Christmas Re-cap

Today marks the end to a busy and wonderful holiday season filled with cookies and turkey, friends and family.  I wanted to do a quick Christmas season re-cap.

We've got two traditions we've stuck to--the first is hosting Christmas Eve, the second is roasting a turkey and having friends over on New Years Day.

Christmas Eve at our house was fun this year, Andy's immediate family came along with my sister and her boyfriend Ryan and my dad.  We decided to make home-made fettucini alfredo and it was a hit!  Andy made the pasta and I made the sauce.  I think we'll definately do it again next year, but next I'll plan for somthing other than cheesecake for dessert--that was a bit heavy!

After dinner came the best part--at least as far as Oliver was concerned.

Hey little man--do you know what time it is?



It's time to open presents!

Oliver had fun passing out the presents (with Auntie's help) and then ripping into his (rediculously large) pile of gifts.

(Oliver got a lot of clothes for Christmas, to which mama and papa said "yea!" and Oliver said "meh... next"  you can see his discard pile here)

In this picture Oliver is saying "big train" as he opened one of many "Thomas the Tank Engine" gifts. 

(Pardon the over exposure...still trying to learn my new camera).

Christmas morning he was very excited to wake up to find more presents--he dug right in.

I honestly think I had as much fun watching Oliver open his presents as he had opening them!  When it comes to Chrismas I'm truly a kid at heart.

Eventually-he'd had enough.  When he got to his stocking, he carried it up to me and said "I no want this."

I guess there is such thing as too much of a good thing.

Holiday Fun!

Today Oliver, Auntie and I went to the annual Holiday Party that my employer puts on for families.  Oliver had a lot of fun, he fell asleep at 10:45 in the morning, it is now 12:45 and he's still out!

Oliver got his face painted... this is supposed to be a ginger bread man.

Right before we went in to see Santa, there was a very merry elf blowing bubbles--I think this was Oliver's favorite part of the whole event.

(It looks like he is trying to eat the bubbles,

but really he was just squealing with delight)

His reaction to Santa was pretty much the same as last year... meh.

When Santa asked Oliver what he wanted for Chrismas,

Oliver responded "a cookie."

He had fun dancing with Auntie to the Best Buddies Band, at cookies and ice cream before lunch, and took time to take a picture with the Grinch.

By the way, I got a fancy new camera as an early Christmas present.  I've been watching a digital SLR for years, and I've been having fun.  The last picture is really washed out because my flash went and so did the professional photographer's that was roaming the halls capturing pictures.  Oh well.

Photo Card

Garland Wishes Christmas

Send Christmas cards personalized with your family photos.

View the entire collection of cards.

First Snow

It was cold outside, Oliver's friend Henry came over to play.  While he was here, it started to snow.  They had so much fun watching the snowflakes fall!

Then they painted:

Gabrielle came too-- isn't she sweet! (She looks so much like her brother).

Oliver thought she looked sweet too, so he tried to taste her.

Sometimes I find myself hoping that baby #2 is a girl so she and Gabrielle can be buddies the way Henry and Oliver are!

First haircut!

Oliver's hair was getting a little mangy...

 

I've been hesitant to cut his hair because I love the way it curls in the back--

but it was time.

First we wached Papa get his hair cut so Oliver could see that it was fun!

Doesn't Papa look like he's having fun!?

 

Oliver sat in the big chair with a booster and got to wear a

fancy "cape" with cars on it! 

 

 

The cape distracted him long enough for the sytlist to comb out his hair.

 

My little Goldilocks!

Oliver was very brave.  He spent most of his time trying to flirt with the stylist.

 

Ready for the big reveal?  Here's Oliver's new look:

So handsome.

And silly.

He got his first sucker and loved it!

How to read a magazine (with illustrations)

The key to reading a magazine is being able to effectively turn pages. 

First, slightly wet the tip of your finger like so:

Now use your finger to turn the page.

**Oliver is reading my Cooking Light magazine.  I had been reading it, and left it on the sofa, he took over where I left off, licking his whole hand before turning the page.  So funny the things they pick up on! **

Walking a mile in Auntie's shoes