We tried for a few pics of the kids in front of the tree before we headed out... First, the decent one:
Ben (in bad need of a haircut, but what can you do?)
Bring in the little brother...
Attempt #1:
Attempt #2:
Attempt #3: (please note that the problem here is really not the BABY...)
Attempt #4: (c'mon Ben, can't you just sit and smile? Just once? Please?)
Attempt #5: (woulda been good except Simon was blinking)
Attempt #6: (sigh)
Attempt #7 (I give up. This is as good as it gets)
I feel bad that I didn't get one of Simon alone in front of the tree... you know for when he's older and goes through my photo albums trying to prove he was not loved as much as his older brother. But honestly, if any of you have been around Simon lately, you will understand why making him sit any longer than was absolutely necessary is just not a good idea. (nor really possible these days) I more than made up for it on Christmas morning because, you'll see, there were WAY more pics of him than Ben, who was too busy to look at the camera. ;)
After church, we headed to my parents' house for Christmas Eve dinner and gifts. Dad wasn't there because he was STILL at church with four more services to play the piano for. Sheesh.
Here's Simon drawing on my mom's chalkboard table:
Ben got to go on a treasure hunt to find his gift from Aunt Debbie. Here he is consulting the map:
...and finding a clue on the Christmas tree.
X marks the spot... what's behind this door?
A castle!!! With mood lighting! Ben was quiet and just took it all in. Simon, on the hand, actually, said, "Oooooooo!!!!!"
... and then had a duel with Aunt Debbie.
Later on, Simon opened some presents. He loves his Little People airplane!
Ben, dressed as a knight (because you HAVE to have a knight costume if you have your own castle, duh) with grandmom
Sir Ben with Aunt Debbie, the giver of all things castle-related. Again, Simon just wanted nothing to do with sitting on laps for pictures. Not my fault!
One of only THREE gifts that Ben ever actually continuously asked for... his "coat vest". He also asked for earmuffs, but he was a little late on that request and the bug kit... but that was coming the next day. ;)
After all that excitement, we headed home for a long winter's nap...
Then came Christmas morning!
Ben peeking down the stairs... (Simon would have been in this picture, but he was ticked that I left him upstairs with daddy so I could take the picture, and was screaming his head off at this point, yeah, he's awesome like that lately)
He spotted the present pile!
Santa brought the boys a trampoline! Mommy is thrilled! ;) They immediately got to work jumping while we waited for our guests...
... have you ever seen such restraint? Ben actually is always so overwhelmed by Christmas that he has to be prodded to get started opening things. So they just waited here like this for probably 20 minutes...
Ben with his stocking
Opening another joint gift...
Can you guess what it was?
Boing!
Finally, guests! Breakfast! Present opening!
Cool mask from grandmom!
Boys on a trampoline... another failed attempt at a picture of them together...
After breakfast, we headed over to Nanee and Pap's house!
Anastasia
Simon needed some alone time, apparently...
Strike a pose!
Ben got a new book!
Being tackled by Anastasia
Ben and Nanee
SImon and a new book
Ribbon tastes good too!
The bug kit from Aunt Sarah and UNcle Taylor! He played with this all evening when we got home....
Simon and his piggy... he loves this thing!
Anastasia liked it too
Christmas makes her happy! So does Uncle Taylor yelling, "Yayyyy!!!"
Mine! All mine!
A girl and her ride
And that was our crazy Christmas... man am I tired. Happy to sit around the house today and do nothing...
More later, maybe... but Simon is squawking from his crib. :)
Merry Christmas!
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