Christmas Morning

After waking up several times throughout the night with both kiddos and us both not feeling well, we finally rolled out of bed around 9:00AM.  We knew today was going to be a busy day, but we always wanted to spend some of the day with just our family.  We let Emma open the Christmas presents at her leisure and then we had to prepare the food dishes we were taking over to Michael's aunt's house.  Also, at this point we already knew we were going to be late for the breakfast brunch at my parent's house. 

 

 We decided to take our time and get there when we get there.  After many phone calls and text messages to get an update on how we were doing, we were finally on our way out the door to my parent's house, where my Grandparents had been waiting for us.  We were just a little late (okay about 2 1/2 hours late), but we also knew that we had just spent the evening with them the night before, and we would see them again throughout the week (especially since Greg and Jill are in town).

 

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

 

 

Santa Claus came to our house!

 

Minnie and Mickey were waiting for Emma.

 

Santa even left a message on Emma's new easel "You were very good, Emma and Mason.  Enjoy your presents.  Merry Christmas!"  signed Ho Ho

 

Here comes Emma Christmas morning.

 

All smiles when she saw the Minnie and Mickey.

 

A little blurry as she was running so fast!

 

Those little guys made her Christmas day!

 

With Minnie and Mickey by her side, she can now begin to open gifts.

 

A bead and number puzzle for learning to count.

 

 

A new little people toy, the ferris wheel.

 

But Emma kept going back to her Minnie and Mickey.

 

Lining up her other gifts, bath products and bubbles.

 

Mason didn't know what was going on, but he was a good sport just watching.

 

Staring at her brother while we put him on his tummy.

 

Just a little tummy time, but mainly wanted to see his little Santa booty.

 

Not a big fan of tummy time, but that's okay.

 

Emma didn't want Mommy to take any more pictures of her.

 

Last one I got, me and Emma on Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve At Our House

Having a newborn this Christmas called for a change on plans.  Normally we spend Christmas Eve at my Aunt and Uncle's house; however, this year they were going out of town.  That left my immediate family to spend the evening together.  Michael and I decided that we didn't want to be traveling too much with Mason, so we had my family over to our house.

 

  The plan is to head to an early mass and then come home for dinner and open gifts (well just our stocking stuffers).  We arrived at church about a half hour early, but apparently that wasn't early enough.  We overheard someone say that they had been there for two hours and I wouldn't put it past some people to do that just so they have a seat.  Instead we sat on the floor in the lobby area, along with about a hundred other people.  My mom stayed at home and prepared the food so we could eat right away.  We didn't want this to turn into a long night, especially when it will be a long day tomorrow for everyone.

 

After eating a great meal and opening a few presents, it was time to get to bed.  Michael and I had more work ahead of us, but neither one of us felt like doing anything.  I sure hope Santa stops by our house because these have been some pretty good kiddos. 

 

Merry Christmas Eve!

 

 

Mason lounging around.

 

 

 

Greg and Jill came in from out of town for the holidays.

 

 

Papa helping Emma open up her stocking.

 

 

Scott waiting for his turn to open his stocking.

 

Emma got princess bandaids.

 

You can barely see her sitting in the middle, but she was having fun being the center of attention.

 

Papa helping Emma open more gifts.

 

 

Hey, what's that thing?

 

Oh no! Uncle Greg tried it on my head!

 

Even though it felt funny, Emma kept saying 'one mo time!'

Christmas Eve Morning

This morning Mason had his one week checkup which is good because the past week he has been acting a little different.  To top it off, I woke up feeling miserable.  Thankfully, Mindy and Chris were able to come over to watch Emma while Michael took Mason to his doctor's appointment.  While they were coming over, they brought our Christmas gifts. 

 

After Michael returned home, I begin to feel a little better; enough to drink a cup of coffee and open some gifts!  Shortly after all the gifts were opened and Emma was playing with her new toys, I began to feel ill again.  I went upstairs to rest and left Michael alone with the kiddos.  He was doing okay, but then I felt bad that I wasn't able to help out.  I made my way down to the couch, where we all lounged around.  Michael was beginning to get a headache and not feel well too.  We pretty much just felt like sleeping and lounging around, but it's hard to do that when you have two little ones that require a lot of attention. Here's to the hopes for a happy holiday, if we could only get rid of this illness quickly! 

 

 

Emma opening up her wooden train set.

 

Both Emma and Mason received these bears with a recording of Mindy and Chris; something to keep close by when we move to Virginia.

 

Emma loving on hers right away!

 

Emma holding hers and Mason's bears.

 

Mason opened his eyes for a little bit.

 

Emma opening a Mickey Mouse Christmas book with Grandma and Grandpa reading the story.

 

Sitting on top of her gifts.

 

Waiting to open up the big gift!

 

Michael's awesome Christmas gift;

yes, that's his Grandma holding a huge gun!

 

Emma got a new bath toy.

 

Looking at all of the arts and crafts stuff.

 

Trying to move the wooden train set, but it was too heavy for her.

 

Emma began coloring right away!

 

Emma has her very own easel.

 

Cali keeping an eye on Mason.

 

Putting her magnet numbers and letters on the easel.

 

Going to get more colors to add to the board.

 

Mason sound asleep.

 

The artist at work: