New Year's

We had our own New Year's Party at home! The boys and I decorated the house with balloons and streamers hanging from the ceiling. We also had hats, leis, horns and whistles. They made it to around 10pm and then we decided it was time for bed. Joe and I thought it would be fun if they slept in the same room. So, we got them both in bed and the slumber party began. Needless to say, we spent the next 45 minuntes sitting in the hallway listening to them talk on the monitor. And every 5 minutes we could hear the footsteps running to the door and they would open it with a big "SURPRISE". So, around 11, we came to the realization that this wasn't going to work and put Jack back in his toddler bed. They were out 10 minutes later.

Christmas Day

Christmas day is more and more fun each year with the boys. It was the first year that Jack kind of understood what was going on and Joey was totally in to it!  Of course, they are spoiled. I think we did a good job of keeping things under control and I tried to keep the "grands" in line as well, but that is hard to do sometimes...they tend to have a mind of their own.  Joey woke up first (not early, thank goodness!). He wanted to go downstairs right away. We had to fend him off while we waited for Jackson to wake up. It worked for maybe 20 minutes and then he was ready to wake his baby brother up. As Joe and I changed Jack and woke up ourselves, Joey slipped down the stairs by himself and all of sudden we heard a gasp and a WOW! He was like the Tasmanian devil for the rest of the morning. Jack liked seeing what Santa had left, but unlike his brother, had no interest in unwrapping things. All he wanted to do was play. When we were done with the Santa and Mommy/Daddy gifts he actually went back in the living room and started to check everything out.  Our family hosted Christmas dinner at our house and it was so nice to not have to pack up and drive. The boys were able to just play and it allowed Joe and I to just sit and enjoy them! After a much needed nap, the boys were full go again when Joe's family arrived. We had a wonderful dinner and played late into the night. It was truly a memory filled Christmas day!

The picture below is from the day after...the boys were so worn out that they went back to sleep on me after waking up from their naps!

Santa

Last year, we did not want to see Santa at the mall. Joe had heard about the train displays at the B&O Railroad Museum downtown and how Santa likes to make a stop there. It was a great time and we decided to make it a tradition. Joey was pumped to see Santa and thank him for the postcard he sent. Jack would get excited as well when we mentioned seeing Santa, so we never anticipated having a problem with pictures. It did not go well. Joey crawled right up on the bench next to him and started talking like they were old friends. When it was time for Jack to sit next to Santa, he would not let go of me. Joe tried sitting on the bench with him and Jack would stand 4 feet away and not budge. Finally, Santa grabbed a couple of candy canes and used them to get Jack up on the bench. But, he sat as far away as he could. Not a "perfect" picture, but a funny story to go with it. :) The last 3 pics are of Jackson terrorizing a snowman displayon our way out of the museum...see the captions for explanation.

Attempting a bribe with a candy cane...

That is as close as he would get!

Taking the snowman's hat

Taking Mrs. Snowman's nose

Giving hugs after he put everything back...

Christmas Tree Cut Down

One good thing about living up north is having the ability to go cut down your own Christmas tree. There is a farm about 15 miles from our house, so we loaded up on a COLD December morning and headed up the road. The boys were real troopers that day, but I think Joey's shear determination to find his perfect tree kept him from noticing. Jack, on the other hand, wanted to be carried everywhere!  Joey finally found the boys tree for the bay window and he helped Joe cut it down. The family tree was spotted soon after. Thank goodness because if it had taken much longer, I think mommy and daddy were just going to grab a pre-cut tree on the way out. ;)

Under the tree...

Timber!

His perfect tree!

Jack decided that the tree needed to be tackled...here is where he made contact.

...and down they both go!

Joey's "Cam Newton" band-aid!

While watching the SEC championship game on Saturday night, Joey noticed that Cam had a large band-aid on his neck. So, he had to have one too. What is funny is that the little dot bandage was as big as we could get him to go...but, he was so proud of it!!!