Christmas Morning

I love Christmas morning. I love waking up at my parent's house, the three of us (ok, four of us counting Sophie) all curled up in a warm bed, knowing that it is going to be a day full of family and food and fun. The excitement is still there, just like when I was a kid. But, it's different now. It's excitement to spend the day with my parents, with my brother and sister and her family, to be around my grandparents and any other family members that are able to stop by. It's excitement to watch as Aiden opens up his gifts, plays with his new toys and watch him interact with all his family. It's excitement to spend the day with people I love.

But, before all the excitment really starts, we have a quiet Christmas morning. We relax and eat breakfast. Aiden opens his presents slowly and plays with each one before moving onto the next - I know that will change one day and it will be tornado Aiden around the tree, but for now, it's a peaceful morning. We stay in our jammies until noon and drink coffee with whipped cream on top prepared by Papa John. We get the turkey in the oven and start getting ready for the day. Christmas morning at my Mom and Dad's is one of my favorite times of the holiday season...

All tuckered out and asleep on the couch on Christmas Eve...

 Who doesn't love the view of the tree on Christmas morning?

Aiden's presents were all wrapped appropriately in Thomas the Train paper this year and his stocking was so full part of it's contents just had to just sit next to it.

Playing with his presents, Santa got him a little wooden barn and stable set with animals 

And somehow, Santa knew Aiden needed new instruments after the last month of 2 broken drums and a broken xylophone...he loves to play music.

Christmas breakfast was genius this year...I found a recipe for a crock pot breakfast casserole (with eggs, sausage, cheese and hash browns and it cooks while you sleep!) and my mom made cranberry orange bread with Grand Marnier icing. And of course, we had mimosas. No cooking at all this year in the morning! What a great way to start Christmas day :)

Merry Christmas from Aiden

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas!

(by the way, please ignore the dirty face - he had just eaten dinner)

Capturing Kiddy Chaos

Ever try to take a picture of 2 babies under a year old, 4 toddlers, and 2 older kiddos trying to corral them all?

We tried.

But, in the end what we captured was the pure chaos of trying to keep all the little ones in the picture. 

Which, is just as good in it's own way ;)

Trains

Aiden loves trains. 

Thomas the train in particular. 

He loves watching Thomas. 

Playing with his toy Thomas. 

He sings the Thomas theme song. 

He repeats lines from the show. 

In a british accent. 

Eventually, he gathers up every train in the house.

And lines them all up on the track.

Big trains and little trains.

And tries to push them all at the same time along the track.

It doesn't usually work out that well.

But, he keeps trying.

 

He could probably play trains all day quite happily.

I love hearing him yell out "all aboard!"

So cute.

"Ree"

He kills me. He is fascinated by the tree and when he sees an ornament he wants to play with, he literally climbs into the tree to get it. This is why the bottom of the tree is "his". He spins the balls, points out the "ars", "enguins" and "owman". Cracks me up!

Speaking of his - this is Aiden's the Hallmark ornament this year...cute, huh?

A peek at my Xmas decorations

I love to decorate my house for the holidays, even though no one really comes over. I just like that it makes it different for a while. It's fun. And Aiden loves it!

By the way, today I am off completing another item off my Xmas to do list - celebrating the girl's birthdays with a sleep over at my mom's house, this year we are adding a spa day, too!

#8 Santa comes to our part of town

Santa visited our neighborhood Friday night with the local fire and police departments. They hand out candy canes, wave to the kids, collect canned foods for the hungry and decorate fire trucks with Christmas lights. This year they even had "snow". Each year we make a holiday event out of it with Chris and Lisa. We make dinner, treats and have some warm tipsy drinks and walk around the neighborhood looking at the holiday decorations. The kids are getting more into it as they get older, the parents always have a good time ;)

 Walking to check out all the holiday decorations - Aiden insisted on walking himself this year

Before leaving the house it is essential grab your peppermint hot chocolate

Coming up the the Mickey mouse house...

Mickey mouse carousel...right up Aiden's alley

It is pretty cute, one of my faves even though I am not a Disney girl - Aiden is a Disney boy though!

 

The twins, waiting for Santa

Me and Aiden 

 Here they come!

Getting ready to see Santa (not sure about the sirens, but so much better than last year)

Complete with reindeer 

Getting Aiden and Ryan their candy canes

Lisa and Addy - don't worry, she got a candy cane, too!

 Me and Lisa

One more wave and then there are off...

 Down the street...

 But they will be back next year!