Merry Christmas!

We had a fun filled two day Christmas extravaganza that we are currently recovering from by staying in and watching movies and playing with the boys and their loot. We basically spent great time with family, ate our way through the holiday with our favorite foods and goodies and got to experience the holiday through our kids' eyes - it was magical.

On Christmas eve we had some of Flo's family over for the breakfast of champions - my delicious orange rolls and Cinnamon. Made me proud that my orange rolls were devoured and there were only a couple of Cinnabons eaten! We had such a good time visiting and relaxing with family the whole day until we Celebrated with the Grenz side of the family that night. I think Jack and Cooper were amped up for the event and giddy about all the decorations, presents and family there that just a few crocodile tears were shed when the Santa made his appearance that night!

On Christmas Day we had my side of the family over to our house to open gifts and nosh on the huge brunch I spent Christmas Eve making. It was a little crazy with 6 little ones (who's combined age was 14) but we had a lot of fun with the help of our dear friend Mr. Coffee.

All in all it was an amazing Christmas to get to start to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas and how we celebrate Baby Jesus' Birthday. I think we definitely got more things from our kids this year than the reverse. Although Flo makes fun of me snapping pictures of everything I wanted to remember how excited and innocent our kids were. It really helped us to just count our blessings and live in the moment! I hope everyone else enjoyed their Christmas as much as we did. I am sad the season is over...I guess only 11 months to enjoy before we get to put up another Christmas tree and listen to Jingle bells over and over again. I can't wait.

Cooper and Monkey taking a ride in his new ride after his Christmas nap.

All the kids on Christmas morning (minus Cooper who was napping) right before the festivities began.

Opening presents on Christmas eve....they definitely LOVED to see the paper fly!

Taking a minute to say thank you with a hug for his new super soft stuffed cow.

Posing with Potato Head.

After Santa handed him the ONE thing he has been asking for for months...he decided he was O.K. and even gave him a high five and a hug.

Cooper got a new Monkey to join his crew...

Family picture moment (amazingly all of our eyes are open and smiles on kids!)

Hanging out with cousins on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve morning...I would like the think the big smiles are because of the yummy orange rolls!
Jack and coops hanging out with THEIR boys T and Travis

These smiles made it all worth it. Merry Christmas!

We miss you Daddy!!

So Branden has been in Santa Barbara since Sunday at Noon and I have been left to the two wild wolves we call Jack and Cooper for the week! Knowing that it was going to be a really long 6 days, so close to Christmas and being cooped up in the house - since so many people we know are sick - I have pulled out all the stops to entice good behavior and make the time go by more quickly since the combined age of my sounding board is 47 months old!

I know Flo is hard at work with training and studying for a huge exam but it has been a test of sorts to see what I can pull out of the closet to amuse the short attention spans... bubbles in the bathtub, blowing up balloons and kicking them around the living room, obstacle course in the family room, jumping on the bed, new books, Christmas light looking with corn dogs and popcorn and the crowning glory tonight we had a dance party to jingle bell rock and grandma got run over by a reindeer. Those boys have moves!

On Monday when we had the fresh fallen snow, I spend a full two hours shoveling the walk and building a massive 5 1/2 ' tall snowman as a surprise for Jack. I labored away in the snow while neighbors honked and drove by and inquired what I was doing....it was all my my boys. I couldn't wait until they woke up and I could show Jack my surprise and then he woke up and I showed him and he was about as excited as I pictured and then hugged me and said "thank you ho ho for bringing snowman to my new home." I didn't have the heart to tell him Santa didn't bring it for him, so Santa took my credit. And about 20 times a day, Jack looked out our front window and said "hi snowman, I love you!" But, due to warmer weather and rain, Mr. Snowman now looks like a blob (see above) and is going away. Its sad.

This was my / Santa's pride and joy...

$1 treat that I made the boys from Wally world = hours of fun. They are like Christmas Gumbys with their faces.

We've had a great week, and I didn't pull all my hair out, but late late tomorrow night when Flo's plane gets in cannot come soon enough! We miss you and can't wait to start more Christmas activities next week with you! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Snow!!

We woke up this morning to about 4 inches of fresh snow in our front yard and Jack couldn't have been more excited! His excitement rubbed off because Cooper was running around the living room giggling and we decided to get dressed before breakfast and head out to enjoy the morning snow.

It might have lasted only 30 minutes but as a mom, it was the first time Jack was excited to go outside and be in the snow, much less play! I am sure it was all those snow balls he saw Daddy pelt our cars and windows with last year...because all he wanted to do was make "no balls"

started out making snow balls and then he was just laying in the snow and sort of flopping around with pure joy!

We took a mini walk around the neighborhood. It was perfect. Not a soul up yet and the street was pristine!

Cooper was starting to get in the action as well...

I guess its time to go get snow pants and boots for the two tikes which is a good thing! I was holding off because I wasn't sure if it would be a waste like last year but I think we will definitely be venturing out in the snow this year! It just makes everything feel more festive with the covering of white that during cooper's first nap Jack and I are watching The Polar Express.