Let's Go Sledding!

Here are some recent pictures of the family!

We got a really good snow storm a couple of days before Christmas! We haven't had a "White Christmas" since we've lived here. We spent the morning playing outside in the snow. It was the first time that Ryan had been outside to play in the snow and he really enjoyed. He looked so cute in his snowsuit. We didn't have a snowsuit for Ryan, but were blessed by some friends who had one that was just his size with snow boots too!

We didn't really go sledding on a hill, but Daddy made a little hill in our front yard and we used the new sled that Grandpa gave the boys. Sean had a lot of fun and we finally had to drag him inside because his cheeks were so red from the cold.

We brought Timber outside because he is a snow dog and he loved it. Since his breed are also sled dogs, we tried to get him to pull us on the sled.

Christmas

Derek's mom ("Grams"), step-father ("Gramps"), and sister Megan visited for Christmas this year. They arrived the Sunday before Christmas and we had a really fun week just spending time together. The boys were so excited, especially Sean. He wanted to spend every minute of every day with his Aunt Megan. He didn't want anything to do with me! One the boys were in bed, the "adults" enjoyed playing games and staying up late!

Christmas was so much fun this year! I think Derek and I were just as excited as the boys! I could hardly sleep the night before. Grams slept on the couch by the tree waiting for the boys to come down! Thankfully, the boys slept until their normal time so they weren't up too early.

We found a toy kitchen over the summer at a garage sale at a great deal and it was in near perfect condition. We had it ready for the boys as they walked downstairs on Christmas morning. Once Ryan saw it, he just starting playing and didn't even want to open any other presents at first. Sean was full of energy and so excited! He got several board games, a Star Wars blaster gun and figures, Playdoh sets, cars, pajamas, savings bonds, and some movies.

Ryan's favorite gift (besides the kitchen), was a set of Mickey Mouse books. Good last minute find Daddy! Every time Ryan opened a gift he would say "ooh" - it was so cute.

Grams and Gramps also gave the boys these interactive hamster toys called "Zhu-Zhus". I guess they are hard to find. Anyway, the boys really love them and laugh at all of the noises they make. Sean named his "GI Joe".

I think the boys were overwhelmed by the experience and were tired pretty early on in the day. Around 11 am, I found Ryan with his pacifier and blankie laying on the kitchen floor trying to fall asleep! I've never seen that before!

We are very thankful to God for his love and blessings. It's so easy to be pre-occupied at Christmas time with shopping, parties, cooking, etc. This is one of my favorite songs (year round) called "How Many Kings" by Downhere that is a great reminder of God's love for us and the true meaning of Christmas. What an awesome God!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iSivQmzJ_w

Sean's School Christmas Program

Sean's Christmas program was so cute again this year! He would come home from school singing the songs and when I asked him about them, he would say "mommy, it's a secret!". I really enjoyed listening to Sean singing and seeing his enthusiasm. Ryan enjoyed it too - he would clap his hands and smile after each song! Before I know it, he'll be up on stage too! :-(

After the program, we celebrated Jesus' birthday in Sean's classroom with cupcakes. Sean also presented us with a homemade Christmas present - a picture ornament!

Here are a couple video clips - Sean is on the far right in the middle row wearing the blue sweater with stripes:

We love Christmas!

Whew - December was a busy month (that's why I'm finally getting around to updating the blog in January!)! Among the Christmas shopping, parties, school stuff, etc., we still took time to partake in one of Sean's favorite family Christmas traditions: decorating a gingerbread house. We got a better one this year that already included pre-made frosting and had a handy plastic base to hold the house in place. Sean did an awesome job at decorating and eating the candy too. Actually, he kept eating the frosting which was pure sugar! Ryan was excited to help too, but he just kept saying "andy" (his word for candy) and just kept eating the candy. He would even take the candy off the house as we decorated it!

The boys have also enjoyed watching Christmas movies - their favorite was the old Christmas classics - Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Cute story - the boys and I were waiting at the post office a couple of weeks ago and the man said "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings", "whatever you like" and Sean looks at him and says "No, we say Merry Christmas"! It was so cute because he said it so serious!

Christmas Family Pictures

Christmas family picture time is always interesting in our house. It would be a miracle if were all still and smiling at the same time. Last year, our picture captured Sean trying to run away. This year wasn't much better, but we did our best!