Christmas!

Official FSA gear!

Now we will be super victorious at Angry Birds!  Thank you Dad!

Grandpa and Laurel

cookies for Santa in 2011 Christmas Jammies (holiday aliens)

Christmas morning sunrise

We've had some Christmas scope creep, which was agreeable to all involved.  We decorated early this year- the day after Thanksgiving- and I didn't get tired of the tree's extended stay in our living room.  

Laurel and Owen had the week before Christmas off from school, and I had some extra vacation days, so we filled the week playing with my dad, baking, doing a little more shopping, and taking a trip out to the aquarium.  Richard, my dad, and Owen had clear weather on Thursday for a rocket launch, where it was discovered if you put the really big engine in the really small rocket it goes REALLY far- and is lost to the wilds of Oregon.  Likely it already has moss growing on it.

We kicked off the festivities in earnest on Christmas Eve, with the Muhly's and my dad joining us for a meal and presents.  Lots of big hits with the boys- Ben is in crafting heaven with a big box of craft supplies pick out by Susie and Laurel.  He spent the rest of that day and most of Christmas day painting.  Owen was excited about a new rocket from grandpa, as well as an iPad from my dad for the entire family- the boys have been enjoying playing Angry Birds.  Todd made FSA t-shirts for the kids, and Owen and Laurel wore them proudly for the rest of the week.  They also got Owen a planetarium projector for his room- to which we all have been a witness to his and Laurel's new and improved space lectures.  Ben did great through Christmas Eve Mass, sitting in the main part of the church, not needing the cry room and on a vigil to see Baby Jesus and Mary.  When we got home, we decorated gingerbread cookies for Santa and tried to get a couple of very excited boys to bed.

Christmas morning arrived early, with a beautiful sunrise and the orange light coming into the bedrooms and waking up Ben and Owen.  With a small distraction by the paints and the craft box, the boys made it out to the front room to discover whether Santa came this year or not.  Apparently the boys were good, and Santa left plenty of loot.  Dad came over and we spent the morning unwrapping gifts and munching on gingerbread cookies.  The boys loved all the new toys mailed in from Richard's family, and we loved our new books and clothes and games from Sally and our Secret Santa's Roger and Justin.  Richard made us a great Christmas dinner with his famous crab cakes, while Dad and Owen worked on new magic tricks- thanks to Aunt Susan, Owen now can levitate.  We were thankful to be able to spend a wonderful holiday with our two amazing little guys and that my dad could join us.  We miss all of our family across the country during this season and will see you this coming year!