Merry times continue...

We had a great Christmas! Christmas Eve is with my family. then, Christmas Day, we get up and go to Joe's parents. This year, we had to wake up our boys at 8:45....they were so tired! Santa comes to our house...not much...since they get so much from grandparents and family! Spencer got the Leap Frog My First computer that hooks up to the TV. He loves it! He has been playing our laptop for a few weeks and loves it. So we decided to get him his own! Cooper didn't get a big gift this year...he is hard to buy for! So he got some smaller things....luckily, he's 2...and doesn't care!

Then we went to Grammy and Grampy's and it is crazy time...gifts galore and kids running around! The boys had a blast and the grandkids got a motorized jeep that they of course had to go try....out in the cold! We go by my mom and dad's, since Santa makes another stop there for my boys...and then home to play and nap (Joe and Coop). Our house looks like a train depot...train parts everywhere!

Back to Grammy's for dinner and hanging out. This year it was all about the game called Rock Star, where people get to "play"musical instruments and make a band...I guess it's an XBox thing? The Greshams started it out and then Brian, Greg, Maddie, and Joe played for a long time...my hubby was the singer....I think he missed his calling...shoulda been a rock star!

But it was a very merry...and joyous...Christmas! (The boys even tried to play...future rock band?)

Pt. 3 for Jenny

a few more...yes, Coop is wearing his beloved Halloween costume...he went from church clothes to costume to diaper only...that's our Coop!

Christmas Eve...for Jenny

Jenny,

this post is for you...we missed you a lot this evening...don't ever do this again (not come home for Christmas!!!)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to my blog readers! Hope your days are merry and bright! Leaving you with some images of our holiday so far...after our fire truck ride, Spence and his advent calendar, some holiday decorations, and our Christmas card displays...love getting those cards!!! :-)

Our little actor and Christmas card rejects...

OK, check off more Christmas traditions...Spencer was in his first Christmas show! He was supposed to be in it 2 days, but he got major stage fright at dress rehearsal! He decided after all he could do it (who is he kidding? That child is a born actor!)...so for the last show today, he did it! He was one of the shepherds, and only on stage for about 3 minutes! But he was proud of himself!

We are getting some beautiful Christmas cards in the mail...one of my favorite things of the season...and I am always behind in sending mine out! I want that perfect picture...that elusive family photo...hard to get with my wiggly 2-year-old! I took some today by the tree, Cooper actually smiled, but Spencer was making a weird face...needless to say, none of these worked out...I did turn in my order today with another photo, so look for our card in your mailbox in a few days! :-)

Joe and I went to a dinner last night with a bunch of couples. It was nice to get out! Nice to be served and have my own drink and my own food, and not share with two curious little guys. We had an ornament exchange. Joe ended up with a turkey ornament, a turkey in camo, holding a gun. Very interesting...and very popular with the guys. Yes, it is on our tree. Our tree, asI have written about before, is a menagerie of ornaments andI wouldn't have it any other way! The boys' first ornaments, my baby ornaments, homemade ornaments, ones that students have given me, joke ornaments, our first Christmas together ornaments....love it! :-)

Gingerbread house builders

Today we decorated a gingerbread house! It was our first time as a family. It was a lot of fun, though Coop wasn't into it that much. He decorated it a little, then left the table with a bag of candy! Spencer had a great time. We even listened to Christmas music the whole time! I didn't mention that our Coop is the family DJ. He likes to put on the music. Last night while we were decorating the tree, we tried to listen to our Christmas music, but Coop changed it to the Ramones. Nothing like the Ramones to put you in the holiday spirit! Ha! Coop's favorites: Wiggles, Laurie Berkner, Ramones, the Killers, a mix CD I made for Spencer...

Hope you are enjoying your holiday!

We have a tree!

Finally we got our tree! I was so gung ho about decorating this year...but got lazy...and tired...didn't really want to drag out the boxes from the garage, but today was finally D-Day...and we got the tree. It was fun! We picked it out really quickly, though Spencer fell in love with a tall tree, and he really was sure it was the perfect one! Also took some pics at the lot with Grammy & Grampy.

Other than that, we're doing fine. Busy...busy with school, pre-school, life...Joe convinced me to host a Pampered Chef party this week b/c he really wants some new knives...he's the cook in the family. So, if you like Pampered Chef and want to come, or place an order online...let me know! :-)

ditched my work party tonight...oops...but wanted to go to church and hang with my family more. Had to get the tree decorated. I am posting a pic of Joe and me holding the traditional first ornaments to go on the tree...the ones our moms bought us for our first Christmas together. Every year put those up first, as well as take a picture of each other putting those up. Spencer took this picture...it's a little blurry, but you get the picture...hahaha...get the picture! Cracking myself up at 11:40 PM...better go to bed!

Congrats to my cousin Scott and his wife on their brand new little girl, Mirabella...she's being adopted into a wonderful family and two parents who are ecstatic to be parents finally! Yay!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays, friends and family! God bless you!

Love from our family...

(yes, that is Coop's real personality...)