Christmas 2013

We tried to visit Santa Clause this year but all I could get O to do was shake the man's hand.  He had NO desire to sit in his lap and when I asked if he wanted to take his picture with Santa, he said, "No fank you, mommy" and ran down the stairs.  Maybe next year!

His teachers, at daycare, did a great job of talking about the holiday and reinforced what we talked about at home.  We received a new nativity advent calendar and had a great time learning about the reason for the season, every night.  They did a lot of Christmas and holiday art!

Owynn helped me decorate the tree and then had the hardest time leaving his favorite ornaments on the tree.  So there was a constant conversation about putting them back and being gently with the ones that he did take off.  It's hard being three and not understanding why mommy says, "put that down, please" about everything.

And then he decided he needed to arrange all of the pictures I was hiding away for the season!

We had family and friends with us and a lot of wonderful food.  Owynn opened his new Christmas jammies on Christmas Eve, after we attended a Christmas Eve church service with Sean.  Owynn was so excited for his new "Santan" jammies he could hardly wait to get them on.  They ended up being a little long but don't fall off his waist like last year's. 

Santa visited before O woke up!

He slept in Christmas Morning!  Merry Christmas, mommy!!!

O woke up after 7 am (which is a HUGE gift to mommy) and came to snuggle in bed with mommy for a little while.  I reminded him that it was Christmas and that Santa came to visit and left him some presents to open!!!

"OOOOOOOHHHHHH!  Santa left me some presents?!"  And he shot up out of bed and started to head upstairs to see what Santa brought him.  Sean, Nana and Yaya joined us in the living room to start the gift wrapping paper tornado!!!

Opening gifts with Nana

One of the favorites...a "pay for it" cash register

 

O got new magnetic letters.  The previous set got thrown in the trash after not being picked up for a number of days.  O was SUPER excited for new ones!

Going in for more

A new hat!

Crown from Crackers Aunt Dot brought to dinner

Now we can write our letters!!!

Starting to watch the "A Christmas Story" marathon

Hooray for a new wagon!

After the gifts were all opened (and there were a few for other people who were coming later, O tried to open them as well) we started in on breakfast.  And then, it was back to playing.  And not taking naps.  And then getting grumpy at dinner.  And then more playing.

We had a wonderful Christmas and hope that everyone else did as well.  We are so blessed and grateful to have some amazing people in our lives.  We are grateful for the celebration of our Savior's birth and humbled by his gift to us.  May your next year be blessed and know that we love y'all a whole bunch!!