Christmas #2

Wrapping up 2011

Well, it's already February 2012...and I still haven't finished blogging about 2011.  I'll briefly sum up the final weeks of the old year starting with this adventure to see the lights in Chickasha on Dec 22.  It was cold and windy, but we bundled up and enjoyed them anyway.  

Christmas #1- December 10, 2011

 Lillian and Cole "meditating"

 It was such a beautiful day that the kids played outside all afternoon.

 Twins: boots, jeans, and a white t-shirt

Kids playing "Dirty Santa"- no one stole a present- they each wanted to open a new one!

Holiday Traditions

Decorating the Christmas tree was one of my fondest memories growing up.  I probably grumbled about it as a kid, but as an adult, it's something I remember liking.  Lillian and Lucas really like it!  They like hanging the special ornaments each has and talking about when/where they got it.  Lucas doesn't have as many memories as Lillian, but he is starting to enjoy this holiday tradition.

Our finished product 

Something we also do each year is make a chain to countdown the days until Christmas.   

A new tradition this year is my version of an Advent calendar.  I've seen the idea in different places around the Internet.  This is my take on it.  I wrapped as many winter/Christmas books as I could find around our house.  Many of these have been packed up since last Christmas.  I managed to find 15 books.  By picking up a few paperbacks and filling in with books from the library, I'll have 25 to start this on Dec.1.  Here's how it works:  each night someone picks one "present" from under the tree.  The book that is opened is the one we read that night before bed.  Since these are books they already have but don't always read, it seems like it's something new and we get to celebrate the season even more.  This is my first year to try this but I hope it becomes something the kids look forward to and I can change the books from year to year as their ages and interests change.  

New Year's Eve and Another Christmas

On New Year's Eve, we celebrated another Christmas with Heather and Jesse who couldn't be with us over the holiday the week before. I was particularly excited since I got to open another gift because Heather was the one who drew my name in the sibling drawing.

Brent and Jesse playing Xbox Kinect

Christmas Day 2010

We got to spend Christmas morning at home with our kids! It was the first time we've ever been able to do that with traveling to see other family. Unfortunately, Lucas came down with a stomach bug on Christmas Eve and spent Christmas Day on the couch, recovering. He stayed in his pjs all day but occasionally got up to run around with the cousins when we went to Duncan to have Christmas with Brent's family.

Grandma and PaPa bought the kids play guns and cowboy hats. Grandma made all of them chaps and vests to complete the outfit.

Kids dirty santa game

Merry Christmas from the Young's!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve at Grammy and Granddad's house.

Christmas Eve Eve

Santa made a visit to my parent's house the night before Christmas Eve. The kids had varied reactions: Nathan warmed up to him right away, Lillian was a little reserved but couldn't quite wrap her head around the fact that Santa was really there, Lucas kept his distance.

Both boys were amazed at the resemblance between Santa and the dancing Santa they like to play with.