Early Christmas

On Sunday night, Dave, Alaina, Leo, and I celebrated a little bit of Christmas. In part this was because I was really, really anxious about having Christmas, but the logical reason behind it was to limit the number of large packages that had to be brought down to Grandma and Grandpa's house for Christmas. In all reality, it won't matter much now because it sounds like we will probably be at home for Christmas morning. As it seems right now, sickness is delaying our trip. We will get down to see family when everyone is healthy.

This is a picture that was taken of Alaina on her first Christmas:


My Mom asked me to try to repeat it with Leo. I want to try to get one with more presents in the background to match Alaina's, but we will see. I think I need more red paper and less blue.... It was easy to have a variety when I took this picture of Alaina because we lived in Texas so everyone sent her presents there. Now we go to people's houses. Anyhow, here is Leo's pic:


His hair looks much more red in that picture than it actually is. I had the light on over the table and that really brought out the red in his hair. It usually doesn't look that red. I promise.

Anyway, then we opened some presents. Here is Leo with his first ever Christmas present.


Alaina later helped. It is a rocking caterpillar.

Next was Alaina's turn.

She got the movie that she has been asking for for the last several months.
Then Leo and Alaina opened their present from Grammy Bonnie and Grandpa Mark:
Betcha can't guess what it was....


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It is this!!


It is one of the coolest pop-up tent toys I have ever seen! It has 3 seperate tents connected by 2 tunnels. Putting it up and breaking it down take less than 5 minutes and did you see the size of the box it fits in?? It still fits in that box. And that includes the 50 balls that go in the big tent. I had Dave stand next to it for a size comparison.

Late last week Dave took the kids out to play in the snow. I took my job of staying warm inside and making hot chocolate very seriously. I only stopped to peek out and to get pictures.

Leo loves the slide. He just giggles going down it.

Then Leo face-planted in the snow and retreated inside with me to work on that hot chocolate. Daddy and Alaina took advantage of the situation and climbed on the big hill that the plow made.



I'm so glad that she likes the snow! I wasn't sure if she would after spending her first 2 years in Texas. If everyone feels better, the kids may get to go sledding this weekend. If we do, I'll of course have lots of new pictures to show you.