Christmas Events - The Grand Finale

I'm not sure our Christmas has ever extended so long before and after Christmas.  We've been celebrating for a week and a half.  Friday night, we drove to my mom's house.  Miles opened his gifts from my mom when we got there around 8:30pm.  He wasn't able to come with me last weekend when my family actually celebrated Christmas b/c he had the croup.

This is a catapult for his castle.  He has been wanting this for a while.  He calls it a cannibal.

Cheesing for the camera...

Miles' cousin Seth, and his wife, Morgann, are in town from England.  They haven't seen Miles since he was a baby.  It was so good to see them.

Hugging his cousin, Sarah...

Saturday morning when we woke up, Darrin didn't feel good at all.  We decided to go home rather than share our germs.  Sickness has really messed with our plans this year.  Miles had not opened presents from Aunt Emily and Uncle Dave, and his cousins, Caleb, Seth, Morgann & Sarah, so we drove by there house on our way out of town.  They are so sweet to Miles and I wanted him to be able to open what they had bought for him.

He loved his Angry Birds from Caleb...

The teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a hit of course.  Thank you all for spoiling our child so well.

I drove home while Darrin & Miles slept.  It was a very quick trip, and I hate that we had to cut it short, but it's just been one of those crazy, sick seasons.  Hoping the germs leave our house asap.  I'm tired of them.  Next year, everyone is getting hand sanitizer, Lysol, and vitamin C in their stockings.

Today we celebrated Christmas with Darrin's family.  I thought we were going to have to cancel b/c Darrin felt so bad yesterday, but he pulled it together today.  Miles help Granny make cookies when we got there.  He loved that.  He's a good helper, and cooking is his favorite.

He was so happy to see Olivia & Ava.....and Pearl....

Ava being sassy...

Crazy cousins...

Miles was very happy to get a Jake & the Neverland Pirates toy from Granny & Pa...

I'm not sure it gets much cuter than this.  Olivia got a hat too, but she opened it way after the little ones. 

Aunt Crystal in Miles' new football sleeping bag...

Ava & Miles pretend sleeping.  I asked Ava to move over by Miles so I could take a picture.  She said that she wanted to stay there, and Miles said, "But you're my best friend".  Ava told me to take the picture like that and then she would move....and she did.  Miles and Ava are so much alike it's crazy.

Olivia was just trying to get away from them...

A final Merry Christmas for 2012!  Despite the yucky sickness we've been dealing with, it's been a wonderful Christmas season. We hope yours has been great also.

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas - Part III

Christmas Day!!!  What a fun day.  Our little family has enjoyed every minute of it.  Playing Santa was a little tricky b/c Miles never stays in his bed all night.  We were scared for Santa to come too early in the night and then Miles see everything around 1 or 2am as he walked to our room.  I set my alarm for 3:30am to set everything out, but when it went off, he still wasn't in our room.  We took our chances and Santa dropped everything off at 3:30am.  When he came to our bed sometime after that, he didn't remember it was Christmas and never looked by the tree.  I kind of figured that would happen, but you never know.

We got up around 6:30am.  I put some french toast in the oven that I prepared last night.  It just had to cook this morning.  It was delicious.  Darrin made some coffee and then we waited.  We decided to wake him up around 7am.  Darrin stayed in the living room to film his reaction.  I went to wake him up.  I told him that Santa had come to our house.  He said, "Is he still here?"  I told him no.  He said, "But I wanted to meet him."  He was genuinely disappointed.  I finally convinced him that isn't how it works and he came out to see his presents. 

He asked for a lot of things over the last month, but a dragon and an ogre were always top of the list.  Santa heard his wish list and brought a dragon...

...and an ogre...

He also go the Shellraiser, which is the Ninja Turtles' van.  It's been a big hit today...

 

He loved everything in his stocking.  That was always one of my favorite things.  Growing up, mine was always overflowing.

He's saying, "Marmee has these"...

Hungry, Hungry Hippo was a huge hit...

Darrin's been dealing with some back issues for the last 4-5 days.  Today, was really bad.  At times, the pain was so bad he could barely walk.  He made the most of the day.  We found some old muscle relaxers that were actually prescribed for this same problem, and that has helped him deal with it.  He's going to the doctor ASAP.  Unfortunately, we had to miss the get together with his dad's side of the family.  That was a bummer but the weather was very cold and rainy, so maybe it was a good night to stay in.

Miles didn't want french toast.  This kid is a routine kind of guy.  He eats mini pancakes every morning.  He always wants to be the one that puts them on the plate.  He takes one bite out of each frozen, mini pancake before arranging them on the plate, the same way every morning.  He eats them with sprinkles b/c syrup makes his face around his mouth break out in red splothes.  Same thing every day :)

We played several of his new games.  Many rounds of Hungry, Hungry Hippo, a couple games of Uno Moo, and several games of my new favorite, Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel.  It is a very simple game, perfect for a 3 year old, but it is adorable.  Highly recommend.

He played in his new castle more today, which is residing in our entry way...thank you so much Aunt Crystal & Uncle Steve.  Consider us even for the ball pit we bought Olivia years ago.  Truce!  Kidding....he loves the castle.

I spent 2-3 hours cleaning out Miles' playroom today.  I went through all the toys and boxed up stuff to put away until we are in a permanent house and stuff to get rid of.  We have too many toys to take to the rental, but hopefully our future house will have a playroom and we can get some of these things back out.  For now, the room looks clean and organized...

Then, we watched the Grinch and some Mickey Mouse...

...until he passed out for the night. 

Hands down, the best Christmas ever.  Merry Christmas everyone!