All Nate Wants for Christmas...

...is his TWO FRONT TEETH!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!

Christmas Memories 2011

I feel inclined to document at least some of our Christmas goings on for posterity so bear with me.  I'll keep it brief.

Christmas 2011

(My niece, Kensington and Alex)

Christmas Eve was at my Mom's as usual.

We had lots of fun time hanging with the family.

We all got a ton of snuggle time with my new niece, Coraleigh (also know as Ardie or Ardie-chokie)

Grandpa and Ardie shared some quality time (somewhere I have photos of my Dad doing this very pose with both my boys, I should dig it out for comparison!)

As per tradition, we did a grazing meal where we each bring appetizers and stand around and gorge ourselves all night, vs. a big prepared meal we sit down for and someone has to slave over.  So we had FOOD, lots and lots of food...(including my Mom's Choco Acorns, my FAVORITE!!!)

There was lots of excitement over great gifts!

All were comfy, snuggled up, warmed by the woodstove

(Brother-in-law, Chris, with Coraleigh)

There was playing with cousin, Ian (who Nate now calls "Sport" because of 

the shirt he was wearing on Christmas Eve)

Then home to put cookies out for Santa, and get to sleep!

Santa brought Alex his very own tool box...he's been "fixing" stuff all over the house ever since!

Nate got a fire house and Santa brought him his very own Red Ryder BB gun (!)

It took less than 20 minutes to create this destruction on Christmas morning.

Big brother, Adam came over for presents and breakfast and helped Alex build with his new tinker toys.

Then he brought out the "big guns: and helped Alex assemble a wooden boat kit he got...such handy men!

Alex got to ride his ATV while Daddy and Nate went out back to try out his new BB gun.  I guess no snow for Christmas wasn't ALL bad.

We had Dave's family over for dinner/dessert on Christmas Day.  Then had a completely lazy day after Christmas.  That night, we loaded the boys up into the car with their PJs, blankets, and bags of popcorn and drove out to Waterport to catch a light show we had heard about.  

The spectacle boasted some 40,000 lights set to music and was pretty impressive!  Totally worth the 15 minute drive!  

It was nice to have Daddy home with us to enjoy the WHOLE holiday weekend!  Usually he has to work most or all of it so this year was quite a treat!

Now, the massive job of un-decorating has to be done (my least favorite part) but for now, we'll just enjoy the lights, mess, and chaos as we ring in the new year!

SOS

Is anyone still out there?!?

It's been so long since I posted anything here I feel like I need to write a long, rambling post complete with minute-by-minute details of our life from the last month or so just to catch up.  *Breathe*  But that would be REALLY boring for those of you (still) reading this blog.  :)  So, as 2011 draws to a close, it is my intention to post a few (shorter) stories to share (so as not to forget them) but to hopefully try and keep your eye bleeding to a minimum. 

So much to say with so little time!! 

Hope your Christmases were fabulous, fun, and filled with friends and family!   I'll be back!  (No, that's not a THREAT!)  :)

We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

I wanted to stop in and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!  I have been busy around here doing the traditions of the season...Breakfast with Santa, Christmas cards to friends and family, cutting down a Christmas tree, shopping, wrapping, making cookies, Christmas crafting, and lots of celebrating.  I had hoped to write about some of our family's Christmas traditions, but actually doing and living these traditions has prevented me from having the time to share actual stories of them so it will have to wait.

Today we are off to pay a visit to my mother-in-law where we have a Christmas tree for her that Nathaniel is very excited to help her decorate.  Then we're heading to my parents' house for a Yousey Family Christmas.  Here we will graze, drink Dad's delicious homemade eggnog, share some presents, let the kids play, talk, play games, and hang out.  It's always a low-key, low pressure, relaxing (albeit loud with the kids!) get together that I look forward to every year.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with your families and make lots of fantastic memories with the ones you love!  Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all a good night!

I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas, full of wonder and joy...family and friends...magic and spirit...

Merry Christmas!