Christmas with all the Family

We were very blessed this year to get to see every member of our families over the Holiday Season.  We started in Murfreesboro, headed south to Birmingham then ended the holiday in Cleveland.  Wes had a blast playing with all the cousins and 2nd cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, too!  In fact after all the festivities were over and we were headed home he kept asking "Where are we going?" and "Who am I gonna play with?" Overall we had a great holiday and took lots of pictures here are just some highlights...

 Wes fell asleep on the couch for the first time in his life.
I guess that means Christmas was a success!

                       Happy New Year!

Eating like a local

We're starting our new year off extra healthy and man was it good!

More Christmas

We had the bulk of our little Christmas on Christmas Eve this year and then just Santa came for Wes on Christmas morning.  I cooked a nice meal for us on Saturday evening and we FINALLY got to use our China we got for our wedding.  (It Had been boxed up in our basement due to space at our old house.)  So I took lots of pictures of our meal because I was so excited!

Then we opened presents, where the highlight for Wes was definitely the $4 cape from Walmart that I GLUED a superman logo on.  Isn't it funny how that works out sometime, the simplest/cheapest gift is sometimes their favorite!

Christmas morning was a little rushed since it was Sunday.  We got ready early so we would have plenty of time for Wes to check out his stuff, eat cinnamon rolls and get out the door for church.  Then it was nice to come home and have leftovers from our Christmas Eve dinner and just play and all take much needed naps.

Just what Wes asked for "Toy Story Book, Mack truck, scooter and Thomas Stuff"  Plus a few extras!

                                       

                                       

Christmas Cooking

This year I've done lots of cooking trying to find some recipes that can become a tradition throughout the years.  Wes is very into Christmas this year so it has been fun to see him excited about all the different things we've done.

Growing up my mom always made homemade sugar cookies and we decorated them.  She has since tried to stop for a number of years but she is not allowed.  She advised me not to start this one and choose something easier with less rolling, cutting, tearing, sprinkles all over the kitchen, etc. Did i listen?  Of course not.  I really tried, but I just kept being drawn back to those cute little snowmen with red hots for buttons!  And I discovered the 25 years + she made them was truly a labor of love. They are much harder than the look.  But it sure was good that I had a helper.

Always available for a taste test.

Aside from cookies, pies, candy and presents I think I'm most excited about PW's Cinnamon rolls.  I finally got around to making them this year and I can't wait to eat them...ALL.

I think 5 pans should be enough for Christmas morning!

Wes did get bored on our days inside while I got ready for the holidays but he found ways to entertain himself.  My favorite was when he disappeared upstairs for a while and came back with a football, sit and spin, superman shirt, and boots.  Looking good!

The Nutcracker

We took Wes last weekend to see the nutcracker.   After our experience at Opryland I was a little worried that he wouldn't be able to sit still for the whole performance but he did great.  He started to get a little skirmy and silly towards the end but I think he was getting hungry.  He kept asking if we could go to the "Chicken Nugget Store" (Chic-fil-a).  Our favorite part though was when he whispered with a concerned look on his face  "Look mom, That mans not wearing any pants or diapers!" in reference to one of the male dancers wearing flesh colored tights.

Wes was very excited, Jon in this picture pretty much sums up his feelings toward the nutcracker.  He said he didn't realize there were no words.  He hopes our next family outing is a predators game!

The Christmas Spirit.

Friday we had planned a fun evening out to the Opryland hotel and to let Wes sit on Santa's lap.  I had even coaxed/forced Wes to take an afternoon nap in preparation for our big evening.  Santa's lap was a success even though Wes choked under pressure.  He was so in awe that he forgot to tell him what he wanted and as were walking away yells "A Scooter!"  So hopefully Santa heard him, and didn't see what happened next...

We were waiting in line and about 5 people from the front, about to pay $18 to ride a boat, when on came a temper tantrum from a very impatient 2 year old.  I think what pushed us over the edge was after I very calmly tried to explain to Wes that the people in line in front of us had to go first.  To which Wes exclaimed "NO, I GO FIRSSSSSSTTTTT!!!!" - reaching through the bushes for the boat filled with people as it was drifting away.  At that point Jon and I looked at eachother and we knew the thing to do was to leave.  We headed straight to the car (a long, embarrassing, crowded 10 minute walk with much wailing about riding the boat).  When we made it to the car I look at our parking ticket and we had been there 31 minutes, Parking was free up until 20 minutes.  Bummer.  That was $19.66 not well spent!

As for Wes, after the crying stopped not a word was said for the 30 minute car ride.  I think he was shocked we had actually left.  So I guess that means we did the right thing but it was still hard!  The good news is we saw santa on a Friday night and were all still in bed by 8:30, can't beat that!

Wish us better luck today since we have nutcracker tickets!!

Unpublished Christmas Card Photos

Every year I look forward to taking the picture that will go on our Christmas Card.  But every year since Wes came along the picture has become more of a challenge.  This year it took three "photo shoots" and and way too much memory to get ONE favorite picture.  All I can say is thank goodness for digital cameras!  Here are a few of the funny behind the scenes pictures:

The Thinker 

"It's too early for this."

Zoning out...

Cough.

Being Silly

Meltdown!!

Wardrobe change and Breakfast time.

"Not Smiling"

"Still. Not. Smiling"

"Shhh mommy What's that, I hear someting."

   

                                           

                                                        Last Resort  - Bribery with Toy Story fruit snacks...