Christmas 2015

Since I am so behind on blogging I am going to roll all of our Christmas fun into one big post.  Sorry for the long one, but at least there will be lots of pictures.  Even though Christmas was over a month ago I still want to remember all of the fun we had!!

For the actual Christmas holiday we had the Creason family in town.  Mema, Papa, Aunt Laura, and Uncle Matt were in town.  They came in Christmas Eve and stayed through the weekend.  I am sure it was so fun for them to watch the boys and their excitement.  We went to church Christmas Eve night.  When we got home after church the boys sprinkled reindeer food outside, we left cookies and milk for Santa, put on our Christmas PJs, and read the Christmas story.  The boys were super excited.  This year Lucas was so cute because it was his first year to really understand what was going on.  Once the boys went to bed then we had snacks, Mark got to build a few things, and I wrapped a few more gifts.

Getting ready to sprinkle the reindeer food...

Oh Lucas, your smile is so fun these days!! 

Cookies for Santa all ready!

The boys did well the next morning and got up at their regular time.  We headed downstairs to see what Santa brought.  The boys reactions were priceless!!  Everything was going great until Lucas had a major poop explosion on the living room chair.  Hate to ruin the post with that graphic detail but its a true story!!!  All gift opening came to a halt while he was cleaned up, we figured out what else was dirty, and the chair removed!!  Only at my house... (He ended up having a little stomach bug, he also puked 2 days later!) The boys ended up having a great day.  They played with their new toys and enjoyed having the extra family to play with.

I love that Andrew is so excited to show Eli what he picked out for him.

Baby's First Christmas

Moments before things got ugly!

We were able to celebrate with my side of the family after Christmas when they were in town for Eli's birthday.  We had dinner and did our gift exchange.  The boys always have a blast with their cousin Justin!!

You could say he got exactly what he wanted...

Here are some of the other fun things we did leading up to Christmas!!  

The ladies Christmas dinner was the perfect way to start off the holiday season.  I had so much fun with these girls!  Love them so much!!

Christmas at the Zoo with our friends!!

I was able to join Lucas in his class for their birthday party for Jesus!! It was so fun watching him!!

We went to Jingle Rails downtown with the O'Learys and the Gibbs.  The boys loved watching all the trains!

After Jingle Rails we walked around downtown to look at the lights and have some the of the World's Best Hot Chocolate!!! It was actually the best hot chocolate I have ever had! 

Love these girls!!

We were able to get an amazing view of downtown from the City County Building that night.  We did have to go through metal detectors to get up there and we almost lost Lucas, but it was a pretty amazing view once we were up there :)

Gingerbread House building with our buddies!!!

Andrew and Mommy took a special trip to the Children's Museum together to see all of the fun Christmas things!  All of the boys were going to go but then Lucas ended up sick so Daddy stayed home.  

We really had such a fun time this year!! It is stressful at times being so busy with Andrew's birthday, Christmas, and Eli's birthday right after, but it is worth it making the memories!!! We already have one thing planned for next year, The Polar Express!!  Hope you all had a great Christmas!  

Eli's First Haircut

It is no secret that my kids are born with a ton of hair!!  Eli's hair was a little different than Lucas and Andrew's hair.  Both of them lost a lot of the hair they were born with.  Eli's never fell out.  He probably could have used a haircut around six months!  I finally got it cut when he was 11 months!  I had trimmed it around his ears a few times before his first real haircut.  His hair was getting a little out of control!!

The before picture, yikes!!!!

We took him to Jessica, who cuts my hair, because she did Lucas and Andrew's first hair cuts too!! During the haircut he didn't really want to sit still.  He wanted to see what was going on around him.  He didn't really cry but he just wouldn't stop moving his head.  Mark started out holding him in the chair and then I ended up holding him.  He was all over the place.  By the end I was standing up holding him and Jessica would just reach in and cut pieces when he was still for more than a second.

He ended up with a great haircut and looks like such a big boy.  I didn't have her cut off a ton because I didn't want him looking like a big boy just yet!  I wish my baby would slow down with the whole growing up thing!!

Andrew is 6

Happy 6th Birthday to my sweet little boy, Andrew!!!  I truly can't believe we are here again!  I hate that you are growing up so fast but I love watching you grow into the person that God made you to be!  This has been such a big year for you.  You started Kindergarten!  This was such a fun time for you and such a hard time for me!  You are doing amazing at school and it makes me so proud.  You are such an outgoing kid.  You are such a great big brother to Lucas and Eli too!  They look up to you so much already.  You love to play Legos!!  You would probably build all day.  Some of your creations are so impressive!  You also like reading, coloring, football, ninja turtles, basketball, playing games, and spending time with friends.

We had your annual check up at the Dr and you are doing great!!!  You were 43.4 lbs (34th%) and 45 inches (40th%) tall.  I think you are about to hit a growth spurt because you have really picked up on eating suddenly!  You are a pretty good eater but still a little picky.  You will usually try things if we ask you but if you don't like it you get a little dramatic.  You are still my emotional kid!  You are such a loving kid! You are very good at thinking about others and helping people out.  You can also easily get your feelings hurt just like your Mama!! You will make such an amazing husband one day!! Your sense of humor is great too!  You are always trying to make a joke or trying to be cool but in a funny kind of way.  You are one special kid!!

We are going to move you into your own room here in the next couple weeks.  I know you like sharing with Lucas but you are super excited to have your own space.  I am looking forward to seeing how you want to decorate it.  Lucas will be sad to lose his buddy but you will just be right across the hall.  Right now every morning you guys come out of your room at the same time and hold hands all the way to Mommy and Daddy's room.  Your bond is seriously amazing!!! Lucas is always looking forward to when you get home from school!!

This year you wanted to have your birthday party at Sky Zone. The kids all had such a blast jumping around and playing dodge ball.  We decided on a Star Wars cake because you have a new love for Star Wars with the new movie coming out.  Mommy and Daddy are not into Star Wars so you have learned about all this at school.  We need to go see the movie!! It was so fun watching you have such a great time with all your friends!!  I am so thankful for the great group of kids that came out to celebrate with us.

On Andrew's actual birthday we went out to dinner.  He picked one of his favorite restaurants, Olive Garden!  My mom and Justin came to town that night.  Andrew loves it when Justin comes to play.  He definitely had a great day!!  Our elf, Buddy, even brought Andrew a small gift for his birthday!

Opening his Rubix cube!!

Here are the annual birthday questions!!
1. What is your favorite color? green
2. What is your favorite toy? Legos
3. What is your favorite food? candy
4. What is your favorite TV show? Wild Kratts
5. What is your favorite outfit? shorts and t shirt
6. What is your favorite sport? football
7. What is your favorite snack? apple cinnamon straws
8. What is your favorite animal? lizards
9. What is your favorite song? Watch me Whip, Watch me Nae Nae
10. What is your favorite book?  My new Star Wars book
11. Who is your best friend? Kellen
12. What is your favorite thing to do outside? throw the Frisbee
13. What is your favorite drink? capri sun
14. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
15. What do you want to be when you grow up? a ninja

Santa!!!

The boys were so excited for our visit with Santa this year!  I was looking forward to watching their reactions to him too.  Andrew was looking forward to it because he remembered doing it last year.  I knew Lucas would do well because he usually will do anything if he watches Andrew do it first.  I had a strong feeling Eli would hate it because he is not a fan of strangers. 

We went to visit Santa after dinner.  We dressed the boys in their Christmas PJs and headed to see him.  I love the fact that we get 30 minutes with Santa.  Each boy had plenty of time to warm up to Santa and talk with him.  Santa takes the time to tell them stories and show them some of his magic.  The kids just love it!!!  This is something I truly look forward to every year.  

This picture quickly went from this....

to this! :)

Andrew was up first this year.  At first he was a little shy.  He brought his Christmas list with him to show Santa.  My favorite part was listening to Santa explain how he can see what Andrew is doing in his magic red ball.  Andrew was just mesmerized with Santa and his stories.  

Lucas was closely watching Andrew's reactions to all of this before he made his decision on if this Santa thing was safe.  Lucas ran right up and brought his list too.  Lucas was very happy to sit on his lap but still a little reserved. 

This is what Lucas does when you tell him to smile!

Eli didn't love Santa!!  We sat all 3 boys together and got one AMAZING picture before Eli realized that a stranger with a giant white beard was holding him!

After we visit Santa our elf, Buddy, is always waiting for us when we get home.  Andrew was so excited for Buddy to come back!  He is always waiting on the tree and usually has a small gift for the boys to kick off the Christmas season.

I love watching Christmas through their eyes!!