Most Memorable Moments of 2012!

Over dinner on New Year's Eve, Andy and I discussed our most memorable moments of 2012 and here 's what we came up with in no particular order!

Lucas breaking his arm
St. Louis weekend with the boys and dinner on the Hill
Boating and tubing with the boys
Adam falling in the pool and making the news
Camping at the farm
Playing in the snow this week
Adam's first stitches
Dinner at Niche on NYE!

Happy New Years!

Playing in the Snow

On the 26th, we woke up to about 10 inches of snow and some nasty wind.  That afternoon we went out to try out the sled Santa brought the boys last year and we never got to use.  We all four had a blast playing in the snow together!  We finished off our playtime with a dip in the warm hot tub and snowflakes were still falling!

Ready, Set, Go!

They are digging out the driveway

Lucas is loving the snow

Snow ball fight!

Paybacks!

He is having a blast!

Daddy has a little helper!

Crash!

Weeee!

Just too cute!

Christmas Evening

Late in the day on Christmas, we headed over to Grammy and Papaw's for a Christmas Day celebration.  We opened presents and again Lucas enjoyed passing out all the gifts that were from him.  He was especially excited to give Great Gordon the Gingerbread cookie that he made just for him.  It was delivered by Lucas complete with a big hug and a cheerful "Merry Christmas!"  Earlier in the month, Lucas had noticed that Great Gordon was not feeling well and told me, "I want to make sure that he has a wonderful Christmas, what I can I do to bring Christmas to him to make him feel better, Mom?"  We decided on the Gingerbread cookie since it was made with love!

Lucas also delivered his present to Great Granny, with a big hug and a Merry Christmas!  The boys got her a jigsaw puzzle that is a picture of them!  All this time, Adam was playing quietly with his toys patiently waiting for his turn to open presents.  The boys were excited about the gifts they received and they wanted to help Abi open some of hers, but she had it all under control. 

After presents, we had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed the good company by playing games and watching the kids play with their toys. They all played wonderfully together sharing all that they got!

Lucas with his dozer

Adam with his grater

Andy and I with our god daughter, Abi

Lucas hugging Grammy and Papaw after opening his gift from them.

The boys got Papaw candy, since they like to share it with him!

We are building a nativity with Abi and this year she got her kings!

Christmas Morning

Andy and I woke up at 7 AM on Christmas morning to a quiet house.  Andy made coffee and we laid in bed waiting.  (The boys rarely sleep past 7.)  Lucas came down at 7:30 and said, "Did Santa come?"  He quickly checked the kitchen and reported back that the cookies, milk and carrot had been eaten.  We told him he had to wait to go downstairs to see what Santa left until Adam was awake.  So Lucas decided he was hungry and needed breakfast.  At 8 we gave Lucas permission to wake up Adam, since he had been so patient.  He proceeded to body slam Adam awake, which was not exactly what I had in mind, but he was excited!  Adam woke up instantly, yelled at his brother, and then realized what day it was.  They both ran down two flights of stairs and saw their Eagle Talon Castle and Awesome Ogre waiting for them.  They oohhed and awwwed over their gifts and were so proud.  Then Adam saw the Lego Star Wars sets and he was excited again!  The other Legos and video game kinda didn't live up to the Castle and Star Wars.  The boys quickly emptied their stockings and then helped Andy and I do the same.  They were filled with chapstick, flash lights, candies, toothbrushes, and books. 

After the excitement started to die down Lucas started to pass out our gifts to each other.  One by one the boys opened their gifts from Andy and I. Lucas got some books, a Fortune Cookie Maker, his own sets of knives with a cutting board (safe for kids 5 and up), a cookbook, a movie, and a transformer.  Adam received some Star Wars costumes, Star Wars books, Star Wars action figures, Star Wars Tie Fighter, and a movie. Notice the theme, he eats, breathes, and lives Star Wars.

The boys helped Andy and I open our gifts to each other.  The boys made me a beautiful ornament.  I also received a dual shower head, coat, NASCAR radio, napkin rings, bluetooth speaker phone, and a few other goodies.  Andy got a movie, a cookbook, steamer clams, some clothes, Chinese spoons, some vinegars and jellies, and some other items as well.

We had a wonderful Christmas morning and the magic of Christmas was very present this year!

Santa has been here!

Lucas emptying his stocking

Adam is digging in his stocking

 

Mommy got pastry tips for cupcakes in  her stocking!

The fortune cookie maker he always wanted.  This kid loves commercials!

Lucas is ready to open

Adam, oh I mean Obi Wan!

They love this castle and were rewarded for donating their old castle to boys and girls who don't have toys.

Man he really wanted this Star Wars book, thanks goodness it was delivered  by UPS in time on Christmas Eve!

We had to stop opening so Daddy could read this new book!

Daddy needed help opening this big cookbook!

Daddy and Adam setting up for a Star Wars Lego battle

Lucas using his new knives and cutting board to cut up tomatoes.  What a pro!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, we hosted the Rudolph Family. We all went to mass and Adam fell asleep before the service started.  Lucas was too tired to stand, but they were both nice and quiet.  We came home to a wonderful dinner that included: smoke salmon, poached duck, shrimp cocktail, a antipasti tray, salad, homemade bread, and a cheese plate.  After we were miserable full and the boys just couldn't wait any longer we headed downstairs to open gifts.  I was quiet amazed and proud of Lucas.  He was more excited about giving to others than about opening his own.  He wanted Paps to open the first present which was a cotton candy maker from the boys.  Then Daddy had to open his cutting board from the boys and next Grandma had to open the biggest present of them all, a TV stand/fireplace.  After almost everyone else had opened a gift Lucas said, "how about me and Adam can we open one now?"  Adam wanted to play with his toys and we had to make him come open the rest of his gifts.  He loves to play! We all took turns one at a time opening our presents and telling stories about each one.    We had a wonderful time.  The boys left out some special gingerbread cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph. 

Lucas ready for church

Adam ready for church

Paps was excited about his present

Ready for Dinner

Grandma was surprised!

Boys with Daddy

Lucas was bored with pictures but he often is.

Baking Days

Every year as part of our Christmas preparations we have a few baking days.  Here are some photos from this year's baking events! 

Christmas Decorations

I  really love Christmas time and I really, really love decorating our house for the holiday season.  I like there to be reminders of what a special time of year it is in every room. Many of our decorations are not only reminders of the holidays, but of our childhood, loved ones and special Christmas memories. I thought I would share some pictures of what our house looks like this year. 

Our foyer/front door

Banister leading upstairs

Living room couch.  This is a quilt made by Andy's Grandma that we get out each Christmas

I display my two Christmas collections, German Santas and Mary Moo Moo's on top of the TV in the living room.

We added a second tree this year in the dining room.  I think this will give Christmas Eve dinner an even nicer feeling!

My nativity set is representative of the whole town of Bethlehem.  We have the inn, wine shop, spice shop, wood shed.  I really like having an elaborate nativity being that this is the most important decoration and reminder of them all.

The table is set for our Christmas Eve Feast.

Single place setting of the Christmas Dishes.  We also use my Grandma's silver on this one very special night of the year.

We are displaying our Christmas cards on our new cabinets this year in the kitchen.

This is our Christmas tree in the basement where Santa leaves our presents.

Lucas gave us this present from school and wanted it to be at the very top by the star!

We don't have a chimney so our stocking are hung on the middle of the wall :)

Our advent houses and my needle points that I did as a child.

My refrigerator is filled with the boys crafts from school.

My mom's Christmas apron hangs in the kitchen each year as a reminder of her and her favorite time of year.

The mistletoe that Andy's proposed to me under.