Christmas day

After our morning of toys and more toys we headed up to Chris' mom's house for our final Christmas. It's always nice to have this as our last stop because we open and eat a bunch and then we just kind of veg and hang out the rest of the day. Thanks Gma Cindy and Pop for a great last Christmas celebration and relaxing day. :)

Yeah, Braden got Jessie...the last toy story character "he needed." Now if anyone needs to know where all the Toy Story 3 characters, toys, or accessories are in the stores, just come to my house because they are there and probably in Braden's bed. Ha!

Ethan and his "cheese" that he was so proud of now.

Toy Story 3. We were waiting on this one...WE meaning all of us-such a cute movie.

Chris and his annual present of new boxers.

I was at Christmas too!

The family shot...and hey, we're all looking and smiling!! WOW!

After presents and way too much food, we all settled in on Gma Cindy's bed for some Toy Story 3!

* Christmas is over and I'm a little sad each year when it ends. I just LOVE all the anticipation, the shopping, the parties, decorations, trees, lights...the list goes on and on. It's such a special time of the year for family, friends and to celebrate the real reason of Christmas and to recognize God's love and blessings. To say I am blessed is an understatement! I sure am a lucky girl to have such a wonderful family, caring husband and happy, healthy (and wild) boys. I wouldn't change a thing!! I hope you had a Christmas full of special memories and moments too!! Just think...only 364 days until we get to do this again. Hee hee. Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas morning

I love Christmas morning about as much as I did as a kid. As a matter of fact I was up first just waiting on the kids to get up. :) I guess I should enjoy that now because in a few more years it will be 5:00 a.m. Christmas'!! Chris and I...um I mean Santa had everything ready for the kids when they got up and came downstairs but with all the excitement I managed to forget a picture of the tree with presents. Oops! I did get Santa's plate though and check out this cute little plate. Braden made it at preschool. :)

Santa left the boys a Gator for their main present. They loved it and "tried" to ride it in the basement but ended up hitting walls and almost running over Ethan several times, so we quickly moved it outside. :)

Ethan loves sitting in anything with a steering wheel.

Yeah baby...Ethan has his own chair now just like Braden.

Braden got some new dress up things...he loves dress up clothes and accessories...I mean like shields and swords not necklaces and barrettes. hee hee

Ethan got pretty good at opening presents but it was the kind of opening where one tiny piece came off at a time so by the time he'd ripped 25 pieces he was about done even though the present wasn't opened yet. :) Not to worry, big brother was always right there to take over!

At about this moment Ethan learned how to say "cheese" and pose for the camera. I loved it! All day he'd say, "Cheeeeeesse" with that sweet little grin and of course I'd snap away.

After we wrapped up presents and breakfast, Braden and Chris took the gator outside to try it in the snow. It worked a little better on the sidewalks. We can't wait for a warmer day to really try it out. :)

* After this we played and played and played some more and then headed up to Gma Cindy's.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve morning we always head up to Spencer to spend the day with my family. We had a great day spending time with the family we don't get to see much and there were plenty of kids to play with for sure! :) Thanks mom for all the yummy food, gifts and fun!

Handsome boys

Ethan had fun helping all the cousins open their gifts. He was especially into this box!

Braden got Rex...or "Rexy" as he calls him. Rex was added to the loot he sleeps with at night after this day.

Ethan watching Grandma Trish open her surprise present. All the kids went in together and got her a computer and she was thrilled!! yeah for surprises!

Christmas "Eve" Eve :)

On the 23rd we went to Chris' dad's to celebrate Christmas. The boys ended up with endless amounts of toys and were super excited to play with everything! It was pretty hard to get Braden to part with any toys and get to bed...plus he wanted to sleep with half his toys. :) Thanks Papa T and Mimi for the awesome night and gifts!

The kiddos-Braden and Ethan posed with cousin Izzie.

Sweet cousins! These two are only 5 weeks apart in age.

Yeah! Buzz Lightyear walkie talkie arms

The pirate ship...this might be the favorite gift this year...if not it's awfully close. Braden sat at Papa T's table and played so quietly with this for over an hour! It's still on our kitchen table so he can play with it while he eats or anytime he wants.

Lotso on the garbage truck...another toy he slept with this night :)

Ethan helped Granny open her gifts

He got a helicopter from cousin Izzie. He loved it!

Granny's Christmas Party

Last Saturday we hosted Granny's Christmas party at our house. We had so much fun visiting with family, eating yummy food and guess what? We had another surprise visit from Santa. :) Since Granny hears we have Santa visit on Friday night she always asks if he can visit again on Saturday. I think Santa definitely knows how to get to our house at this point. :) Braden doesn't seem to mind seeing Santa multiple times and Ethan even got a little more comfortable this time around.

My cutie pies

Braden & his sweet Granny (well actually great granny :).

Ethan sat like this for over 10 minutes hanging with his second cousins. He never sits this chilled out with us. I think he was liking the girls. :)

Another visit with Santa...Braden loves it

Ethan didn't want to sit with Santa but he was ok being close this time. :)

Cousin Izzie and Braden together...oh and a chocolate bar

Opening their presents

Ethan loved his new train! Thanks Aunt Cathy!

Our Santa Party

Tonight we had a few friends over for our annual Santa party. We did this last year for the first time and enjoyed it so much that we decided it will just have to be one of our Noble traditions each year. :) I would love to invite everyone we know but with the basement, it just gets so packed (and so hot!) so we unfortunately really have to limit it. :( The kids' faces are priceless when Santa shows up and we're always entertained by Santa's "ho ho's" since it's always a first time Santa. :) This year we had a teacher friend of Chris' and he did a great job! Almost all of the kids wanted to sit on Santa's lap and they all definitely enjoyed their presents! Thanks to all of our friends that could make it and thanks for the yummy treats!!

Braden and Tyler cheesing it up-how handsome are these boys?! :)

He's here!!!!

This is what Ethan did when Santa arrived...he went the other way! Ha!

All of the kids sat so nicely while they took turns sitting on Santa's lap

Braden took his turn...always so serious with Santa. I tried to put Ethan on but he screamed. :)

Santa hands out gifts

Braden got Bullseye from Toy Story. He's been asking for Bullseye and Jessie since November. He didn't act overly excited at first but he was!! He must have been in shock. :) He kept saying, "Santa really brought me it. He got me what I wanted. Now I just need Jessie. :"

Ethan opening his first gift of Christmas...I think he might get the hang of this after all of our celebrations. :)

Ethan got a fish that sings and swims in the tub.

Braden, Tyler, Carson & Jackson show off their presents. Such big boys these days.

Braden & Jackson were reenacting all of Toy Story together. Ha!

The boys...(The men) hanging out in the kitchen

The girls chatting it up :)

Ethan is such a ham. He was showing off half the night with this bucket on his head. He is so stinkin' cute I tell ya! :)

15 Month check-up

Have I mentioned how BIG my baby is?!?! Ethan had his 15 month checkup today and my oh my is he big stuff now! He weighed in at a whopping 30 lb.s and 15 ounces!! His little line graph on his growth chart was waaaaaaaaayyy up off the percentile ranks. ha! What's crazy is that he weighed 5 pounds more than Braden at this same appointment and Braden was always at the top of the chart. He was 33 inches long too. I love it though...I love his meaty thighs when he runs around in his diaper and I love the fact that I can't carry my baby with one arm for over a minute. Hee hee! Dr. Lane said he looks great and he's just a big boy. He ran all over the exam room and played with her Dr. tools and hammed it up like always. I love my big 'ole chunky monkey baby Ethan!!! :)

Delays and snow days!

It has been a week of school delays and cancellations around here. That means we have more time to do stuff at home and Chris is with us! Both things the boys and I love. :) Here are a few random activities we enjoyed being home together this week. :)

A little time for reading...

A little time for holiday baking...

Time for painting...

Time to help Daddy put the new furniture together...

Of course just time to be silly...

and time for me to "craft." Here is the gift Braden and I made for his teacher.

* But most of all, just time to be in our PJ's and enjoy being snowed in together. :)