Christmas Morning at Nana and Grandpa's

This year, my sister and her family joined us from Atlanta for Christmas. Ella and her cousin Brenna are just 5 1/2 months apart and Wesley is just 3 months younger than Jonas, my sister's son. It is awesome to have the cousins be so close in age, and Ella and Brenna LOVE each other. Ella was so excited that she got to have Brenna and Christmas in the same day.

Once we got over there, it was time to get started, the kids were READY! Ever since I can remember, it has been my job to hand out all the gifts from under the tree. I don't know why, but that is the way it has always been. This year, I tried to get the little girls to help me. Ella happily handed out gifts to everyone, a girl after my own heart. Brenna on the other hand, after handing out a handful of gifts told me "I am not helping you anymore" then told her mom that she "didn't like this part". So evidently, when the mantel of gift hander-outer is removed from my shoulders, it will be placed on Ella's. Fitting I guess.

Ready for Christmas!


Lets get this show on the road.


Ella my little hander-outer helper


opening gifts




This year Ella asked me for a "Pillow Pet". She asked and asked and asked. So finally I decided that if she wanted one so bad, I would get her one. Then I worried that she wouldn't like it and I made a mistake. Turns out, I didn't because she LOVED it!





My sister is super crafty and she made all her gifts this year. She made Jon a crocheted version of one of his favorite cartoon characters from Dragon Ball Z.



I got a purple Pikmen, which it awesome, it is my favorite of the cute little computer game characters and goes great with the Yellow one Jon gave me a few years ago.


We all had a great Christmas and spend the rest of the day hanging out and enjoying our family.


I hope all of you had a great Christmas too!

Santa comes!

Growing up in my family, Santa brought the stockings. That's right, just the stockings. No "big gift" nothing under the tree. I guess my parents wanted credit for all the cool gifts. I like this idea and when Jon and I discussed the way we were going to "spin" Santa for our kids, we decided to keep this tradition. I like getting credit for my hard work, Jon too. So Christmas morning, when the kids got up, we went downstairs to discover our stockings had been filled by the big guy! Ella was excited, and I was too since this was the first year she REALLY "got" it. We got right to the work of opening the gifts. (if you notice my stocking looking a little limp, turns out Santa (Jon) left my stocking gifts at my moms house, so I picked them up later)

and the stockings were all hung on the mantel with care


Wesley wasn't terribly impressed with it all.

He did like his matchbox cars, ball and baby yogurt snacks though


Ella was thrilled with santa, She got
MAKEUP!!! (lip gloss and balm and fast drying nail polish)


But the best part of the stocking was the BENDAROOS!!! They are some kind of craft object she has seen on TV and fallen in love with. She was so excited to get some from Santa. She was less than impressed with the actual product when we opened them later to play, but I think she will like them more once we have a chance to truly use them.


After stockings, it was time to load up the car and head to Nana and Grandpa's house for the rest of the gifts.

Christmas eve

The next few posts will have lots of pictures, so read at your own risk!

Christmas Eve, after spending the afternoon playing with family over at my Moms house, we went home and decided to open some presents. Growing up, both Jon and I were allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve. I decided that since I didn't want the gifts from Jon's side of the family to get lost in the shuffle at my moms house the next day that we should open ALL of the Carlson gifts instead of just one. Ella thought that this was a fine idea and tore into the gifts. We got some great stuff from Grandma and Uncle Mike (and Aunt Audrey and Michaela.

An alphabet game for Ella



A blankie for Wesley (Grandma has made each of her grandchildren a Christmas blanket for their first Christmas)


Books on tape and $$ for Jon from Mom

And a computer game from big brother Mike


A train set for both kids from Grandma


I got exactly what I wanted/needed from Mom May. Ever since I was a little girl, I have wanted to swim with the dolphins. I have never had an opportunity until now. We are going on a cruise to Mexico next month and they offer an excursion to swim with the dolphins at one of the ports it is very pricey though, so I asked for help to pay for it. Mom May sent me $$ that will cover roughly 1/3 of the cost, with what my Mimi gave me, and Jon's grandma, I have just enough to fulfill my dream. Thanks MOM!! (Also included with the $$ was a stuffed dolphin, which Ella has stolen from me. no pictures of my gift though, as I was in possession of the camera at the time.

We had a great Christmas eve, and it was a wonderful start to our Christmas.

Cookies and stuff

Wesley has TONS more hair than Ella did at his age. She didn't have this much hair until she was at least 18 months. I don't know what to do with all the hair, i don't think piggy tails is quite appropriate, but I am not sure I want to get it cut either. So we just combed it into a big boy hair style and left it at that. Also, this picture shows you his 2 brand new teeth!


We went to a Christmas cookie exchange today. There were 13 people there and we each brought at least 2 dozen cookies. I ended up with quite a lovely box of cookies I shouldn't be eating! Here are the goodies.


Our Hostess also had some sugar cookies and icing and sprinkles for the kids so that they could decorate their own cookies. Ella loved this!



Wesley was also there, but he didn't decorate a cookie



Finally, the last picture is one I am both sad and happy about. We are just finishing our 3rd year of teaching primary. We are sad to see the kids go, but happy that we have been able to be a positive influence in their lives. We have taught some of these kids for 2 years in a row now and it will be bitter sweet to leave them. We got a picture done of our first primary class, and I still have it displayed. I have one of our second class, but some of our kids were absent, so it isn't perfect. This year I made sure we got a picture with everyone. Unfortunately, the quality isn't great, but at least we have one!
Valiant 9 class of 2009

Misc

My HostMom from Germany send me a "Kinder Egg" Advent calendar this year. Each day I get to eat a yummy chocolate egg and inside there is a little plastic egg with toys inside. Ella loves to toys, and i love the chocolate so it is perfect! One of the eggs had stickers inside. Ella likes stickers...



Ella insisted that I take a picture of her eating peanuts... so here is a picture of her eating peanuts

Ella ran away with my camera again, and I found this interesting picture on the card. I really like it... very artistic.


Wesley loves the mall playgroud, he enjoys running around free!


My little Linus


He loves the piano, I hope he is as talented as Jon!

Wesley found my mom's little broom and dustpan on Sunday, he thought it was perfect for him. Here are some pictures and a video of my little man walking and sweeping up for Nana.

Wesley loves daddy

Wesley is generally a very happy, friendly baby. He loves his mama, but you should see his face light up when he sees daddy! When Jon comes home from work, Wesley will rush over and insist on being picked up. He loves to cuddle with daddy and I think they are going to be good friends. I love that he loves his daddy so much... gives me a break!


Wesley is also definitely a walker now. He prefers to walk instead of crawl, and he is trying to run so he can keep up with Ella. He sure is cute toddling around, but man, he is growing up so fast!


Ella was "not sleepy" so I let her watch a video instead.

Snow! (yech)

I HATE snow, HATE IT WITH A PASSION. However, there is something about snow that is magical for kids. Ella looked out the window this morning to discover SNOW on the ground. "SNOW MOMMY!!!!" So I dressed her up in warm clothes and let her go out in it. I went out long enough to take a couple of pictures, then it was back in the warm for me.




And a picture of daddy and wesley