Christmas 2010

It's hard to believe that another Christmas has come and gone. It seems like we just decorated the house, and now it looks all empty (well, maybe not so empty- it still looks as though a toy store exploded in our living room). We had another great Christmas. I don't know how it's possible, but it seems like they just get better every year. Maybe it's because Austin is now at an age where he can enjoy opening presents and participating a little more in traditions and it's just more fun to watch 2 kids enjoy Christmas, as opposed to 1. Or maybe it's just that I'm another year older (and hopefully wiser) and appreciate the joys of surrounding myself with the people I love a little more each year. I'm guessing it's a little of both.

Our family has a couple of traditions that we combined this year. In years past, we've always gone to my parents house a couple of weeks before Christmas to have a smaller celebration with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and niece. Another tradition we've been doing since moving to Wilmington is going to Airlie Gardens to look at the Christmas lights and see Santa. This year, schedules were just a little too hectic to do these things separately, so I hosted the Christmas celebration at our house and then we all loaded up to go to Airlie. We had a great night.

Here's Austin all ready to open some presents.

Discussing who gets to open the first present.

Austin got a new beach chair.

And Bella got a jewelry box with a dancing ballerina. She loves it. A lot.

She loved it so much, she sat and just watched it for a while.

And then watched it some more.

Austin enjoyed playing with his cousin Layla's cymbals.

Grandma and Grandaddy got Bella and Layla matching umbrellas. They got put to use immediately since it was raining for our trip out to Airlie.

Austin was a little hesitant at first, but did okay with Santa.

His sister, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with Santa. This was a close as she would get. Maybe next year?!

And then the next day? Bella sat some more to watch her jewelry box ballerina.

I had to work Christmas eve. I wasn't very excited about it, but it actually wasn't that bad. It meant we couldn't make it to my Grandmama's Christmas eve dinner, but my in-laws came to our house. We had a very yummy Christmas eve dinner just the same.

Here's Bella waiting for dinner.

After dinner and baths, we let Bella and Austin each open one present.

Austin got a Tickle-Me-Elmo. He loves it. And here he is showing Elmo just how much he loves him with a big smooch right on the eyeball.

Bella got a camera. She was so excited about it, because it was the only thing she consistently asked for. Now she can stop asking to take pictures with Mommy's camera!

In addition to milk and cookies for Santa, Bella wanted to leave something for his reindeer. We weren't sure what they like to eat, so we went with carrots and goldfish. Not sure what they thought of it, but the plate was empty the next morning!

I think I'm as excited for Christmas morning now as I was when I was a kid. I couldn't wait to see Bella and Austin's faces Christmas morning when they saw the loot Santa brought.

They must have been good!

Of course, the first thing Austin grabs is his Elmo he had already opened the night before.

Someone later Christmas day asked Bella what Santa brought her. Her response? "A slinky and candy!" Looks like Santa could've gotten away with spending a lot less money had he known that's all she really wanted!

Austin and one of his new books. That boy LOVES to read!

Bella had to try out her new bike.

Austin wanted to try out Bella's bike as well.

You know what they say about kids wanting to play with the box? It really is true!

Bella helped Austin open some of his presents.

Later Christmas morning, we headed to Red Oak to my Granny's house. Austin must have started feeling a little overwhelmed and had to have a little meltdown before we left...

Bella had a great time at Granny's!

The Granny. We love her!

Austin opening his present from Granny.

After Granny's, we headed down the road a bit to see my Grandmama since we missed everyone at her house Christmas eve.

And the kids got to open even more presents.

Merry Christmas!

I'm always a little sad to say good-bye to another Christmas. It always takes me a little while to get used to the house without Christmas decorations. But, I can say for sure that so many wonderful memories were made. Life is good!

Letter to Santa

The other night, I was watching The Polar Express with Bella and Austin (well, Austin wasn't watching it as much as he was just climbing on and off my lap to play). There's a part of the movie when the little boy is contemplating boarding the train and the train conductor mentions something about him not writing a letter to Santa that year. Bella perked up. And then our conversation went like this:

Bella: "A letter to Santa?"
Me: "Some kids write a letter to Santa to let him know what they want for Christmas."
Bella: "I want to write a letter to Santa. Can you get me a piece of paper and a pencil?"
Me: "Sure."

A few minutes later, Bella had finished her letter. I present to you Bella's first letter to Santa...

The letter B.

What Happened?!

It seems like overnight, someone came in and took my sweet baby boy and replaced him with a holy terror toddler. I'm only half-way kidding. He's still my sweet, cuddly boy about half the time, but the other half? He's usually wreaking havoc. Our Christmas tree is only decorated on the top half. Anything that is placed on the bottom of the tree will be pulled off in about 3 nanoseconds by Austin. And forget placing any wrapped presents under the tree. That would just be a joke- I'm sure the paper would be ripped, and perhaps eaten, within an hour.

He's a busy little boy for sure! I know that Bella was a busy toddler, but Austin is different. Whereas Bella was more just exploring her surroundings, Austin seems to be out to destroy them. I don't know if it's just the difference in a little boy vs. a little girl, or child #1 vs. child #2, or just simply the difference in their little personalities. Whatever it is, it's exhausting!

I've recently gone back to work full-time. Our after school/work routine is always the same. As soon as we walk in the door, it's time to wash our hands and get a small snack while Scott and I get dinner ready. We had just gotten home, and I had slipped out of the room to go to the bathroom. While I was the bathroom, I heard Bella open the pantry door, and then I heard something being spilled on the floor. I hurried as fast as I could, but was clearly not fast enough. While Bella was helping herself to a snack, so was Austin. Only he's not as neat as his sister...

Good thing he's so stinkin' cute- I might have gotten a little frustrated with his mess!

He was eating them off the floor as quickly as I was trying to pick them up off the floor!


And here's his latest stunt. He loves to turn a light switch on and off. And this toy provides the perfect step-stool for reaching the switch in his room.

He wears me out, no doubt about that. But, I honestly don't think I would change a single thing about him. Most of the time, whenever I pick him up, he's always willing to snuggle. He loves climbing in my lap to read a book and loves cuddling in the rocking chair until he drifts off to sleep each night. If I sit down in the floor for any reason, and he happens to be nearby and notices, I can guarantee that he'll be sitting in my lap within a few seconds. He spontaneously gives his big sister hugs and loves giving us all open-mouth, sloppy kisses. He's a sweet little boy, that's for sure. I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world (even when I feel like pulling out my hair)!

Thankful...

I may be over a week late on this blog, but I just wanted to post about our Thanksgiving. To say that I have a lot to be thankful for is an understatement, for sure! We went to my Grandmama's house to celebrate with tons of family and food. We had a great time visiting with everybody! Of course, I have a few picture to share...

Here's Austin and Scott outside after the feast...

After lunch, Bella and her cousin, Layla, headed to the pond to find sticks and pinecones to toss into the water.

Those girls always have energy to burn!

What farm is complete without a John Deere for the kids?!

Austin had just spied the tractor and was about to make his move...

And for now, he's happy riding in the trailer...

The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the annual Wrightsville Beach Flotilla. We went for the first time a couple of years ago after first moving to Wilmington. We hadn't been back for a couple of years because we had small, mobile children who weren't interested in staying put in a stroller to watch a boat parade. This year, a friend invited us to watch at a condo they had for the weekend. I have to say- that's the way to watch the flotilla! The kids had entertainment and I didn't have to worry about losing them in the crowd. We had the inside and heat to retreat to if we got too chilled outside. We also had food, drinks and bathrooms! This was definitely the way to go- and we could just stay put until the traffic cleared out. It was so much fun!

Austin and Scott out on the deck watching the boats.

"Where are these boats I keep hearing about?"

Bella had just heard that Santa's boat was on the way...

My personal favorite boat in the parade- the Griswold family Christmas boat. It even had "Clark" to plug the lights back in when they went out while singing "Joy to the World"!

Fireworks after the parade.

This is what happens when you keep a 15 month old up a couple of hours past his bedtime. Meanwhile, his sister was still wide awake and chatting the whole way home about her fun night...

We had a great weekend. We are so thankful for so many things, but especially for an awesome family and great friends to share the holidays with.