Christmas 2012

 

So another Christmas season done and gone.

It's amazing how fast it flies by...

I've noticed that I comment on the poor quality of my picture taking a lot on holiday posts.

This post will be no different.

I guess it's just a sad reality, that the holidays are for too chaotic for perfectly posed photo ops!

 

The week of Christmas we were all sorts of busy... Christmas partying...gift buying...and working to explain to Jack why Santa hadn't come just yet.

It was a lot of fun this year, as he was really into the whole Santa thing.

We called him regularly as bribery for eating.

 

 

The weekend before the big day, we spent the evening at my mom's for the Tucker/Eliason party.

It was great to have the party back at her home like we did in the old days. She did a wonderful job (as usual), and their home was perfect for the occasion!





Santa even made a visit...and boy oh boy was Jack excited.

He really had a hard time waiting for him to call out his name to come up and sit on his lap.

 

 

 

Finally, it was his turn!

Good thing Santa knew how bad Jack wanted this bowling set...

He is a really good boy, so all of his "niceness" definitely paid off!

 

It was love at first sight.

 

After Santa left, the talent show was on.

We hadn't prepared anything with Jack...but he and Max decided to sing a duet of "Jingle Bells".

Once the song started, Jack opted for shaking the bells instead of singing...so Max carried the song solo, while Jack shook the life out of his bells!

 

 

...

Leading up to Christmas, we were able to have an early Christmas with Brett's parents and Tiffany and the kids.  They were headed out of town for the holiday, so we exchanged gifts before they left.

Again, bad picture taking.

 

I did manage this (non-looking Jack) picture of he and Tiffany playing with the awesome gift her family gave him.

 

It was definitely a different experience without the Jones' in town...they were very missed!

Luckily, we were able to make up for it as they came back (plus Shawna and Brandon) for New Years.

 

...

Christmas Eve was perfect.
A gentle storm rolled in that morning, and left us with a beautiful white Christmas.

Jack's Christmas spirit was in full force that morning as he paraded around the house in his bones costume.

 

Brett only worked a couple of hours in the morning, and then he was home to go out and play in the snow with Jack.

Jack's first snowman:

(Rimrock hat, Shade scarf, cookie buttons, BABY carrot arms, Snicker eyes...we improvised!)

As the evening approached...the anticipation grew.  I just love Christmas Eve.
I wish I could say I took these next pictures of Jack that night, because it looks like he is on the look out for Santa...but, they were from a few weeks ago.
Let's pretend, ok?

We went to dinner with my parents, Chris and Missie, and Sherm and Yvonna...and then came home to get ready for the big guy.

Jack left him 2 chocolate chip cookies he helped make, a pile of Teddy Grahams (his preferred cookie), 2 baby carrots, and some milk.

GOOD NEWS!
Santa came!
 

Jack was in heaven when he opened all of his presents.
Such a gracious little boy...
He ran over to this picture and yelled, "Thank you Santa!" after each gift he opened.

He scored:
A Camo Tent.
Electric Car Track
Dart Board
Piggy Bank
Watch
Books
Hex Bug
Captain America Garb
And more....

Tuck-man on his FIRST CHRISTMAS:

Tucker scored some really awesome baby toys on his first Christmas, and he particularly enjoyed the wrapping paper and ribbons!

 

Brett and I didn't do half bad, either.

I'm afraid we may get a little more out of control each year...but, I'm not complaining.

After hours of present opening, we hurried to get ready and headed to my mom and dad's for our traditional breakfast.

 

We were greeted with Minnie and Mickey balloons...and it wasn't long before they disclosed that they were giving us tickets to DISNEYLAND for Christmas!

The kids were almost as excited as us adults!

 

 

My mom gave all the adults a t-shirt with their pass, and the kids received Disney PJ's with theirs.

Here we are in our garb...don't we look excited!!

 

We exchanged gifts, and then spent a wonderful afternoon relaxing and playing games.

 

Jack and Max had a hay day with all the fresh snow and their new presents from the Ross girls.

Snow Ball Makers...

 

Jack spent some quality time with Grandma Jackie discussing our Disneyland trip.

 

He was totally enthralled by this Disneyland book.

 

Jack has a really good dad.

After bundling up...they took off together to go play in the snow some more.

 

We came home for a couple of hours...

where Tucker napped, and Jack resumed his love affair with his new toys.

Buzz Lightyear PJ's from Grandma...
Hilarious.

 

We were able to go over to Grandma Yvonna's for a Christmas night snack...something we haven't done for a few years.  It was great to be with them, and a perfect ending to the day.

 

...

 

We were quite exhausted for the next day or two, and spent our time trying to catch up.

Jack took some great naps...and woke up with even greater nap hair than usual: 

 

We were so lucky to have Brett home for 8 days straight this Christmas.

He had lots of extra days off work to use up...and it was heavenly to have him around so much.

Especially since I was a bit under the weather throughout the holiday.

The doctor thought I had kidney stones, but after a non-conclusive CT scan, guessed it was a kidney infection.  Poor Brett had to deal with me at like 30% during his days off, but he was a great sport, as always- and we still managed to have fun.

 

...

 

One night during the break, we went bowling with the Ross'.



 

Channeling Aunt Kate:

These kids are going to have the best time at Disneyland!

 

...

 

 

The entire first week of January, we spent up in Alpine celebrating with the Jones'.

 

New Year's Eve we partied hardy until after 1:00.  Tucker slept most of the night, but woke up to enjoy the pot banging and fireworks.

 

 

Lucky for me, he was my first kiss of 2013.



 

Jack followed closely after...

(I did kiss Brett, of course.  Just didn't take a picture.  Crazy to think that TWELVE years earlier, we kissed for the first time!!)

 

 

Jack was mesmerized by the fireworks display that only Alpine could produce on New Year's!

 

As exhausting as the holidays are... they really are my favorite time of the year.

I feel so lucky to not only have my 3 boys , but to also have both of our families close by to celebrate with!

 

Hello 2013!!