Christmas 2010 Recap

I'm not even sure where to begin! We packed as much excitement and people-visiting into the holiday weekend as was humanly possible. Each day brought a new set of family or friends to visit with. Friday was Christmas Eve service, Saturday was Christmas with my family, Sunday was Christmas with my mom's side of the Family, Monday was a playdate with my friend, Nikki, and her two sons, and Tuesday was the car trip back to MN. As I write this, both kids are passed out in their beds. I don't blame them.

Highlights from the weekend include:
Aidan and Aubrey got in some hardcore playtime (and lots of shoveling) with Nana, Poppa, Kali, Kyle, and Reese
Santa brought Aidan a hockey stick, skates, and a puck
Aubrey's 1st tooth FINALLY came in on Christmas Day (closely followed by tooth #2, which came in today)
Aubrey is starting to crawl on her knees instead of army crawling
Both kids opened a mountain of presents---lots of new toys to play with and clothes to wear
Everyone ate over a million calories of delicious, delicious food on a daily basis

Christmas 2010 at Nana and Poppa's house can be broken into a few categories...
Playing outside in the fresh snow
Aubrey and Reese getting to know one another (and Aubrey trying to rip Reese's face off),
Aidan finding the "game closet" and getting out a new game or toy out every 20 minutes,
eating (lots of it),
present opening (lots of it)
family time (thankfully, lots of it)
In an effort to conserve time and energy, I'm consolidating all Christmas photos in to this one slide show. I managed to pare down over 200 photos into the Top 62.

Happy Birthday and Christmas 2010

First and foremost, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dad. He's turning the very young age of 57. :)
Aidan will be gracing him with a rousing, out-of-tune rendition of "Happy Birthday" later today.

Our Finn Christmas was very enjoyable. Aubrey's first foray into present opening went well and she stayed up a good two hours past her bedtime without any melt-downs. The magic of new toys to play with. Aidan was so excited to play with his presents this morning that he didn't even eat breakfast. Seriously, you know when Aidan doesn't want to eat he is REALLY into whatever he is doing. I think playing with toys instead of eating breakfast may be unprecedented. Favorites are the wooden construction trucks from Uncle BJ, the toy electric guitar, and the remote control police car, both from Grandpa Finn.

Grandpa Finn made a wonderfully delicious meal; Rock Cornish game hen, wild rice, and sauteed vegetables. Very tasty. I tried so hard to get a good picture of Aidan and Aubrey together, but after 139 photos snapped, not one of them is "Christmas Card" worthy. They are like oil and water when taking pictures together. Maybe someday they will both smile and look at the camera at the same time.

All I Want For Christmas

Dear Santa,
I would like money for Christmas. Daddy wants money, too. Aubrey wants toys. Mommy would like clothes.
Love, Aidan

That was Aidan's letter to Santa. Really? Money? What two-year-old says he wants money!?!? Clearly he is Kyle's child. When asked if he wanted anything besides money he replied, "I don't know." We visited Santa today (free at the YMCA) and he thankfully asked for a hockey stick, not money. I was going to be mortified if he asked for money. Aubrey responded like I expected; nervous and then upset that a stranger was holding her. After sitting on Santa's lap, the Y had two giant bounce houses for the kids to play in. Aidan enjoyed the slide that was attached to one of them.

Aidan at the top of the slide

Merry Christmas

Snapped within the first 2 seconds she was on his lap

Aidan and Santa. Buddies

Asking for a hockey stick