Christmas Extravaganza 2010

We had such a big and busy Christmas I'm just now able to sit down and blog about it.  Whew!

We started our Christmas celebration here at home in Beaverton in what we call "our little family Christmas". We've done this since we moved to Oregon three years ago instead of hauling all of our gifts for each other to MT and back again. Just seems to make more sense this way.
It was so fun this year because Xander had a better grasp on the concept of giving and of what Christmas is really about. When we asked him why Christmas is such a special day he told us, "Because it's when Jesus and Grampa Larry were born." He also had fun anticipating Santa and asked A LOT of questions concerning the process of knowing who is naughty or nice,  how Santa can actually fit down our chimney  and just how exactly a reindeer can fly.
It was also a very special day since it was Eli's very first Christmas. He obviously didn't get what was going on and paid more attention to the paper and ribbons than anything. We enjoyed finding things for our second little boy, which was a bit more challenging since he really didn't need a thing. His face in this first picture cracks me up and I have no idea why he's making it!

 Xander was extremely excited by the box of Tic Tacs he found in his stocking. If that's all he wanted, I could have saved a lot of money this year!!

We spent "actual" Christmas at my parents' house and had a great time hanging out with everyone for almost two weeks. Again, it was our nephew Owen's first Christmas also and it was so fun to watch the babies crawl around after all the toys and chase Xander.


Eli getting some love from Great Grandma Louise and Great Grandpa Jesse

 Xander's new traveling neck pillow, apparently he was so excited he had to go with a double pinch on this one.

 Eli's 1st Christmas and Xander's 4th

 Xander's new chef outfit, courtesy of GaGa

Eli and cousin Owen had a great time in GaGa's big clawfoot bath tub!



We then got to celebrate one more time with Jason's parents who were out of town visiting his little brother on Christmas. Xander was thrilled that Santa found him a 3rd time! Eli got in on the unwrapping a little this time also.

 Xander was helping Grandma Sherry with her new mountain goat marionette

 You know it's going to be good when the box is as big as you are!

Even though it's a LONG drive to get there, it's always worth spending Christmas with our families. Plus, playing in the snow on Christmas is pretty great.

 This is the snowman that Xander and Jason made at my parents' house. I think it's the best snowman I've ever seen! The Santa hat was 100% Xander's idea. He said to Jason, "Dad, I think he needs a crazy hat! Like maybe a Santa hat!"

 Sledding with Auntie Shayla! No, Eli did NOT go down the hill alone in his baby sled.

 I love that both Jas and I were out there to sled with the boys!

Eli was very fond of eating the white stuff and eventually figured out that he could just dip his glove in the snow and eat it all by himself!

First Christmas Program

Last night Xander had his first ever Christmas program at his Preschool. He looked adorable and was super excited to be there.

I love the "tough-guy" face picture. He's such a kid now!! No more baby Xander. Good thing I've got my sweet Eli baby so I'd be sad!


Now, once we got to the program Xander was still wound up and running around like a crazy man.

Getting up on stage was a different story.....

Click here to watch the video
(Does anyone know how to embed a vimeo video into blogspot?)



He told me later, "Momma, I was a little nervous up there."
I think between the lights and the sea of parents and grandparents in front of him it was all a little too intimidating. He finally dropped his hand and sang the Jingle Bells songs at the end and jingled his bell like a pro! Too bad we didn't get that on video! I'm just so glad Jas was able to be there in between work and a work event. Made Xander's day to have both of us there!




It was all worth it in the end, though!

9 months and crazy faces

Eli turned 9 months last week. I know they say it always "goes so fast" with the second one, but to experience it is a different thing. I feel like I was just pregnant with him and now he's crawling all over the house, playing with trucks and trying to chase his big brother.

I'm having such a hard time getting a good picture of Eli lately because he's moving around so much. Our house doesn't have enough natural light so I often have to use the flash. He's started making the silliest squinty-eyed face when he sees the red-eye light (see below).
Also, I'm sure you're noticing a lack of Xander photos lately also. Being 3 is a new adventure every day and has come with a fair share of drama and attitude. He's often not in the mood for a photo shoot but occasionally I catch him.

I've also found it ridiculously difficult to catch Xander with a "normal" smile and Eli also looking in the general direction of the camera AND both of them in focus. I fear we're going to have a fairly blurry photo family photo album at this stage of our life. Still makes for some pretty hilarious pictures.


Also......a trip down memory lane.

Here is what we looked like this time last year :)

Roughhousing