Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Sorry to have kept you all waiting!  There were just way too many pictures!  Now that Christmas and New Year's have come and gone, and getting back to school and work is settling down, we'd like to spread some belated holiday cheer.

We had the most wonderful Christmas this year.  It was both relaxing and exciting...the most exciting one either of the boys have had yet and the most relaxing holiday vacation we've had as a family. 

Remember how big Mom was on planning this year?  Boy did it pay off!  We had so many wonderful visits and had enough time and enough "happy" for everything and everyone.

We actually got to purchase and decorate our tree with several weekends to spare this year.  The boys were so excited.  They started tearing through the boxes of ornaments and of course hung them all in a big bunch at the bottom of the tree.  Mom decided to go with the flow this year and only fix the ornaments that were falling off the branches.  Good thing because the following morning Joesph's foam airplane(of course it wasn't Joseph, just the plane) knocked the entire tree to the ground.  The joys of boys!

 

 We got to visit the light spectacular at the Turtle Back Zoo too!  Boy was it cold, but boy was it cool.  We got to ride the merry go round AND THOMAS RODE WITHOUT CRYING!!!  His first ride ever that he may have actually enjoyed!  He sat on Auntie's lap on one of the benches while Mom and Joseph picked an animal to ride on.  We asked Thomas to pick an animal too but quickly headed straight to the bench when the tears started welling.  Better the bench than nothing!  

The boys were really excited to see all of the farm animals.  It was a long walk and by the time we got up to the barn full of farm animals the boys had so much cheese on their fingers from their popcorn, the animals were absolutely delighted to lick all of their little fingers(Dad cringed in the background, keeping his distance).  I wish I had pictures but it was just too crowded and everything happened so fast.  We managed to snap this quick shot below(little Carmen was too bundled to move from his stroller and join the boys on the bench).  We capped off the evening with yummy pizza where Joseph enjoyed some coloring and visiting the bathroom a few hundred times, and Thomas and little Carmen played a few rounds of "copy cat".  It was fun.

This was the extent of our cookie making...pretzels, rolos, peanut butter m&m's, a solid half hour of preparation, and no clean up at all.  My kind of cookie making!  YUM!!!

Next was Christmas with the Tarnowski/Cappello Family.  Usually we get to see everyone for dessert on Christmas Day but this year we decided to spend Christmas Day at home.  So everyone came by us the weekend before Christmas to celebrate together.  The boys were delighted to wake up to a room full of visitors...visitors with presents and we were delighted to host for a change.  Hopefully a new tradition for us.

While I enjoyed myself this guy did all the cooking 
and much of the clean up...big smooches!

It's a wonder the tree only fell once!

The very next day we celebrated Christmas with Uncle Carmen, Aunt Chrissy, and cousin Carmen.  Joseph was SO excited to open gifts with cousin Carmen...actually, FOR cousin Carmen.  The boys have so much fun playing together now that they are all walking, talking, and sort of sharing. 

 (stay tuned for my post of the boys playing with this crazy gift...the rocket coaster!)

Twas the night before Christmas where we gather at Gram's...lots of food, lots of family, lots of gifts, and lots of fun! 

 The boys are loving these new chairs!

 Here comes Santa Claus!  Here comes Santa Claus!

Joseph woke at 6:30 on the dot as always..."Can someone come get me in my bed?  I think Santa Claus came and left presents!"  Thomas, we had to wake...and then the fun began!  It was like that first parade in Disney all over again.  The shrieks of joy, the bright smiles, the wide eyes...totally submersed in the innocence, the belief, and the awe of two toddlers.  That was our morning, and what a fine morning it was. 

Like Disney, you just had to be there.

And the rest of our day...

On the 26th we had a nice quiet Christmas and a delicious dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house.  More family, more food, and yes- more presents.  Auntie bought a big tub of dress up clothes for Joseph and Thomas to share.  We certainly have some future firefighters, policemen, doctors, or pirates on our hands!

More cousin fun at Gram's! 
Santa brought Joseph and Thomas fire hats with built in sirens.  Of course he left one for little Carmen too!  We packed little Carmen's to give to him and the boys insisted on bringing theirs too.  The three of them running back and forth from the family room to the kitchen, all three sirens on, and and all three yelling loudly was quite entertaining. 

The rest of our holiday season was filled with trips to the park, Aunt Chrissy's tacos, movie night, hot chocolate, playing in the snow...it was just a great holiday and a fantastic vacation.  It wasn't about dates or gifts, just spending time together with the people you love...the way holidays are supposed to be...not stressful and chaotic, but instead meaningful and enjoyable.

 We had just what we wished for all of you...

the joy of family, the happiness of friends, and the love of Christmas this holiday season.