Happy 2011. It’s funny trying to explain the New Year’s celebration to the kids because it’s such a non-event for us. Go to bed, wake up and it’s a new year. What does that look like? Well…. different calendar… and that’s about it. Whee!

This year we celebrated New Year’s day with a trip to visit the Johnson family. Or you can call it a second Christmas, as there was lovely tree, a delicious dinner, and presents.

Lex's big present was a Thomas the Train track set. He was pretty excited.

Eve got a little pet shop mall toy thing. I've never heard of it before, but she loves it!

Lex is definitely a directions kind of guy :)

Hard at work

Everyone enjoyed the train set.

Eve and Mandy playing with the kid camera

This is from this morning when Lex and Eve were playing hangman together. She doesn't fully get the game yet and he got frustrated that she couldn't guess the puzzle. I stepped in to help. I love his sweet messages.

Speaking of the kidcam, here are a few more pictures from them…

Lex discovered the fancy photo editing features. He was very proud of himself.

Snack

Mommy

Eve wanted to take an "us" picture. I helped a bit with the stabilizing :)

Eve. I took this one. Shh....

Even the kids wanted to be sure to document this fun train set.

Aunt Mandy

The kids loved their Christmas tree and made sure to take pictures of it before we left.

We set the train tracks up in the office this morning and Lex said, “Oh, this must be a New Year’s present. How fun!” :)

Well, another Christmas has come and gone.  In the blink of an eye, or so it felt.  Joyce came to visit, then Barney, then mom and dad, and we all did our usual celebrating.  We missed Rosy and the Johnson side of the family this year.  Hopefully we can be a bigger crowd again next year!

Once again we did Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma’s house.  Delicious soup, bread, salad, and pizza.  Yum, YUM!  Crazy kids, wild rides down the stairs, stories, giggles, fun.  Christmas morning Alan, Lex, and I were up at 6am, as usual.  We opened Lex’s stocking, ate breakfast, and eagerly awaited Eve’s waking.  She finally got up at 7:45, just in time for her stocking and a quick breakfast before we headed to church.  We went to a beautiful church with nice music, beautiful decorations, and lots to look at.  Lex got squirmy near the end, but overall I think they both did really well.  Eve seems to love church.  She talks about it a lot and loves the music.  Then back to our house for presents!  Fun, fun.  Lots of good stuff, candy, toys, socks, and super cool calendars.  Wrapping paper everywhere.  Then I kicked everyone out so I could nap the kids (ok, really because I needed a break!)  I did a little tidying and started prepping for dinner.  This year I made lasagna and Barney made the turkey.  It was a pretty delicious meal.  Of course.

Today we spent unwinding, digging out the living room, running many loads of dishes, and eating chocolate.  That will be “disappearing” soon!

I put all of the pictures up on my Picasa account.  Check it out!

Christmas 2010

Merry Christmas!

After a super busy day and lots and lots of cookies, the kids finally settled down.  One last picture.  Two excited kids.

I love Christmas :)

My children do not handle the holidays well. I like to think I’m not the only parent in this position. I don’t know if it’s the excitement, the anticipation of family visiting, Santa, chocolate before breakfast, ice cream sundaes at school… or just the the proliferation of sugar in the air. Probably all of the above. We live in a great area with tons of things to do and sometimes I feel bad that we don’t take advantage of hardly any of it, but my kids just get so easily overwhelmed. Lex has been fighting school lately and I’m sure it’s because of this holiday craziness. He went to bed in tears tonight because he was hungry, but wouldn’t eat dinner. Eve has also been a whiny ball of fussiness. She used to be my best buddy for errands, but these days she never wants to leave the house. Maybe because it’s cold. I’m not sure. She stays home with Alan when I bring Lex to school and she even fought with me this morning about going to the grocery store. She used to love the grocery store! Now whenever you ask what she wants to do, she just “nothing, just hang out.” :) Anyway, one more week(ish) and then back to boring life. Sigh.

Joyce came to visit yesterday. Yay! (Hi Joyce!) Barney got here tonight. The parents arrive tomorrow. I’m super excited. I can see why the anticipation gets to the kids. It sure gets to me!

Fun with Joyce

Just a few more days…

Can you find the new “ornament” Eve made for the tree today? :) Lex is working on a project as well, but it hasn’t made it up yet. I’m hoping to make cinnamon ornaments soon too! We will have one very well decorated tree!