Annual Christmas Dinner

Last night we had our annual Christmas dinner with the Banks and Tiroux families. We have been getting together to celebrate Christmas for years and our event has evolved over time.  We started years ago with getting all dressed up, going downtown for dinner and then out on town.  We now gather at one of our homes with all five kids and try to eat dinner and keep track of our kids and our glass of wine.  Even though the we are now going home when we use to be heading out we have just as much fun.  There is nothing better than watching our kiddos form friendships as strong as ours. 

Ivars with Aunt Melissa and Uncle Brett

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Brett are in town for Christmas!  My parents rented a beautiful home on the water in Mukilteo.  Yesterday the boys and I went over and we all went to lunch at Ivars.  The boys did great at lunch and Hudson loved feeding the seagulls with Uncle Brett.  Bennett was in awe of the water, ferry boats and the seagulls.  It was a great start to many fun days with my brother and Melissa here.  Love them!

*Photo taken by Hudson 

Cookies for Santa

Shelbi and Olivia came over and the the kids made cookies for 

Santa.  They did an awesome and job and had so much fun.  They

both loved the frosting (on their fingers) and putting the sprinkles on

the most. 

 

Preschool Christmas

Today Hudson had a Christmas program at his school.  Each child had the chance to say their name and "Merry Christmas" in the microphone on stage...no way, not Hudson.  During the first song he stood there frozen, by the second song he was singing and during the last song he even did the hand motions.  All in all quite a success for an on stage performance scheduled during the boys nap time. Bennett even made it through and called out for Hudson about 1 million times and clapped more than I've ever seen a baby clap.  He sure loves his big brother. In case you are wondering, I did get a few tears in my eyes.  I'm one proud mommy.

Frozen on Stage

Cute Reindeer

Daddy and Bennett

Busy Week

This week Max (our Elf on the Shelf) came to live with us.  Hudson had a Christmas party at preschool.  We went to storytime with Olivia.  Bennett experienced the Children's Museum out of the Ergo for the first time.  Hudson and I went to Warm Beach with Shelbi and Olivia and we even had time to make thumbprint reindeer ornaments!  

This Weekend...

Cousins

Grandpa Doug & Bennett

Sledding with Daddy

Making Snowballs

Yummy Cupcakes

Trying Ham for the first time at brunch...yummy.

Happy Hudson

My Sweet Boys

We had another crazy busy weekend full of holiday fun. Hudson and I went to the Polar Express storytime on Friday night. On Saturday we spent the day in the mountains with the Cowan side of our family. We played in the snow, went sledding, decorated cupcakes, played with cousins, open presents and even skipped a nap! On Sunday we went to the Santa brunch at Overlake with grandma Corinne and her friends.

Christmas Treee

With a little "help" from Hudson and Bennett we finally got our Christmas tree up last week. It took two days. One day to get it up and one day to decorate it. You will notice that lack of ornaments at Bennett's height. I decided it's not worth it, this year our tree will be a bit top heavy. Life is during the holidays is a bit harder with two...but twice as fun!

Tis The Season!

This weekend we...

Saw Santa Fly

Made a gingerbread house at church

Did crafts with daddy

Pet a REAL reindeer!

Picked out our Christmas tree

Had our picture taken with Santa

and loved doing the advent each morning!