Merry Christmas

I feel like Christmas snuck up on us and now it is already gone!  This was a fun year for the boys.  They would talk about Santa and point him out on TV, they LOVED the lights as we drove down the road.  Aiden would say, "Lights... Pretty... Ashton's side." We point out whose side of the car things are on.  Aiden is trying so hard to put everything together and you can literally see his wheels turning when he is trying to put together a sentence). 

 

Anyway on to Christmas!  Christmas Eve we headed down to my Brother and Katie's house for dinner and presents.  The boys were amazed with all the present as we first walked in.  We didn't have any presents under our tree until Christmas morning, so this was new to them.  They also went right to the tree where the candy canes were hanging ;) We didn't have those on our tree either ;)

 Two excited and happy little boys!

 The biggest present was for the two littlest boys...

 Mikayla shared her duty this year and allowed the boys to help pass out the presents.

 We usually take turns from youngest to oldest, and I prefer it this way because I enjoy watching other open their presents... but there was no waiting with Ashton and Aiden.  They did take some breaks though because once the present was open, they wanted the toy opened so they could PLAY right away.  If it was clothes, it was thrown to the side!

 Uncle Nate and Aunt Katie got them their very own Craftsman lawnmowers.

 Aunt Elly and Price got them a kitchen set and wrapped all the pans, utensils, and good seperately!  That was fun to open ;)

 They didn't even bring in the kitchen yet, but the boys were busy cooking.  I noticed the week before they got all this, they have been starting to "pretend play" by pouring milk, offering me some, and bringing me coffee by digging in our cupboards.  They love this.  They make me pizza and cupcakes and coffee everyday!

 Finally it was time to open the "big one" and it's a.......

 HOUSE!  Thanks Nate and Katie, you'll notice in the picture below that they NEED to eat their snack in it everyday ;)

 Back to cooking... With the cupcakes, they will sing "Happy Bert-day, Bert-day, Bert-day..."

 Showing Aunt Elly how to run the iphone...

 Christmas morning the boys slept in (we woke them up at 9) and then saw that SANTA CAME!!!

 There were some pretty big things under the tree!

 Santa set their stockings on the new table Nana bought them!

 The boys ripped right in to the first present and the largest one... Santa brought them their very own train table.  They didn't care about anything else under the tree...

 So much fun... THey L.O.V.E it, but we did simplify the track and take away some of the smaller parts.  It eases the frustrations while they are trying to play.  Right now, the simpler = the better!

 Taking a break from presents and playing with a chocolate donut... only on Christmas Morning!

 Santa brought the boys their own shovels.  These go everywhere around the house... hopefully they will be put to work outside soon...

 A funny microphone that makes you sound like an elf...

 Their Christmas Jammies from Nana say, "The BEST Gift Ever" and I have to agree.  Ashton even has a bow on his head!

 Taking a break from presents.  Ashton finally gets to have his candy cane off the tree that Santa left for him.  I made a big pot of soup, Adam made some wings and some other snacks.  We had an open invitation to anyone who wanted to come over and relax, knowing the boys would want to stay put and play with all their new toys.  Ashton LOVES hanging with Kae-da.

 The boys like puzzles right now, both on the iPad and "real" puzzles.  They got a HUGE Monster one and Elmo...

 Whatever you order, they will make.  The table Nana got them is the perfect workstation for these two little chefs.

 While down for a nap, daddy put together their house from Nate and Katie.  They are going to think anytime they wake up there will be something new in the house...  Just look at the two little happy faces! 

 

 

 Daddy even kind of... sort of... fits.

 They insist on having their afternoon snack in their "House".

 "Peek out window"

 Aiden wearing mommy's new slippers around they house.

 There are still a few frustrations with the train table, if the train breaks apart and Aiden is trying to play with it - WATCH OUT.  Changing the track to a simple oval has helped and they are learning how the magnets work to keep the train together.  They get out their other cars and animals and play with them on the table too, and they are learning that the pieces need to stay on the table - or they get lost!  In general, I am happy anytime they can play together and be this close without fighting!!!

 Eating lunch at their new table.  They thing they are such BIG BOYS!

 All the excitement of the week and playing with all their new toys really tires a little boys out...

 THANK YOU to everyone for helping make this holiday special and completely spoiling these two little boys.  We still have some Christmas to celebrate with Adam's family and it will be a very special time when we meet up with Gramma, Grampa, Missy, Dave and the girls soon!

 

HOUSE UPDATE:  Yep in all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, we are still building a house and it is going FAST!  So fast, I can't keep up with all the changes.  I only get out to the new place once or twice a week (unless I NEED to do a walk through with the electrician...) and it changes every day.

I get a little anxiety with all the little decisions.  On Friday Adam took off work, we got a sitter, and went to the cities to shop for lighting fixtures and granite.  Before heading to the cities, we went to Eau Claire (opposite direction of the cities) to pick out plumbing fixtures.  So just the toilet the decisions were: color, size, seat, and finish on the flush handle.  Needless to say, I made the decisions and within the day of picking out vanity lights and the granite, I completely changed all I had previously decided on... the color of the fixtures, the finishes of the faucets, and the hardware finish on the cabinets. Oh Boy.  I guess you'll have to wait and see what the final decisions are (once I can't keep changing my mind).  ;)  We did get the granite for the kitchen, and both bathrooms and I L.O.V.E it. Not changing my mind on that!  It's so hard with all the decisions, you walk into a house... you love it... you buy it.  I need to remember all the little things will be forgotten about in a couple months and nobody will ever notice the tiny things.

 

The plumber, electrician, and heating guy all had their first set of inspections this week.  The shingles are on, and most all windows are in.  Looking at the front of the house, one more decorative window will go in the peak above the porch.

The back of the house.  The screened porch still needs to be built. The left side is dinning room (upper) and bedroom (lower).  The middle is (great room/screened porch (upper) and family room (lower).  The right side is master bedroom (upper) and Adam's bar (lower).

Starting sheet rock this week.  Cabinets are delivered on Friday and the wood floor is sitting at Sear's with all the tile!  Siding will go on soon, I am thinking is it's not too cold for the builder... Brrrr. I would much rather be a builder in the summer :)

 

Have a HaPpY NeW YeaR!