Christmas with Grandma & Grandpa N

This weekend, we started our Christmas celebrations with Grandma & Grandpa N. They're heading to Florida so we celebrated early. The boys were very excited to see them Friday afternoon. We had a great dinner and then the boys got to open their "booty bags" - Grandma made them a cloth bag with goodies inside. Apparently if you give Grandma the bag back, you'll get it filled up with goodies again!! Sounds like a great deal.

Saturday morning, we let the boys open their gifts from Grandma & Grandpa. Eli kept asking when they could open presents. He is definitely 4!! They loved opening gifts and had fun playing with new toys. We had a lot of fun around the house, playing inside and out, before Tim & I went to his work Christmas party that night. The party was a lot of fun and we stayed out later than we have in a long time!!

Sunday morning, the adults opened their gifts. Tim & I had little helpers, of course. We had more fun with Grandma and Grandpa before they headed home. We'll miss seeing you on Christmas and are so glad we got spend some time with you before leave.

Opening their "booty bags"

This picture cracks me up. The boys got these plastic alligators in their booty bags and Grandpa's face in this picture while Eli pretends to get him is hilarious.

Present fun.

The boys loved their flipping Grave Digger trucks. (Grandma was smart to get matching trucks!!)

Our pretty tree.

We're seeing a lot of Cole's back lately as he flops down on the floor in a mini-tantrum over just about anything.

Reading with Grandpa.

All dressed up and Christmas party to go.

Every man needs saw blades. Tim is always happy with anything Craftsman. =)

Family photo

We made sure that Grandma & Grandpa had a lot of snacks to make the drive to Florida.

I love their faces in this picture.

Grandpa checking out the yummy stuff.

Cole's face here makes me laugh - playing with their moon dough.

Great picture of the boys with Grandma & Grandpa N.

Videos from Santa

Eli and Cole were so excited tonight to receive videos from Santa. It looks like they are both on Santa's nice list and will have some presents Christmas morning!

Eli's face was so awesome when he watched his video.

He was totally captivated by it. I LOVE Christmas with kids.

Cole got his own message. Such fun!

Getting ready for Christmas!

This weekend, Grandma C came up to see us, play with the boys and help us do some Christmas decorating. The boys, as always, were so excited to see her Friday night. This time she brought gifts for them - Christmas toys, ornaments and ornaments from Uncle Billy and Aunt Niki.

Saturday morning we went to find a Christmas tree. I had thoughts that we'd go to the Farmer's Market and look through all the trees for the perfect one but sometimes little boys don't like plans like that. So instead, a better plan emerged. We went down the street to the Cranberry Tree Farms tree lot and found an awesome tree. The boys had a blast running through the trees, chatting with everyone and, of course, running their Monster trucks through the dirt. The rest of Saturday was spent playing outside, lots of fun time with Grandma and we went to Moe's for dinner. Dinner out doesn't happen too often so that was a treat!

Sunday morning, the boys helped Grandma hang ornaments on the tree (Daddy put the lights on first). They were so excited and wanted to put everything on the tree. Then it was time to make our Gingerbread houses. The boys had a blast making them and it held their attention longer than I thought it would. I even had to go down the street for a candy run since they had so much fun covering up almost every square inch of their gingerbread house with candy! It was also fun to make them with Grandma - apparently Grandma's first time making gingerbread houses!! It was fun for us all to share that fun time. Then of course, it was back off running around the yard before Grandma had to go home.

We're glad Grandma came to visit and very glad we got our Christmas decorations and celebrating started! It's going to be a busy but fun month.

Cool box with ornaments from Uncle Billy & Aunt Niki.

Eli got a Maximum Destruction truck ornament.

Cole got a Brutus monster truck ornament.

Off to the Christmas tree lot.

Running through the trees to find the right one.

This one looks good Mommy.

And it was perfect! Our family in front of our tree. =)

A little Monster truck time while they prepare the tree for us to take it home.

Cranberry Tree Farm - great folks! We'll definitely be back next year.

The boys had fun hiding their dump trucks in the piles of leaves.

And also driving right through them.

It amazes me how much they can just run and run and run.

Cole and Grandma at Moe's.

Mommy & Eli - a great dinner date!

Just being cute.

Hanging Christmas ornaments.

Finding the perfect branch for his Max D ornament.

Grandma & her boys.

Eli Claus.

Eli is so into all things Christmas this year - makes it so much fun.

Outside snack time

Let the gingerbread house-ing begin.

Eli immediately started covering his roof with candy. Cole getting some help from Grandma.

Eli did a great job putting candy on his house. He didn't eat too much of it!

Must always have a monster truck with him.

Cole laying the gumdrop eave.

Such concentration.

The Gingerbread boys and their assistants.

Everybody say "Gingerbread!"

Grandma finishing up Cole's house.

Our creations. Love them!

Grandma brought me a big cookie man sheet so I had to try it out. Tim and the boys loved this big chocolate chip cookie man.

What little boys draw

Today Eli was so excited to show me the picture that he & his friend Will drew. It's amazing what little boy brains think of. Here they drew a little boy "tuut"ing. Yes, a picture of a little boy passing gas. My oh my, it made me laugh and still makes me giggle.