Wordless Wednesday

Ella and Aidan's 3rd Christmas!

It is so hard to believe that we just celebrated Ella and Aidan's 3rd Christmas. Time simply flies by these days. Life used to seem normal to me...a week "felt like" a week and year "felt like" a year.

But since having Ella and Aidan, time feels as though it is escaping my grasp with each passing moment. I once heard someone say that having children makes for some of the longest days, yet some of the shortest years. That is pretty darn accurate!

So here we are, with another Christmas under our belt. I can honestly say that Ella and Aidan really got into the opening of presents this year - Christmas morning was chaotic fun! They are getting the concept of Santa - I imagine next year will be the real "Santa" year.

It was wonderful to share in the Holidays with so many fun events with our friends, and to cap it all off with a Christmas day filled with laughter and family!

Christmas Day

I am still in the process of making a video that will do much more justice to the events of our Christmas this year, but until then, a few pictures will have to suffice.

Christmas morning was a blur - a flurry of unwrapping presents and screams of joy at the discovery of new toys.

The overall theme turned out to be Buzz Lightyear and Minnie Mouse - Ella and Aidan were thrilled!

Aidan shows off his new Buzz Lightyear hat and gloves....

....and opens his huge talking Buzz Lightyear!

Ella shows off her new Minnie Mouse hat and gloves....

....and her huge new Minnie Mouse!

We enjoyed a nice brunch with the Parkers and Mema. Mimosas, fruit, breakfast casserole, etc. all made for full bellies!

The Grandfathers had fun eating at the kids table!

That evening we all enjoyed a fabulous Christmas dinner at the Parker's house.

Good times with good food and family - what more could anyone ask for?

It was a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve From Our Little Reindeer!

Aidan asked for a candy cane for Christmas, so I gave them both an early surprise this afternoon - two HUGE candy canes.

It turns out that Aidan does not like candy canes after all. However, Ella sure does!

This evening the kids donned their matching pj's....

....left Santa his cookies....

....and hung the stockings by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there!

Last Visit with Santa

This evening we met up with the Kilcoyne family make one last impromptu visit with Santa. There is a house not far from ours that really goes all out with their decorations, and even has a Santa out front handing out candy canes.

Poor Ella was once again terrified and refused to be put down. Aidan; however, shocked us all by asking to give Santa a hug!

After dinner, the kids were so excited to wear their Santa PJ's!

Christmas Artwork

Ella and Aidan made some wonderful artwork this Holiday season in preschool!

Angels made out of their hands and feet....

....Christmas trees - both with construction paper and their hands....

....stocking ornaments....

....and candy cane reindeer!

They made Mom and Dad a special present....

....ceramic tile wreaths!

They even got presents from their teachers - Miss Phyllis and Miss Kellie!

Thank You, Miss Phyllis and Miss Kellie for all of your hard work, and for all of the fun you provide for Ella and Aidan!

Wordless Wednesday

More Holiday Fun with Friends

Always in search of something fun to do with the munchkins, we found a little hidden gem within our local Blacklion - a mini Santa's Wonderland complete with singing bears.

We met up with Juliane, Patrick and Finnegan for what turned out to be quite a good time!

Ella and Aidan were thrilled when their friends arrived....

....but still chose to keep their distance from the singing bears!

They did eventually join in with Patrick and dance to the music....

....while Finnegan was perfectly content playing with the sand!

Eventually, Ella, Aidan and Patrick figured out the secret to Santa's personal mailbox. For a good 1/2 hour they would take out the letters and re-mail them...over and over again!

Ella (our little left handed princess) even took a moment to write her own wish list letter to Santa!

Snow Globes and Holiday Lights

Although it turned out to be somewhat of a bust, we all still had a fun morning!

We met up with Juliane, Patrick and Finnegan at Northlake Mall for what we thought was going to be a mecca of giant snow globes of fun for the kids - at least that is what the advertising led us to believe!

As it turned out, there were three snow globes - granted they were huge, but it was really just a way to entertain people while in line to visit Santa.

Nonetheless, the kids had fun in the Polar Express themed snow globes and it was good to do something on the opposite side of town for a change! And heck, anything with our dear friends is a good time!

See what I mean? High fives are always in order after a fun morning!

We ended our day by visiting a local Holiday lighting display that is coordinated to music - it was incredible!

Sunday Rebound - Part Two!

During naps Mike went to pick up Abby and Ripley. They are now officially back home with the family! It has proven to be quite the adjustment - more for the dogs than for the kids. Ella and Aidan are fascinated (to say the least) and have spent most of the time chasing, climbing, feeding, kissing and calling Abby and Ripley. Abby prefers to keep her distance and just hides in the dining room, while Ripley seems to be a bit of a glutton for punishment.

When the kids woke up they were thrilled to see the dogs! We all played for quite a while and then began our next Holiday adventure for the afternoon - decorating Christmas cookies!

Things started out well and Ella and Aidan both had so much fun choosing their "topping" from the bowls. Then Aidan got his hands dirty, got upset, and announced that he was all done.

Ella stuck it out and really got into the whole process. She may have eaten more than she decorated.....

.....but when she decorated, she abandoned the bowls and double-fisted with the sprinkles!