Christmas hangover

You know what I mean...that "blah" feeling you are left with in the days following Christmas.  The presents are opened, the cookies are eaten, the tree is bare (sans presents and probably a few needles too!) and you are tired.  This is the first hangover I have had in a long time.  Ha!

We had a wonderful Christmas though.  It was low-key, just the way I like it.  Santa was good to us, but there was one thing on my list I didn't get.  A one-way ticket to independent wealth, perhaps my letter got lost in the mail:(  We are truly blessed though, so no complaints here.

We kicked off the holiday weekend with a tour de Longmont for Christmas lights.  You would think by now I would be more prepared for this excursion, but every year it is the same.  The GPS won't work right, we drive around until we stumble upon some lights, I take one picture and my battery dies, yada, yada, yada.  It was still cool to check out some new homes this year.  I can't imagine all the effort that goes into doing it up like some of these places do!

 Milo was so intrigrued...

 by this!

We had Uncle Jon, Aunt Heather, and Peyton over for Christmas Eve.  A delicious meal and SO much fun watching the kiddos play together.  They had a blast! 

How cute is Peyton in her holiday duds?  Ian was more into the beach bum look this Christmas Eve.  Ha!

 Ian's police helmet was a huge hit!

 I would say the dessert gets a thumbs up from Milo:)

 Ian and Milo got an art easel and art supplies.  Gettin' crafty in 2012!

 Love this little girl and the fact that she walked this book over to me, plopped down on my lap, and snuggled right in.  My heart melted!

 Milo checking Santa's route before he hits the sack. 

 The evening wrapped up and our guests had to say goodbye.  I love being able to spend the holidays with my brother and his family. 

 Milo crashed hard, so it was up to Ian to make sure the cookies and milk were out for Santa.  Plus, the reindeer food was out for Rudolph. 

 Ian made his own chocolate milk for Santa:)

Can you tell he is excited?!

 He thought he might have heard something before heading up stairs.  With his ear plastered to the window he was just waiting to hear the jingling of those sleigh bells.  But I reminded him that Santa would not come if he saw us awake because he cannot reveal his magical surprises!                                                        

 We must have heard him because when Casey and I came upstairs for bed it was clear he had arrived.  How did we miss him?!

We were sure Ian was going to wake us up at 5 AM to open gifts, but we were presently surprised when both boys slept in until 7:30 AM.  Merry Christmas to Mommy & Daddy!  Once Ian was awake though, he could hardly contain himself.  He ran downstairs and shrieked with delight when he saw Santa ate the cookies, drank his milk and that Rudolph even enjoyed his carrot!  The biggest surprise was that Santa brought him exactly what he wanted...a kitchen.  That little boy wants to be a chef just like his Daddy!  Milo was excited too, although he had no idea he was excited.  He was just shrieking because his Big Brother was.  Hilarious! 

We were able to pull both of them away from the kitchen long enough to open their other presents.  I desperately tried to be my organized self writing down what everyone got and from who so we could get our thank you notes in order.  What a joke!  Sometimes I wonder why I even try to be like the person I once was.  I really need to accept my new normal - unorganized, frazzled Mom:)

Milo was all about opening presents, but Ian took the cake for opening the most presents.  I didn't mind!

What - this wagon isn't to hold me, just my stuff?! 

I absolutely LOVE this picture.  The smile on Milo's face - priceless.  A cozy time with Daddy before his nap.  Ian squeezed in some QT with Daddy too. 

 
After naps and quiet time, we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park for some sledding.  I was so bummed last year because we never had enough snow to make sledding worthwhile.  We have already had more snow this year than we got all last year.  Amazing!

We did a handful of runs - maybe 5 or so each.  Milo wasn't a huge fan, but he sure was a trooper.  I got quite the work out carrying a baby and a sled, then balancing us both down the hill in an attempt to not eat it.  Ian loved it.  He asked to go alone, but I just wasn't ready to send my baby down that big hill all by himself.  Maybe next year.  I would feel much better if we started with the small sledding hill by our house! We had a lot of fun - not too crowded and a gorgeous day.  It wasn't long before we were all exhausted and needed to head home though. 

Pooped!

The rest of our evening was quiet and we were all eager to catch some zzzzz's.  All in all it was a great Christmas, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't happy it is over.  I need 364 days to relax and prepare for next year!

Happier Holidays are ahead

I love a white Christmas!  It just makes it feel more like Christmas...but 15 inches is more than enough. 

It all started on Wednesday night...I skipped the commute on Thursday and opted to work from home. 

This was my beautiful view into work this morning:)

 And now I am heading home to hang out with this cute little elf!

Merry Christmas, let the holiday celebrations begin!!

Christmas Carols & Cookies

Last Thursday, we all got to experience our first preschool holiday program.  I completely spaced that we were supposed to bring cookies or some baked good to share with everyone.  Eeeek!  Fortunately, Daddy saved the day with fudge he received as a gift.  We arrived on time and totally looking like we had our s*!t together.  The kids were playing instruments while waiting for the guests to arrive.  The smile Ian had when he saw us both arrive was priceless!  He is the sweetest.

The kids sang "Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Star" and "Jingle Bells".  Everyone did a great job considering all the faces (some known, some not) staring back at them from the crowd. 

The best part was after the program when we got to eat cookies and drink punch.  Yum!  Oh, and gifts.  Ian was psyched to get some books, but most excited about his candy cane.  It was a great day with Ian and we were so happy that we both got to be a part of it.  Later that night we were getting ready for bed and I asked Ian what the best part of his day was.  He giggled and said, "I was so excited to see you guys today at my show."  Love!

Slowly but surely we are getting our tree decorated.  It is always fun to break out the boxes and find all the holiday treasures that you forgot about.  This year is definitely the most fun we have experienced with Ian because he really gets it and is SO excited to see Santa.  We have had a conversation or two or three about how Santa only visits good boys and girls, so he better watch out.  Just like Mommy - Santa has eyes in the back of his head too!

Last Sunday we had the Courtney girls over for our annual cookie baking extravaganza!  Ian was a great helper and so proud to show off his chef coat and hat.  He kept saying, "Now I am a chef just like Daddy."  We got up early Saturday morning to make and bake our cookies.  I threw the icing together while the boys were napping because I knew Ian was going to consume enough of it tomorrow during our decorating party.  Ha!  We ended up with 55 cookies in varying holiday shapes - trees, snowmen, stockings, wreathes, and candy canes.  Ian's favorite was the wreath because he could poke out the middle and sneak the dough when I wasn't looking;)

Sunday started off a bit challenging and I knew it would be.  I am sorry G.I. Joe, but sometimes knowing is NOT half the battle.  Ian was so excited to see Ella and decorate cookies that he could hardly contain himself, which led to tantrums and disagreements on almost everything until cookie time actually arrived.  We all survived though!

Milo want more cookies!

OH, you're supposed to put the sprinkles on the cookies?! 

Kate made a personalized cookie for each kid.  I am thinking someone has a future in cookie decorating!

Our delicious bounty.  I also broke out one of my Christmas presents from last year and did some piping on a few cookies.  It is no Jane Schneider, but I thought they turned out pretty well:)  We split them up so the Courtney's would have cookies for Santa too.  I am just hoping there are enough cookies left for Santa at our house.  They have been staring at me everyday and I just can't say no!  Queenie cookies are one of my many vices.  At least now I have a helper in the kitchen who gets to them before I do. 

Gettin' in the spirit!

I am trying, REALLY trying to get into the holiday spirit this year.  But I am feeling more bah-humbug than jingle bells:(  I think I just have too much going on.  Typically I am ahead of the game and ready for Christmas come Thanksgiving, but not this year.  Piecing it together day by day, we'll get there!

Before the boys and I headed off to Indiana for some QT with Grandma and Grandpa, we bought our tree.  They say you shouldn't buy your Christmas tree after dark, but this year we didn't have any other choice.  It seems like every day and every night is crammed full of things to do, clean, buy, wrap, bake...it is actually amazing we even have a tree this year!  I have to admit it is the first time I have ever thought to myself how nice a pre-lit artificial tree could be.  Oh no!

Indiana or Bust!

We were off to the airport bright and early - this little guy was all smiles, the other was refusing photos.  Ian is so much like me it is frightening most days!

We made it through security unscathed (barely!) and were able to park ourselves at the gate for a couple of minutes.  I dreaming of catching my breath, the boys dreaming of snacks and sippy cups!  We had a front row seat to our plane when it pulled up and Ian thought that was pretty awesome.  All things considered everyone did a great job on the plane and the other passengers were so kind and understanding of my defeated state of mind. 

This picture is so cute to me.  I was telling both of them to watch for Grandma's car as we were landing!

First stop, Steak n' Shake!  By the time we landed and got our things loaded up it was not far off from dinner time, but the Andrews clan was starving.  My first stop is always Steak n' Shake.  I had been telling Ian all about having a shake once we got off the plan, so we swung in and got a shake + a little snack to tied us over until our next stop on the culinary tour de Indiana:)

Friday night we headed to Indianapolis to hang with the Green family.  They have moved since my last visit to Indiana, so I was psyched to see the new house and all the kids.  The kids had so much fun playing together.  Depending on the activity, Milo toggled back and forth between the other kids and the dog.  Ha!

Mallory, Ian, and Nathan - aka "Three Musketeers"

Not a great photo, but I just had to share the dance party that the kids had.  This was Milo's favorite - he was right in the middle shakin' his money maker!

It was a late night, but SO worth it.  Milo was asleep before we even got out of their subdivision!  Ian fought it for a bit longer, but eventually caved.  Fortunately, I had the bright idea to bring PJ's and change them before putting them in their car seats.  Go Mommy!

Saturday we got to visit with our good friends the Penwell's.  Heather and her girls - Tanner and Elisa - headed over after their breakfast with Santa.  The kids got to play and snack while Heather and I caught up.  The last time we got together Heather was pregnant with Elisa, so it was wonderful to meet her the day before her 2nd birthday! 

Saturday night we got the boys dressed in PJ's and drove around to look at Christmas lights.  One of my all-time favorite things to do during the holiday season.  My great-aunt and great-uncle had a spectacular holiday light display when we were growing up.  It was so fun to see!  I would never want to do all the work to get it to look like that though! 

A little backseat fun while we were driving around to look at lights.  I think they had a pretty good time!

Playing Cootie - I forgot how much fun that game is and Ian truly enjoyed playing it.  I hope Santa was watching!

Horsin' around with Grandpa while he is watching basketball. 

My Mom bought this race track for Ian many visits ago and this was the first time that he actually played with it and got it.  Milo on the other hand just wanted to knock it over.  I wanted to super glue it together, but wouldn't make for easy storage then.  Boo.

A great surprise from our trip was finding out that one of my best gal pals from high school was in town as well.  She has a little boy born a month after Milo, so I got to meet him too.  It was wonderful!  She happened to be in town because her brother had just had a baby girl and she discovered I was in town through my random posts on Facebook.  I love the Menard's - I spent a lifetime on their front porch swing and was so excited to be in their house again.  It was exactly how I remembered it being!  My Mom often runs into Bekah's parents so we are always kept up to date on each other, but there is nothing like some QT with an old friend to warm the soul!

Torre Cerro - the cutest!

Not the best photo, but a blurry shot of the Cerro & Andrews clans!  Milo was obsessed with the photo on the wall behind us and could not be bothered with yet another photo.  Ha!

The boys have their own room at Grandma's house and Ian even got an extra awesome surprise...a race car bed!  I am not sure if he was more excited about the car bed or the Cars sheets on the bed!  He did so great sharing this space with his brother and he never got out of bed while we were there.  He was so proud of himself for that and so was I.  A huge accomplishment in our world right now.  Milo looks a little like he is in prison.  Believe it or not, this is the same crib that my brother and I used to sleep in when we were at our grandma's house.  While some might see it as a death trap because it definitely isn't up to code, my boys have loved sleeping in it and I swear they sleep better in it than they do their own crib at home!

Monday, Monday - back to reality.  But not before getting to unwrap some Christmas presents!!  Ian opened his chef outfit.  He was excited, but I am not sure he got exactly what it was.  Fortunately, it fit in our luggage and we could bring it home to get a picture of him for Grandma.  What a great gift, just in time for our annual cookie bake-off with the Courtney's (post to follow)!

The boys did great on the plane.  The ride home went more smoothly.  I lucked out because both flights were not full, so I was able to keep Milo in his car seat on the plane.  A Godsend!  He is way to wiggly to be set free.  Thankfully Milo took a good nap before heading to the airport and somehow I was able to convince Ian that the plane flew faster if his eyes were closed.  Score for me!  I think Milo was the only who stayed awake the entire flight home.  The first time I have ever been able to get a couple of zzzz's when flying with children.  Yay for me!