All Things Christmas!

Long ago, our family friends, The Drenowatz started having Christmas parties at their house. They were very fun, including a special guest who brought gifts for all the kids! So, when we were actually in town at the time of this long-standing event, I figured we had to make a point to get there! The boys and I headed down to my old stomping grounds and went to the party. Little did we know what excitement was in store for us!

There were Santas everywhere and the boys loved it!

Matt and his cheesiest posed next to the Santa by the front door.

Matt tried to take a picture of me and Jonathan with Santa, but Jonathan was too interested in checking out Santa up close.

More Santas and other decorations to see in other rooms!

Bill and I were trying to catch up, and Matt caught a picture!

The excitement I mentioned, was finding out that Jonathan is allergic to SOMETHING! We suspect peanuts, since he only at Chex mix while we were there, but we haven't had him tested as of yet. We dosed him with Benedryl and took him home. The swelling slowed, but the reaction wasn't haulted completely. He ended up developing hives about 2 hours after his dose of Benedryl. My dad hoped in the car with us and headed to the hospital while Granny got Matt in bed and asleep for the night. Here's a picture of Jonathan right after his huge dose of Benedryl and steroids in the hospital. This wasn't even at his worst! I never want to see that again!

After all of that Christmas excitement, we went out for more the following days. The boys love going to Lowe's to see all of the Christmas decorations, but Jonathan is a little standoffish with the moving ones!

Wonderment, from afar.

Matt enjoys all the toys!

Another exciting thing this Christmas season was Santa's drive by in the fire truck! The boys couldn't figure out why there were such loud siren noises outside the house, so we ran out to see.

The finally figured out what they were seeing!

It was Santa on the fire truck! He was throwing candy too!

One of the things I love about this time with the boys is, even though they bicker, they love hanging out with each other! They were watching Rudolph in our room one day and I just had to take a picture. They were so happy, playing with their fire truck and fire station along with watching Rudolph.

One night I got the bright idea to take the boys to the Heard Museum for a Christmas lights Walk with the Dinosaurs. Unfortunately, everyone else had that idea and after the mile long walk from the car (carrying Jonathan's 31 pounds), we realized we'd be there a LONG time before we even got to the front door. So, we turned around and walked back to the car, this time with Jonathan walking! Before we left, the boys played a bit in a little lighted area outside the museum. The boys seemed to enjoy the playtime, and we all got to refresh ourselves for the walk back.

It was quite chilly!

Along with various other things we didn't really need during our stay at my dad's, but would make things easier on all of us, I packed our Christmas books so the boys could have some holiday stories. One morning, we gathered them all and laid in Matt's room reading holiday stories.

Matt was entertaining himself in the dresser mirror.

The Village People

When the boys and I head south on 75 to run errands, we frequently end up in Allen at The Village. This day happened to be in December, and a bit cold and drizzly. That didn't stop us though! It didn't stop the people in line to see Santa either, but we skipped the line and went to play.

Jonathan makes his plan for which direction to take in the Texas maze.

He's off and running!

Matt enjoys the maze, but shortly after this he had a "cornfield meet" with a 7 year old. Knocked him flat off his feet!

Look closely, he's smiling! I tried, but he just wasn't tall enough to look over the rail with a smiling face for me.

The back of the caboose is a fun place to play!

Matt called Jonathan into the auto shop and said, "Hey Jonathan, come look at all these tools!" A moment of sharing and teaching, happening more often these days!

Hello, anyone out there?

All aboard!

Peek-a-boo!

Matt is terrified of anything involving sitting with or talking to Santa, so even the mention of others standing in line to see the man in red makes Matt say, "NOOOOO, I don't want to sit on his lap!" So, we found the next best thing. Blitzen was hanging out in front of the play area, so we went to say hi. Jonathan couldn't get a good view over or under that plank, so he just stuck his head inside!

There's Blitzen!

The Polar Express

Last year, Grandpa Marcus and Grandma Karen sent the boys The Polar Express for Christmas. This year, we got to set it up under the tree and see all of the interest both boys had in both the train and the movie. They love it, and they fought over it!

Here they are with the conductor, boy and snow play pieces, deciding where to put it all.

Matt had one of his out of the side of his mouth answers for me.

What, Mommy?

Jonathan is trying to figure out where to put the conductor.

Time for some play with the legos Matt got for his birthday!

Woohoo, fire trucks!

Driving The Polar Express with Grandpa!

Jonathan finally got the opportunity to drive the train!

Decorating Extravaganza

The tree was up, and the decorating was in the cards for the day. The boys were waiting (Jonathan, Grandpa, and Bo).

Matt joined the waiting game, and pet Bo for a bit while Granny unpacked ornaments and decorations.

The boys got dressed and started helping out with the decorating. I think Jonathan was supervising Matt at this point.

The boys had a red tree to decorate, all their own.

It was hard for Jonathan to understand that the ornaments were just decoration, not toys.

Which ornament can I grab next?

Granny had a cool "lollipop tree" for Matt to decorate!

He had a blast putting all the lollipops in!

Tree Farm

My stepmother (Granny), the boys, and I went to a tree farm about a half hour from their house to find the perfect tree for the living room. The boys had a blast running around and exploring all over!

Matt eagerly climbed on the tractor next to Santa.

I told Matt to wave like Santa was doing. Apparently he thou

ght he had to duck his head and hide his face behind the steering wheel too.

Jonathan was taking it all in and wondering what all the inflatable

characters were doing.

Still "driving" the tractor.

Matt gave Frosty a high five and was coaching Jonathan on how to do it.

Jonathan tried, but couldn't reach.

We took a tractor ride out to the trees, and you can see Jonathan was doubtful about the success of this ride.

Matt was excited with his cheesy smile!

Running by, while chasing Matt around the tree farm!

The boys agreed with Granny's pick, but had to examine it closely.

More chasing, so watch out!

Watch out, Matt's coming around the tree after you, Jonathan!

Christmas Parade

My stepmother and I took the boys to the local Christmas parade a fe

w weeks ago. It was a bit sketchy at first because Jonathan was still fighting wearing a coat, and Matt just didn't understand what we were waiting for on the curb.

Jonathan was contemplating something, but I sure don't know what.

Matt was in a bit of a mood, can you tell?

I tried to get in and cheer the boys up so they understood what we were doing.

The boys began to cheer up as the fire department went by us, and threw candy from the trucks.

The fire trucks went driving by and the mood changed! Matt was pointing out things to tell Jonathan all about on the trucks.

Matt finally got wise to the wave and you shall receive candy thing. Now he thinks when he waves at people on the street that they should throw candy!