Christmas 2010

This Christmas was really special. I think it was by far the best one yet with Brayden. Celebrating the Christmas season with a 3 year old is really fun. He sang Christmas songs for weeks, talked about Santa and baby Jesus all of the time (ok maybe Santa more than Jesus but that's okay:), enjoyed decorating the house, watching all of the Christmas programs on TV, and of course eating lots and lots of holiday treats. It was so fun for him to jump out of bed each morning to see the new spot where Freddy, our Elf on the Shelf, was for the day, and opening a new window of the advent calendar with Daddy.

Christmas morning and day was especially fun because he loved seeing what Santa had brought him and opening all of his presents. He is a very lucky little boy who has many people who love him because he got SO many new toys and gifts from grandparents and aunts and uncles. Our playroom is re-stocked with brand new toys. :) He has played and played with all of them. He is such a precious little boy and it was such a joy for Ryan and me to see his smile from ear to ear plastered on his face ALL day long. It makes me look forward to next year already! Here are some pics from the day: I didn't take as many as I would have liked, but I got some good ones:

Our Christmas tree - this year it was so pretty! We picked a good one.

Look what Santa brought!

Kitchen!

New parking garage!

Geotrax boat "I wanted this!" is what he said when he saw it :)

Cookies and milk left for Santa

Coming down hallway in morning to see what Santa brought!

Running to see his new toys

Oh my goodness! So excited.

Checking out his new kitchen

New parking garage -- already has played many hours with this and his cars.

Stocking time!

New crayons

Chapstick!

Opening presents...

Pappy helping out.

Aunt Rachel and Uncle Randy and cousin Duncan came over to celebrate with Nana and Poppy later on that night..Aunt Rachel helping Duncan open a gift.

Let's Build a Gingerbread House!

This year Jenn, Alissa and I decided to start a tradition with our boys of getting together at Christmas and decorating Gingerbread houses. Jenn picked up some gingerbread house kits at Michael's and I offered to host the fun at my house in my playroom since there is plenty of space to mess it up :). The kits seemed easy enough with the gingerbread walls, icing and candy all included. WELL...when we all got together that Saturday morning we soon found out that the icing had to be mixed up (it was in a powder form) and the gingerbread walls needed to be constructed into a house and then dried for an hour. Yeah, right with three little boys waiting... I don't think so. So we just mixed up the icing and tried to begin. I had made some pigs in a blanket and some apple slices for the boys to munch on before the candy fest began. Here are the pics of the debacle that is the gingerbread house day... It was actually quite fun, although our poor houses were never quite built. The boys still had fun chomping on loads of candy and playing together. And of course, the moms had fun catching up and seeing each other. Merry Christmas! Next year.. we will buy already constructed houses!


Semi-healthy food before the candy ensues!


Time to get started...

Seems easy enough...

You have to wait an hour???


I wouldn't place my bets on insuring this thing...

Alissa inspecting it...

We finally give up and decide to just let them each decorate one square..

The troops are getting antsy...

I am trying to personalize their squares.


And their off...

Yum!

Good job B!

Grady's face says it all. Pure heaven!



We introduce the poor house to them..

The roof is barely hanging on..

TIMBER!!!

Cutie pies.

Triple trouble.

Travis is like "Brayden, lay off my bowl dude."



Well, this house has seen better days! But it sure was fun! Better luck next year! Thanks Jenn for all of the great pics!

Brayden's Christmas Program!

Brayden's school had a Christmas program the first of December. It was really a big deal! They had it over at Medical City in the Hall Auditorium - they had practiced Holiday songs for weeks and even had a rehearsal the day before. It was funny because the day of practice when I went to pick him up the director of his school told me what a great job Brayden had done - that he had just belted out his songs and was so mature for his age. So I was quite anxious to see how he would do :) Well, the family all gathered for the big event. Unfortunately, Ryan had to be out of town for the women's final four in North Carolina so Daddy missed it. But like most three year olds, he got shy and didn't sing through most of it. But it was still fun! He looked adorable in his Christmas outfit and I still can't believe he is old enough to be in Christmas programs now! Here are some photos from the big day: