Christmas and New Year's

So this is probably going to be a big long post. That's what happens when there's lots of fun stuff going on, but I'm too lazy to break it up into several posts.

What a fun holiday season! Caleb is at such a fun age! He has been just giddy about everything from the lights, to treats, to wrapping and giving gifts, to receiving gifts...it has been awesome!!

Christmas Eve we were able to visit a few friends and then spend some time with some of those that we consider our Texas family--the Weatherholtz. We had tons of good food and fun visiting and then joined them for their traditional caroling and treat delivering.

And of course we saw tons of lights while out driving around. Something I think we've done every night since early December. :)

Once we got home, we let Caleb open a gift--new pajamas! Of course some of them were Lightning McQueen! Here he is showing them off:



We read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and then went through the nativity story with Caleb's new Little People nativity set that he got this year.



Finally, we set out some yummy cookies for Santa that we had made together earlier in the day:



Here are some of my favorite moments from Christmas morning:



Growing up, we would always get a picture with all of our loot. Somehow I missed taking that picture this year. But among Caleb's favorite gifts was this cool demolition dinosaur that some awesome friends gave him:

You build up this tower (only half of which can be seen in this picture) and the dinosaur has wrecking balls that smash into it. Can life get any better?! Building a tower, a dinosaur, AND then that dinosaur wrecks the tower?!?!


Not the most manly of gifts, but among other things, Santa brought Caleb a little kitchen. But I'm a firm believer that guys need to learn how to cook too. :) He has cooked us many thousands of meals on it already.



And last but not least, this video is for Grammy. She sent Caleb this little keyboard and he absolutely loves it. Here is the proof:

Thank you Grammy!!!


So here is a funny story: On Christmas Eve, Chris and I decided to ask Caleb what he thought Santa would bring him. I'm not sure why it never donned on us to ask him this earlier. But Caleb was very certain that Santa would bring him a truck, a ball, and a choo choo. Over and over and over he mentioned all three items. Hmmm.... I was fairly certain that Santa would bring him a choo choo. But as for the others? Well...at least Santa got one out of three, right? Not the best record, especially since the requests were so simple. But what are you going to do on Christmas Eve when stores are closing? Well, Chris remembered that LAST YEAR Santa brought Chris a basketball arcade that has been still in its box in our garage. So Santa brought it again...this time all set up in our living room--instead of just in the box. Caleb was so excited to see that Santa brought him a ball too! Not bad, Santa! 2 for 3 this year! But wait.... Funny enough, Chris's awesome cousin who lives just a couple blocks away and her awesome family show up at our house with a present for Caleb. Guess what it is.... A truck! Quite the coincidence, huh? Sweet! 3 for 3. You guys are the best!! And you rock, Santa!! :)

Here Chris and Caleb are enjoying Santa's gift from two years in a row:

Many, many, many hours have been spent playing this.


NEW YEAR'S
As for New Year's...well, we ended up throwing together an impromptu get together. Lots of food, good friends, board games, video games...and of course...arcade basketball. Thanks to those that came and celebrated with us! Sorry...no pictures.

Overall, we've just been enjoying lots of time together and with friends. At first I was really sad not to be traveling to see family at the holidays. But I think it was good for us to save Chris's vacation days for the upcoming baby and it was fun to start and reinforce some fun traditions of our own. But we sure did miss our family and friends far away this holiday season!