Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, in the afternoon, we headed to Lincoln to enjoy Christmas with Grandpa Mark, Grandma Dianne and Aunt Amy.

We started the visit with a special Hay Rack Ride that Grandpa Mark planned for them. It was the perfect day for it, and the boys had a blast!

The boys were feeling a little rambunctious and naughty though and throwing toys, so they both had to spend some time "in the corner" for a time-out. I may put up a tough front to the boys, but I still have a sense of humor, and this was hysterical and it was hard not to laugh out loud!

Tandem Time-Outs on Christmas Day!

After Christmas dinner we opened presents! But first we must do the obligatory picture in front of the tree with all the presents. Aunt Amy thought it would be clever to stand behind the camera and blow raspberries to get them to look and smile. Well they looked, but they also blew raspberries right back! Oh well, at least we can see their faces!

Ok, THEN we opened presents. The boys helped pretty much everyone with their wrapping paper!

I'm not even sure what's in this gift, but from the look on Clayton's face, I guess it was good!

Clayton got a neat Name Puzzle. He was pretty excited "That spells MEEEEE" 

Crazy Sand - like Playdoh, but messier! haha

An extremely staged reaction to a Hot Wheels track.

Riley even got a little help from Clayton with his "gift." (A little puppy snack)

The boys also got a toy storage bin (they were thinking the would get all the toys pictured in the bins on the outside of the box, whoops). But it was still fun to play on!

Like a game of "king of the hill"

Then here they are (later, at home) helping Daddy build it. Clayton was actually useful and put in and turned some of the screws!

After it was all assembled and the bins were placed in it, we were rounding up toys to put away in it (not hard considering the influx we just had), Reese went and sought out a football and declared that it must go in the yellow bin! Scroll up and look at the picture with them on the box. . . Yes, there is a football in the yellow bin in the picture on the packaging! What a memory he has!

We spent the night and the next morning we opened our stockings. Clayton was (im)patiently waiting for everyone to get up. He even got the job of going in to help wake up Aunt Amy!

They even enjoyed some "Foot Rest Rides" in the morning before getting dressed. That Grandpa Mark is so silly!

Christmas Morning

We took it easy Christmas morning and had a relaxing family time opening a few gifts and playing with new toys from the night before. Although Clayton was a little disappointed that Santa forgot to take the carrot they left out for his reindeer! (Oops, Mommy forgot to put it back! haha) Santa brought Clayton and Reese some puzzles and dinosaur magnets from Melissa & Doug, and Mom and Dad got them a puzzle (with buckles, snaps and zippers, etc. to work on those dressing and fine motor skills) and some Veggie Tales Christmas movies.

Playing with the new train, it's motorized and dumps it's cargo at the top of the hill, it's very entertaining!

Reese love his new plane! I think he would sleep with it if mommy let him!

Then, for the BIG ONE. The thing that Clayton has been saying that he wants for Christmas!

The reaction wasn't as enthusiastic as I had hoped it would be, but I guess when you are 4 a blank TV in a box is pretty boring. . . But Clayton is excited that Santa brought a big TV for him like he asked!!

Clayton watching Daddy figure it out and set it all up.

Christmas Eve Activities

Christmas Eve was spent with the Branz family this year. First we all went to church in Gresham with Great Grandpa Fred and Great Grandma Pat. Afterwards we all went out to the Branz Ranch, (AKA "the farm" if you are Clayton and Reese) for supper and opening gifts.

Reese examining his new chainsaw (cutter) with his safety goggles on

Reese and his new Jake and the Pirates ship

Where is Reese in this picture?

I'll give you a hint, Papa is pointing at him!

Oh, there he is!!

After we got home the boys left out their cookies and milk for Santa and headed to bed!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Well the boys each picked a cookie to leave for Santa tonight! We poured a glass of milk and even left a carrot out for the reindeer. I can't wait to share their reaction to the presents he will leave for them!

I'll leave you with the pictures from our session with Santa!

Almost white, almost Christmas

We woke up to a dusting of snow this morning and it was still falling. Clayton's question during breakfast, and he was very serious and looked worried: "but, is there enough snow?"  Enough snow for what, honey? "Enough to build a snowman!?"

So mid-morning I sent daddy and the boys outside, and what do you know? There was just enough for a little snowman!

He even has a carrot nose and two lumps of coal for eyes. What a good daddy they have!

The snowman however met an untimely end not long after this picture was taken!

And as you can see the snow changed over to rain by late morning and the snow is already gone. So glad they were able to seize the moment!

Last day of Preschool Before Christmas

Friday was the last day of school until January 5th for Clayton, and this is our family's first experience having a kid home from school for Christmas break! We'll see how Clayton does with the 2 week break. I think he will need a lot of activities planned to keep him entertained and focused so he doesn't go too wild!

The best part though is that he got to have a "holiday" party at the end of the day on Friday. The students got to invite a grown-up to come to the party with them, and it worked out for Grandma Branz to accompany Clayton. It sounds like that had a lot of fun, and got to build a gingerbread house together! I think that a highlight for Clayton is that as they were getting ready to go home, Santa came to visit. Just look at the joy on his face! It's so sweet!

And the gingerbread house Clayton and Grandma worked on so hard together. (Both boys enjoyed eating the candy and smashing the house this afternoon, and it is no more,)

Hot Tubbin'

The boys and Daddy and Papa had some male bonding time in the hot tub this evening (or Hot Bath, as the boys say).

Flash on the camera and steam in the air makes for a special kind of filter for the picture!

Jingle Bells

This is from earlier this month, I can't believe I almost forgot to post it! Clayton and Reese sure enjoyed getting their groove on with Grandma Branz's Christmas decoration that plays Jingle Bells!

Video is courtesy of Papa Doug Branz, used with permission, and an IOU ;-)

Mommy's Tigers

The boys love to act out whatever item or animal is on their pajamas when they are getting ready for bed. (So fire truck pajamas yield a little boy making siren noises throughout the house for example). Here are mommy's little bedtime tigers. (Video is from Tuesday, Dec. 9)

Reese's Preschool

Reese had his last day of preschool and a little graduation ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 9. He really enjoyed preschool and just loved "his" teacher, Tonya. He was a little overwhelmed by all the parents and grandparents (he had both sets of grandparents and mom and dad there!) being there and he did not sing the special song they learned, but I've been told that when they practiced he was the one who sang the loudest. I've heard him singing it at home too. I'm sure he kept Miss Tonya on her toes!

Receiving his "diploma"

The whole class

Reese didn't really want to wear the hat. . .

Playing PlayDoh with Tonya one last time

Enjoying his cookie and juice before it's time to say goodbye

Here are some highlights of Reese at Preschool over the last month:

S'more Preschool (It was a camping theme)

Checking in. (They put a sticker on their card to track attendance)

Painting with Tonya

Playing with "Mr. Tiddles" the turtle

Arts and Crafts

Fishing

Reese sure loved Mr. Tiddles!

He made a snake puppet. I remember the day they made that, he came home and tore through his backpack throwing everything else (extra clothes, diapers) out around him saying "Oh no, where is it??" When he finally found this snake "There it is! I made this snake, Mommy!" He thought it was so cool and was soooo proud of it.

The Friday before graduation they did a little petting zoo with real animals and Reese held a snake, letting it stick it's tongue in his face and everything, and said it was cool. He also held a bunny. When I asked what he did that day he told me he "I pat the bunny" (just like the book!)