Bill and Miss (plus two)

Christmas seemed to come so fast this year.  It was our little guy, Braden's, first Christmas. We started out the festivites at Auntie Di's house on Christmas Eve.  Jacob and Braden were dressed in their Christmas gear.  We actually got Jacob to wear a button down shirt that night...don't know when that will happen again!  Braden was in a little outfit that said Baby's 1st Christmas.  Both boys were so good that night.  Braden went from arms to arms all night long, the only time he was set down was when he was sleeping while we ate.

Jacob had some turkey and mashed potatoes, but I think he enjoyed the mashed potatoes the most!  After dinner Jacob was getting a little bored when we started watching the old home movies of the Robert's Family.  So then we took Jacob outside to see if he saw Santa flying in the sky.  Lo and behold, we heard Santa's "Ho Ho Ho" from inside the house.  Jacob RAN inside the house to find Santa coming out of the fireplace!  The look on Jacob's face was priceless.  Santa brought Jacob a puzzle and Braden a rattle.  Santa held Braden and he was a good boy and didn't cry at all.  We all said goodbye to Santa and Jacob went outside to see if he could see Santa fly away...but Santa was TOO FAST for Jacob because he sped away on his sled before Jacob even got outside.

Jacob got busy putting his puzzle together and his cousins and Aunt Alana were shocked at how well he put his puzzle together.  This puzzle was a little more difficult than the puzzles he normally puts together because it was 62 pieces instead of 25.  Jacob and Braden opened a couple of gifts from their aunts, uncles and grandparents.  Jacob got a game, toddler devotional, some trucks and cash.  Braden got a blanket, a stuffed monkey and cash.  Of course Braden had no idea what was going on the whole night, but he was such a good boy.  Before we knew it, it was 10pm and we had ot get going, Jacob was still jumping around like a mad man, but finally calmed down in the car and fell asleep on the way home.

Christmas morning, Jacob slept in a little.  Braden woke up at about 6:30 becasue he was hungry.  Mommy and Braden got to spend some alone time downstairs while he ate and waited for Jacob and daddy to wake up. Jacob woke up and after we sang happy birthday to him, Jacob ran downstairs to see what Santa brought him.  It was funny that the first thing he noticed was that Santa left part of the cookies we left for him on the plate.  He said "mommy, Santa didn't eat all the cookies"  Oh my gosh, the plate was sitting right next to his Spiderman and he didn't care about that, he was concerned that Santa didn't eat all the cookies...note to Santa next year...eat all the cookies!  So, Jacob of course loved his new Spiderman and spent most of the morning playing with him, that is of course, until Nani and Papa came over to bring their Christmas presents and Birthday presents.

Jacob opened up his first present, the biggest one, and was so excited to see a big Spike, a remote contolled dinosaur.  He also got another puzzle and some cool clothes, which he was so not interested in because he threw them behind him as soon as he opened them.  Braden got some clothes and a ball that he can crawl after (once he starts crawling). 

Then we all got ready to go to Uncle Rj's house for a Christmas celebration with mommy's side of the family.  The boys were both spoiled there.  I felt like the presents were never ending for them.  They both got some really nice clothes and some cute toys from their aunts and uncles and cousins.  Once again, Braden was held the entire time we were there...the boy is loved (and spoiled).  He slept most of the time, but was awake enough to show off his precious little smile.  Jacob enjoyed playing with his little cousin Nathaniel...they were so cute playing in the dinosaur tent Jacob got from his Auntie Vanessa.

We played some games with the adults and then made our way home at about 8:30 or so.  It had been a long two days and not only were the boys exhaused, but mommy and daddy were too!  We all slept in until 9am the next morning...I don't think that has ever happened.  Well, okay mommy and Jacob weren't acutally sleeping until 9, but we were tickling eachother and talking in bed until 9am, which for me counts as sleeping in.

Overall, we had a very Merry Christmas.  I will always remember this Christmas because it was my baby, Braden's, first Christmas.  I remember saying as we were leaving RJ's house that I was sad that my baby's 1st Christmas was already over.  We spend so much time preparing for the day and it goes by so fast!

So until next year...Merry Christmas boys!  mommy and daddy love you!

Yesterday Jacob and Braden had a few friends over to decorate gingerbread houses.  The kids ranged in age from 2 months (Braden) to 3 1/2.  To my surprise all the kids loved decorating their gingerbread houses and it actually held their attention for a long time (at least 30 minutes!).  Jacob really got into decorating his house.  The only thing I did was put the icing on adn he very carefully placed each piece of candy in it's proper spot.  Even though he had his two really good friends sitting next to him, he wasn't distracted by them because he was busy decorating his house.  I loved watching him decorate his house.  After the kids were done, they had a little lunch and then played like good boys and girls together with Jacob's toys.  I was suprised at how wel all the kids played together and there were no major meltdowns.  Braden was a good boy during the party.  He slept through part of it and the other times I or other mommies were holding him.  I think he kind of enjoyed all the excitment :)  In total we had 11 toddler aged kids and 7 babies, yes there were LOTS of babies, but we all had so much fun!

It was so nice to have all the mommys and kiddos here and the moms were so nice to help me clean up!  Everyone had so much fun I think I will make it a yearly tradition. 

WE have so much to be thankful for especially this year with our family complete.  Braden's first Thanksgiving was fantastic.  We went to Nani and Papa's house in the late morning and spent Thanksgiving with our family. Uncle Ralph and Auntie Yolie were in town which was fun to spend time with them and it was the first time they met Braden.

Braden was a good boy all day.  He was held by most everyone there and Auntie Lisa even had the privelege of feeding him.  He slept all through our Thanksgiving feast.  Jacob was excited because after our meal, Nani and Papa gave him a choo choo train to go around our Christmas Tree.  All he wanted to do the rest of the day was play with his new toy.  He spent most of the day earlier watching Scooby Doo which I guess was okay since mommy was helping Nani in the kitchen.

After spending time with mommy's side of the family we went to Aunti Di and Uncle Jeff's house to have dessert with daddy's side of the family.  We got there just as they were finishing up their meal.  Braden was passed around again, but spent most of his time in Grandpa's arms.  Jacob had fun running around with Kevin and Scotty.  We all had a long day so we left kind of early.  On our way home Jacob was begging to go spend the night at Nani and Papas.  Daddy was very tired (he was up all night with Braden the night before) so we dropped him off at home so he could get a good night sleep and the boys and mommy went to spend the night at Nani and Papa's.  By the time we got there, Jacob had fallen asleep in the car.  He didn't even know he spent the night at Nani and Papa's until the next morning.

Friday we just relaxed.  That night we went with Nani, Papa, uncle Ralph and Auntie Yolie to see the lights at the Mission Inn.  It was super crowded when we got there.  Jacob liked seeing the lights and drinking his hot chocolate.  We met up shortly with Erin and Aidan.  Jacob and Aidan had a good time running around and working up a sweat!  Again on the way home, Jacob started crying that he wanted to spend the night at Nani and Papas.  As we went to drop him off he started crying that he wanted us to stay there too...so there we were all staying with Nani and Papa. 

Saturday was another relaxing day, but that night we went home (all of us).  Sunday morning, Jacob and daddy put up the Christmas lights outside while mommy began decorating the inside.  When daddy told Jacob that he was going to help him put up the lights Jacob said they needed to call "Tootles" to help them out.  "tootles" is the thing on the Mickey Mouse CLubhouse cartoon that gives the characters whatever tools they need to complete their task.  Daddy was laughing so hard when Jacob said that.  It was cute to see the boys our there putting the lights up.  We didn't get the tree up until Monday.  Jacob really enjoyed helping mommy put the ornaments on the tree.  He liked it so much that he put almost all of them up.  So our ornaments are all on the bottom front of the tree...it's adorable :)  He is really into Christmas this year.  Of course, Braden has no idea what is going on. 

I recorded Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Jacob has probably seen it 5 times already, he loves it!

On the pool front, they came and put the gunite on the pool ont Tuesday morning.  They are really moving along and we think we are going to have the pool sooner rather than later, it's exciting, but I dont' know if I'm going to want to jump in the pool in the middle of winter, but I guess we are going to have to do it :)

So, until next time...mommy and daddy love our boys!