Christmas Day

There's nothing like waking up to a blanket of snow on Christmas day.

The kids got to dig into their stockings. I know, they're not matching...somewhere along the way we lost one of our stockings. Maybe next year we'll get a matched set for everyone in the family.

While we waited (and waited!) for my family to show up to open presents, the kids colored in their mega Christmas activity books. It helped them pass the time. Good thinking Santa!

 

  

When Grandma Littlewood, David, Andrew and Annie showed up, it was time to open presents! Between Santa and all our family all over the world (literally), the kids had a really good haul this year. 

 

After opening our presents, we dug into the yummy Christmas brunch with all our favorites...monkey bread, french toast casserole with caramel syrup, and egg and sausage casserole. Daniel, Leann and May couldn't make it out to spend the night on Christmas Eve due to the bad weather, but when they showed up Christmas afternoon, we started round two!

Daniel and May

It was so fun watching May open her presents...she was totally into it. 

 

She loved the outfit I got her so much, she wanted to try it on right then and there...

  

Grandma looking at a sweet photo book Daniel and Leann made for her.

  

Jack + boxing gloves + crotch level = disaster.

  

Christmas Eve

Just getting caught up on posting all the Christmas festivities around the Wallace household...

Christmas Eve is Bob's birthday, and this year I hate to admit that I came close to grounding him for being born the day before Christmas. Didn't he think about the lengths his future wife would have to go to, to make his birthday special and stand out from all the usual Christmas stuff? And the added expense of a birthday AND a Christmas present?  All kidding aside, Bob's family always made his birthday special, so he absolutely loves having a Christmas Eve birthday. I have a lot to live up to.

We went to lunch at one of his favorite spots, Oklahoma Joe's...the Z-Man is to die for. It's KC barbecue at it's finest. After lunch, we tried to go see Avatar, but unfortunately it was sold out. So we hit Target and did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping. He's such a good sport.

Later that evening, I made him one of his favorite dishes, Hot German Potato Salad. After dinner, we started the Christmas Eve routine, which included making cookies for Santa, spreading Reindeer food outside and reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and Silent Night. Unfortunately, Aidan isn't in any of these photos because he was sick...he actually threw up that night and I feared that we'd be spending Christmas mopping up after kids with the stomach flu. Thank goodness for Christmas miracles — he woke up 100% better, and nobody else got it.

 

Bob's crazy jacket ruined every shot...

  

It snowed!!! 

 

"I Wuz You"

This is my baby. He seriously has me wrapped around his little finger, and I love it. I can't get enough of how sweet and cuddly he is and I can't stand that he's growing up! Whenever I tell him I love him, he replies, "No, you!" Well, now he replies, "I. Wuz. You." He has this little way of punctuating every word in his sentences that just adds to the cuteness...it really is just too much to handle.

Thank goodness he's finally started smiling in photos...

Aidan's Littlewood Birthday

I know it's my third post on Aidan's birthday, but birthdays are a big deal around here! After the pizza and wii party Friday, his birthday on Saturday, we celebrated with Grandma Littlewood and Aidan's aunt and uncles (and Pieter, Jordan & Josh) on Sunday.  While we can't celebrate with all our family, Aidan is still a pretty lucky boy to have so many people who want to wish him a happy birthday.

Look closely for Jack's thumbs up.

 The nerf gun would be one of many received this season...and one of Aidan's favorite presents.

 

Aidan's Birthday

On Aidan's 7th birthday, he woke up to his requested breakfast, french toast. We had the decorations still up from his party the night before, and set the table with our "fancy" stuff.

He got to open a couple presents from mom and dad. The best present? Pokemon Platinum for his DS.

Can't pass up a photo op in front of the tree...

 

We had a bunch of goodies to pass out to the neighbors, thanks to a treat exchange I had with some friends. I had Bob deliver them with the kids. Isn't this the cutest thing ever?

 

After we got ready, we headed down to Union Station in KC to see Santa and the trains, one of our Christmastime traditions.

 

 

 

The trains are one of our favorite things about Christmas in KC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After we had our fill of the trains in Union Station, we crossed through the skywalk to Crown Center.

 

What a view!

 

The Westin at Crown Center has the most humongous tree ever...

 

...and a really cool indoor waterfall. Look, it's Santa!

 

Why do 93% of my photos of the kids turn out like this?

 

After passing through the Westin, we headed into Crown Center. First stop: Santa's Gingerbread Village.

 

 

 

 

Our favorite Crown Center cafe, Fritz's was PACKED, so we headed up to T-Rex for a little birthday lunch. Since Pop and Nona Wallace couldn't be with us, we brought the card they sent for Aidan to open up there. They sent him a nice little gift card that he gladly spent later that day.

 

Aidan's candle on his sundae mysteriously went out. When I looked at the pictures, the mystery was solved. Watch little Jack's intense focus on the flame.

 

Aidan is distracted. Jack is focused. Look at the pre-puckering of the mouth. The intense fixation on the flame.

 

Flame out. Jack has a self satisfied smile on his face. Mystery solved.

 

It was a great day, for a great boy. I can't believe my baby is growing up! Aidan never ceases to amaze us with his thoughtfulness, his sincerity and his good nature. He is such a loving little boy with a tender heart.  I am so proud to be his mom, and am so grateful that he is the example for his little sister and brother have to follow. Happy Birthday Aidan!

Pizza & Wii = Party!

Whoever said, "keep it simple, stupid" was genius. I'm learning that keeping it simple means I get to keep my sanity, and when mama's sane, everyone's happier. When we went and had a baby a week before Christmas seven years ago, I did not anticipate the birthday party issues we would eventually have. Most everyone is overbooked, overworked, overspent and overweight (well, I know I am) during the month of December and fitting in one more event seems tantamount to torture. The week of Aidan's birthday was the busiest this month, so we decided to have a pizza and Wii party for Aidan the night before his birthday. I made up a quick digital email invitation a couple weeks before and told Aidan he could invite 5 friends. The day of the party, I went to the dollar store for plates/napkins/decorations (a banner). I ordered three $6 pizzas from Cici's. Baked a dozen cupcakes and used (gasp!) store-bought frosting. Since it's the dead of winter the activity of choice was an hour of Wii play. The party was a blast, and Aidan loved it.

The boys were BIG eaters!

Ben 10 was in full effect on the Wii...

 

Boys and video games...