Christmas was so much fun this year! James and Owen are at the perfect age to really understand and enjoy our family holiday traditions. Both boys were so sweet and geuine in their amazement and fascination with everything to do with this season. We enjoyed Christmas Eve at Sally & Mike's house with Stacey, Diane, Dan, Aaron, Johnna, Baby Alexis, Travis and Patty. My parents came to our house and spent the night so this morning they were here to enjoy watching the boys open all their gifts on Christmas morning. James woke up at 5:30 (of course), but was very patient until everyone else woke up. Owen was the last to wake and he only woke up with help from his brother. He did not want to get out of bed, but once he finally came out to the livingroom and saw all the wonderful things Santa brought, he got into the spirit.
Right now the boys are sitting around enjoying their new toys. Favorite gifts this year included:
*new wooden blocks and craft book from Grandma Mary & Grandpa Allen
*Leapster Tag Reading System & Books from Grandma Cindy & Grandpa Kevin
*Dress-up chest complete with 12 new costumes (Batman, Spiderman, Power Rangers, Pirate, Transofrmer Bumblbee, and more!) from Mom & Dad
*Star Wars Transformer and Handy Manny toy from Grandma Sally and Grandpa Mike *Dinosaur palientology kit and Handy Manny p.j.'s from Auntie Stacey
.....and more!!!
.....and more!!!
I think we've got a lot of fun hours of play ahead of us!
Owen in his Santa hat on Christmas Eve
Aaron & Alexis
Opening gifts at Sally's house on Christmas Eve
Owen with his new loot- fridge farm, math desk, Handy Manny toy set and Ming Ming duck from Wonder Pets
Sally with baby Alexis
Jason, Travis, Aaron, Johnna and Patty on Christmas Eve
Sweet little Alexis in her special first Christmas dress- so adorable!
Stacey looking cute & having some lunch
Alexis and I
Diane, Aaron & Alexis 
Mike, Taylor & Owen hanging out
James made some "reindeer food" at his Christmastime Tots preschool class. It was oatmeal mixed with silver glitter, which we had to scatter in our yard before bed on Christmas Eve so Santa would be able to find his way to our driveway.
Setting out treats for Santa & the reindeer
When James woke up at 5:30 a.m., it was too early to open gifts yet, so he got out his new palientology set to dig for dinosaurs for a while.
FINALLY Owen woke up and it was time to look at the gifts Sant had delivered!!
Choosing the first gifts to open
present time!
Owen loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and he was very impressed with the mouse ears he got from Santa the paly music & games.
A very excited Owen shows off his new lacing cards.
Big-boy socks, new Transformer underwear and a new Transformer hat for James!
My mom and I- tired, but awake (just barely!)
Time to open gifts, everyone!
Making a book craft
Playing with the new pinball machines with Grandpa
Owen had so much fun with his new Tag Reading pen- a very cool thing! It reads stories and plays interactive games with special books made to be used with it.
James also loves his Leapster Tag reading pen- thanks Grandma Cindy & Grandpa Kevin!
