Christmas Celebrations, Part 2

We spent Christmas Day at Uncle Josh and Aunt Tami's house eating lots of yummy food, opening presents, and playing games.

The day started with presents: a moose and book,

a belt sander,

surprise car starters for two,

gifts for the young,

the older,

and for cousins, too.

Theia's favorite of the day was this Crayola Beginnings drawing pad. It plays music while you color on it and the faster you color, the faster the music goes, the slower you color, the slower the music. She colored and colored and colored.

Grandma DeShon made blankets for all of the grandkids this year.

Emma's and Nick's blankets were full sized and our girls', for whom she has already made beautiful baby blankets, were sized just right for dollies and bears. Xandra's bear, Arp, carries his blanket with him everywhere he goes and especially enjoys sniffing his blanket, a habit Xandra has with her own "green blanky." As you can see, he made quick work of using his blanket that very day during his naptime.

Blankets aside, Xandra LOVED this jewelry box and accessories from Aunt Tami & Uncle Josh. It gets almost daily use at our house. Organizing accessories is fun!

Presents and lunch aside, the remainder of the day was spent bonding on the couch,

with grandpa snoozing in his customary afternoon nap location,

Xandra bowling on the Wii for the first time,

and fun was had by all.

Fun All Around the House

Besides Graham Cracker Houses and celebrating Christmas, our time at Grandma & Grandpa DeShon's was filled with lots of other fun. For one, they have a very large stuffed fish in their basement. Whoever gave my dad that fish years and years ago could never have guessed how much joy their gag gift would bring to a 3 year old girl. Xandra slept with this unusually large and colorful fish on her bed the entire week. She and Theia also worked very hard carting it around the basement. This is a tough thing to do when the fish is both taller and wider than both girls.

Grandpa not only has a big fish, but he has a lap built for grandkids and doggies. And they're both usually up there at the same time.

Bathtime is also a hit at Grandma's house. There's an extra girl in the tub and fun bathtime soaps and boats.

Evidently bathtime is so much fun, they like to play even without the water.

There were several cutthroat games of Memory and CandyLand among all the kids.

As always, there are also lots of special treats. Some we help make and some we just eat.

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa for hosting a FUN week.

News from Nebraska

After recuperating from our journey to Nebraska, we spent time with cousins Nick and Emma. Xandra and Emma loved to play with the 'fuzzies' from the yard, dress up in princess clothes, color with sidewalk chalk, play with bubbles, and hang on cousin Nick.

There was also some time in the sprinkler. Both Xandra and Theia were unsure of the Dora sprinkler on the first day. In an attempt to encourage them to play in the water, I ran through the sprinkler a few times myself, albeit fully clothed.

Cousin Nick got his football uniform and started practice while we were visiting. Somehow I also got talked into buying oodles of carmel corn to help support his football habit. Who can resist a man in uniform?

We saw Grandpa DeShon at the end of the visit. All the kids loved piling in bed with him and the dog and romping around before bedtime.

I Wuv You

It's Grandparents Day and the girls wanted to say, "I love you," to their four favorite Grandparents.

Xandra: I wuv you.

Theia: Bub u.

Liyah: Droooooool.

Thanks for showering our kids with lots of love, hugs, and kisses. We love you each and we're grateful for you! Happy Grandparent's Day!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

Although our young girls have flown many times in their short lives (this seems crazy to both Joe and I), it has rarely been documented. I think we're usually too busy cleaning up spilled drinks, making trips to the potty, and trying to quell the screaming and kicking to take many pictures.

For this flight, both older girls were able to have their own seat. On the previous flight, I held Theia, as she is still considered a lap held infant and must be held unless there is an available seat. I'm not complaining, as this means she gets to fly for free. I'd hold them all until they were five if it meant they could fly for free! While I like it, I'm pretty sure it was not to the liking of the lady directly in front of us. At one point she turned around and asked if I could keep my child from kicking the seat. I understand her annoyance. I wonder if the screaming that ensued for the next 25 minutes as I tried to keep Theia's feet off of the back of her seat was better or worse than the kicking? Needless to say, Theia and I both really enjoyed some space on this leg of the trip.

Liyah, of course, enjoyed the trip in her usual manner. As far as travelling with three small children goes, this was, exhausting, but otherwise uneventful.

Grandma DeShon Goes to Washington

We did make it to the White House, Washington Monument, and The Mall, despite our mishap with the gas gauge.

We rode the metrorail both ways and the unreasonable behavior from the small children was kept to a minimum.

We also kept Grandma busy with books, bottles, lots of games and toys, and coupon clipping and deal running.

Thanks for a fun visit Grandma!