel topper...which was chosen because Alex kept telling us how we needed a star or angel.  We chose angel because we feel we have a resident angel always watching over us, my mom.  The other ornament was from our secret santa in Blake's online playgroup.  A group I joined when I was pregnant with Blake where all other moms in the group gave birth to their child in September 2008.   Our secret Santa happened to wind up being the photographer I partner with in my card business.  She & her little guy chose a Thomas the Tank Engine ornament, since we are a Thomas-lovin' family.  Both boys adore the new ornament and Alex is super happy with the angel. 

Thank you Eliot~we love it!!!

our new Angel

 The boys enjoyed helping dress the lower half of the tree and both were very good not to touch the one's they should not touch.  

Alex telling the gingerbread to "stay"

Blake checking out a bell

Blake and his little red bird

Final product:

Christmas Tree 2010

Joining the Blogging World

As we have friends and family, both near but mostly far, that enjoy hearing about our current activities and see pictures of our rapidly growing boys...I've agreed to join the blogging community to see if I can keep you all up to date and posted on this.

Where to begin?  I think I'll start with a video of Alex's school nativity play...some may say the preview is definitely watch-worthy...so don't miss it:

and a few pictures from the blessed event:

Alex, a Wise King

Alex, a Wise King

the Wise King and his followers - 1

Now, I'll see what I can do to post a few shots from Christmas too....stay tuned....