Christmas Take 3

Christmas wasn't over yet after we went to Aunt Mo's house we still have to celebrate with both sides of Daddy's family. So Brant's third time opening gifts was at his Great Aunt Lisa's house with his cousins Hannah, Lynzie, Elissa, and Avery. He had a blast playing with the kids and playing basketball outside, playing on the swings, and of course opening presents. He also went on the monkey bars after he saw his cousin do it he had to try it too (he had help though of course). He was scared of Aunt Lisa's dog Wrinkles even though she is very sweet and gave him no reason to be afraid other than she is big and friendly. Here are some of the pictures from the celebration with Jason's mom's side of the family.

Lynzie, Hannah, Avery, and Elissa.

Wrinkles

Hannah on the monkey bars and then Brant taking his turn with Daddy helping.

All the cousins (except Molly who was at her mom's)

Brant and Avery sat next to each other while they opened presents.

Getting a kiss from Nanny.

Posing with a present.

Opening the gifts

Candy Canes, Jingle Bells, and Christmas Tree

The day after Christmas I got out some candy canes for Brant and had him make hearts with them, and then pose in front of the Christmas tree. He started to lean and the tree turned and he fell, and he was so cute and just got back up and asked if it was okay to eat the candy canes yet. I let him eat one of the candy canes after a few more pictures and he loved it. During the time off he did sing what he remembers of the song Jingle Bells and I recorded it on my cell phone so I'll attach a video of that here also.

Candy Cane heart

Posing by the tree

Leaning on the tree

Uh-oh the tree is starting to turn on me.

Got my candy canes back lets make a heart again.

Time to break it apart and eat it.

Jingle Bells video

SANTA CAME!

Christmas morning Brant woke up a little before 8 AM and we got ready to show him what Santa had delivered that night. He kept telling us that he hadn't heard Santa so he must not have come. I took some video first and then took some pictures at our house. Brant, Daddy and I all got to look in our stockings and open one gift and Brant got to play with his big present from Santa a car and train track table. Brant got the table from Santa along with a ball, some coloring books, a recorder and some candy. We each opened up one present after looking in our stockings and Brant helped both Daddy and I open our gift. We chose to open our big gifts so we wouldn't have to lug them to Mo's (my sister Maureen) later that morning. Jason got a 19 inch flat screen TV for his office and I got a 20 inch monitor to use with my laptop computer which will really come in handy with my scrapbooking and blogging and I am loving it already. Brant opened one of his presents and discovered a Lightning McQueen flashlight and of course wanted it opened and batteries in it right away. We went to Mo's house at 10 AM and had brunch and opened gifts with my parents, Mo, Ryan and baby Riley. Brant had a great time playing with Mo's dog Sarah since Angel isn't really into playing anything and he could throw toys to Sarah and she would bring them back for more. He also had fun playing with Grandma and I got a few pictures of them together which is rare since she doesn't really like having her picture taken. Here are some pictures from Christmas morning at our house and then at Mo's. We are so very blessed to have our family close by and I'm glad that we get to spend it with them, but we do miss our family that is far away and hope that they all had a wonderful holiday as well.


Playing with his new car and train track set with the new cars and trains

Looking at his new coloring and sticker books

Opening presents at our house

At Aunt Mo's house opening presents

Baby Riley showing off how long he is now.

Close up of Riley

Aunt Mo with Brant and Riley

Another couple close ups of Riley

Brant going for a box ride from Grandma

Pouty baby face

Brant and Grandma

Daddy is all tuckered out and taking a nap.

GUY TIME AT MCDONALDS

Well it was a great day to be indoors today with it being cold and drizzly outside. Angela and I met at McDonald's to have lunch with the boys and let them have some playtime. Thatcher watched most of the time and Brant had so much fun he took off his socks in the play tunnels and lost them so he had to go home in just his shoes. I can't believe how fast both of the boys are growing up and Brant missed Thatcher who he usually calls Boogie (it's what his parents call him) and in the car on the way home was asking to see Batcher it was so cute I kept trying to tell him that his name is Thatcher but he insists on calling him Batcher, which I guess it works since he is combining the B from Boogie and Thatcher. This time we actually got them in some pictures together, though Brant didn't cooperate to look at the camera, and in the other pictures Thatcher didn't want to cooperate and give Brant a hug and instead was pushing him away. I look forward to more play dates with the boys in the future as we watch them grow up together. Here are some pictures from this trip.

Future food eating champion perhaps?

A boy and his toys.

The boys together.

Brant and some boy who kept following him around.

Thatcher refusing to hug Brant.

Thatcher is tired and ready to head home for a nap.

GOT SPRINKLES?

Today Brant and I finished making a few Christmas cookies (from scratch). I made the dough yesterday and had it rolled out and ready for today. This morning we cut out the shapes together and then baked them. When we got back from McDonald's with Angela and Thatcher (Boogie) I made icing and Brant decorated them. Of course I helped show him how to spread the icing on and he did pretty well with that, but then came the sprinkles. When I gave him the sprinkles he emptied about 1/4 of a container of red sprinkles onto one cookie (you can see the cookie in one of the pictures below. He then put the reminder of the sprinkles (only about 1/8 of a container or less) on the other cookie. So no needless to say we are out of red sprinkles except for the mixed red and white ones I bought two days ago. He had fun though, and he looked so cute doing it. Of course he kept asking when he could eat the ice (icing) and had to lick his fingers off. When he ate it he took a few big bites with icing sprinkles and all, but then just went for the icing and sprinkles. Here are the pictures from the decorating adventure. I didn't get any pictures of us cutting the shapes out since it is just he and I at home and he was up on a stool I didn't want him to fall and get hurt.