Christmas 2012 Phase III

The final phase of Christmas was the following weekend when Grandpa Blanchette, Karen, & Amita came down for the morning. We enjoyed coffee and conversation. Then had to find out what was hiding behind all that wrapping paper. Jack and Malynn were particularly excited about their play kitchen! Pretend play centered around food has been a favorite activity lately, so that gift was a huge hit! We all dug into a big lasagna lunch before everyone headed home. It was one more round of special family time for the holiday!

Christmas 2012 Phase II

When we arrived at Grand & Ottar's house there was plenty to keep us busy as we prepared for Santa's arrival!

Grand had a couple mini-trees, lit up and ready for ornaments. After helping Mommy at home, Malynn and Jack knew what to do. Of course, the decorating got derailed a couple times when the kids stumbled upon ornaments that they preferred to use as toys rather than decorations. :)

We ventured out to the near by children's museum, along with every other family with toddlers from a 20-30 mile radius! It was an adventure. It had a lot to offer, but those places lose something when they are packed to the gills! Malynn had to walk down to the nearby CVS with Daddy because we were worried she had spiked a fever -turns out she probably just over-heated running around in the masses. Jack found the cars and ramps and could have stayed there all morning. It prepared us all for a long winter's nap!

That evening it was time to make the cookies for Santa!!

I don't know what Malynn was saying here, but I love when she adds hand gestures when she's talking. She loves a little extra flare!

 

Right now, if you cook with Jack and Malynn, it's important to know that BOTH kids need a chance to help pop the egg yokes. (A skill they proudly learned from their cousin, Teigen.)

Before going in the oven, the cookies got chocolate chips on top! The kids took their job very seriously and did a fantastic job. They picked select cookies from their sheets for everyone in the family and did a remarkable job remembering which ones they had picked for each person!

Before bedtime a few important things had to happen:

1) "Reindeer food" was sprinkled out on the lawn to make sure Santa would find us.

2) Cookies were set out for Santa.

 

3) "The Night Before Christmas" was read one more time.

Then the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads.

In the morning, the first thing the kids asked was, "Did Santa come?" And Jack was the first to confirm his visit by pulling down his stocking to find what Santa had brought him. Several weeks ago, Jack decided he wanted Santa to bring him a lollipop and Malynn wanted Santa to bring chocolate. Santa did not disappoint.

 

 

Both kids got a lollipop and a chocolate! And Santa brought a couple other special presents, too!

Santa must have known that Jack and Malynn are in love with Towmater and Lighting McQueen right now, and they got their very own! This was along with a couple other very needed items: tongs for play (not for food) and new Crocs. How did Santa know? He's so good!

Later it was time to open gifts to each other. Again we were so fortunate to have so many thoughtful, special items gifted to each of us. A couple favorites for the kids were the new Playdough tools,

and new books!

We won't have to keep checking Mini-Racer out of the library now that we have our own!

That afternoon it was time for the special project for Grand. Her own stepping stone!

Gotta love a project that gets you a little messy!!!

And we capped it all off with a fantastic Christmas feast.

Thanks for serving the salad Jack!

I can't believe how incredible experiencing Christmas with two 2 and 1/2 year old has been!

I'm sure we will continue singing Frosty the Snowman and Must be Santa at bath time for a while yet, and I'm sure I will have a hard time taking down the decorations.

What my head forgets about this Christmas, I hope my heart always holds tight.

It was magical.

Christmas 2012 Phase I

Malynn and Jack experienced Christmas the way it was meant to be. They were generous with the ones they love and it was all about enjoying togetherness with those near and dear. Christmas with children has rekindled my own holiday spirit, and since they were born, each year has been more and more magical.

Phase I happened at Samma & Papa's house. Samma is devoting new wall space around the house to the grandkids' art, so there was painting to be done!

And the kids always sneak in their fair share of iPad games!

The gifts were cleaned out from under the tree, and everyone got ready...

 

Of course, we let the kids have at their gifts first. After a couple were opened Jack looked around, paused, and said, "Now you open one Samma." I have to admit there was a glisten in my eye. Thinking outside of yourself when you're 2 and a half doesn't come easy to most. Jack, it is one of your gifts and one of the endless reasons I'm proud to be your mama.

 

Malynn's memorable comments were: 1) When she opened her name puzzle and sang out with glee, "ABCDs!" and 2) When Samma opened a box with two cookbooks inside and Malynn clapped and smiled with joy as she announced, "Books!" I am, of course, so pleased that my children are already finding their own personal connections and joys with literacy. Malynn has a particular passion and aptitude with language, and I can't wait to see how that unfolds as she keeps growing and learning!

Papa was happily surprised by his "Good Night" photo book.

 

Thank you for writing it for our family, Papa.

And thank you Samma for gifting a copy to each of our houses.

 

There were happy faces all around as everyone got thoughtful gifts from each other.

 Somehow we got all four kids upstairs, through the bath, and into their Christmas monkey jammies! That part of the evening was a blur of singing, stomping, running, jumping, screaming, laughing, and a good bit of nakedness, too!

 Teigen is the lucky guy who is old enough to stay up a little later and do the hard Legos with Daddy. He also got to see the Santa who came right down our street on a fire engine!

The next morning Mommy, Samma, and Aunt Missy fit in a yoga class, and Jack had to fuel up on mommy lovin' before I left. :)

 Then we got started on one of Samma's gifts...stepping stones from each grandkid! (Great idea Aunt Missy!)

 

 Once we were outside we had to squeeze in some gator driving, trike riding, and wagon pulling before we all got too cold.

 The grand finale was family photo time after naps!