Merry Christmas and HAPPY New Year!

Annual Christmas Morning stair pic

We ha da whirlwind Christmas break! We left Friday before Christmas to go to Warsaw for Christmas with my family. Jon and Cassie were here from Florida...and it got super cold to welcome them back. Gina was smart and scheduled some babysitters so we could have a really fun adult dinner on Saturday night. That was genius and will be happening again. Don't get me wrong - we all love our kids - but some adult conversation was a great way to spend time with my family.

After that we headed to Fort Wayne for Becker family Christmas. Always nice seeing everyone and watching the kids play together. Unfortunately, while we were there Nolan spiked a fever and was out of commission for a couple days. Then, just as we thought everyone was on the mend - Jack puked. I mean, what are the holidays if you don't have a puker??!?!

We returned to Northville in time for a visit from SANTA and everyone was healthy again.

 The kids were pumped with their new gifts! Nolan got a car that he has been obsessed with. Jack got a Powerwing scooter and Josie got a new PINK bike - as their big gifts.

 The aftermath of the morning.

 Christmas afternoon Nancy & Denny came up and the kids showed them all of their new toys! Then Saturday morning we headed to the mall for some craziness.

And Jack - in an effort to convince Grandma to buy a new couch for the lake - pretended to nap at Restoration Hardware.

That night - I took a page from the "book of Gina" - and hired a babysitter so we could have a fun night out with Denny and Nancy. We were all drowning our IU bowl loss sorrows...but the food was delicious and the drinks were strong.

More to come...

Christmas Morning

Tyson and I made a pact when Jack was little that we'd spend Christmas morning at home. We know it can be inconvenient for family, but it's important for us that we have our own family traditions. So waking up Christmas morning is something we both look forward to! Unfortunately, Santa was quite the procrastinator this year...so he was up VERY late on Christmas Eve. Very late.

Nolan woke me up at 6am...claiming he heard Santa. I tried to get him back to sleep, but he was having NONE OF THAT. So we sat up and waited for Jack. I knew it would be Jack who woke up first....why? Because Josie is a 16 year old, trapped in a 3 year old's body. She hates waking up early. Even Christmas morning...she was all, "Awwwww, man. I'm ti-ward." Really?!?

So Santa didn't get crazy this year. He saw our basement toy area and he knew what was up... Mom's patience. So he played it cool. There were a few toys under the tree...but then he left a note:

 Chef Josephine got a new kitchen!

 And Officer Jack got his very own Police Car! (see why Santa was up so late?!?)

 And Noley finally got a nap. But then he woke up later and played with his toys!

Hope everyone had a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Here is Officer Jack patrolling the dangerous streets of Northville:

Stuff...and Santa

Christmas is coming. That's the finish line for me. Even if I'm wrapping presents right up until I go to bed on Christmas Eve...Christmas Day will be responsibility-free (aside from the parenting gig).

Here are a few things we've been up to...

Nolan has been gnawing on my fingers whenever he can get them near his mouth. It's gross AND it hurts! So I convinced Santa to give him a teething toy a little early. It's called an appe-teether (like appetizer) and it's shaped like broccoli. Genius. Also - I'm 90% convinced he will have brown eyes! BROWN!

Jack & Josie spent a good hour playing in Josie's closet. I mean, really. Maybe not the safest place in the house to play...but they were LOVING it...they weren't fighting...and they had fun. Go with it.

And Sunday afternoon we stopped by our local mall to see the BIG man. It was his first time meeting Nolan. Nolan is on the "perfect list" - VERY hard to get on that one. Could be the ONLY year he's on it...not gonna lie...I know his siblings and their history. 

Santa didn't even recognize Josie...she has gotten so much more hair in the last year! And Jack, well - he knew Jack! GOOD NEWS! They're all in Santa's good graces. Phew. We told him we'd leave him cookies & milk. 

I made a mental note to make sure I get cookies for Santa this week at Costco.

PS: I'd like to thank TAYLOR SWIFT and her new album (1989) for getting me through the "CRAZY CHRISTMAS SEASON." And if anyone knows any 9 year old girls who need a chaperone to her concert, feel free to pass my name along. ;)

So Much Christmas

We're back. And I'll be honest - we've had SO much Christmas it's hard to know where to start. Which is exactly how I'm feeling as I try to put gifts away.  Where do I start? 

For blogging purposes - I'm starting with Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. We enjoyed time with Nancy & Denny. They joined us for potato soup, Christmas PJs, and a drive around Northville to look at lights. OnStar told us Santa was in Spain, so we hurried home and got the kids to bed.

 The kids left some cookies & milk for Santa...and, of course, carrots for the reindeer.

Then Santa (& his helpers) got busy putting gifts under the tree. See why I'm having trouble putting things away. Holy geez, Santa.

Christmas morning I awoke to a trumpet sound. I ran from my bed and peered over the stairs to see Mr. Jack jumping on a trampoline Santa left. I hurried him back upstairs for the obligatory Christmas Morning on the Stairs picture (and he was saying, "but Santa came and I've been playing with my all my new toys, Mom.") Yes, well, you broke Christmas protocol...so get on the stairs for a picture.

 Jack found that the big man must have been in a hurry. He left the fireplace open.

It was a fun Christmas. We enjoyed a big meal and spent the day playing with all of the new toys.

Don't worry...there is plenty more "Christmas" to come...

Hey, Santa...my kids don't like you.

Northville has a cute little house set up in the center of town for Santa. We paid him a visit on Sunday and, well, it didn't go that well. We stopped in first on our way to lunch. Neither kid wanted anything to do with Mr. Claus. Jack wouldn't even look at him.

So we went to lunch at a little homestyle restaurant...to discuss & regroup.

At lunch, Jack decided he might sit on Santa's lap if we went back.

So we went back.

 Jack was brave and talked to the Big Man this time. It was awkward toddler talk though:

Santa: What did you have for lunch?
Jack: Cheeseburger (said really fast)
Me: No, you didn't have a cheeseburger...
Jack: HOTDOG (again, said really fast)
Santa: Well, what do you want for Christmas?
Jack: A white talking cat.
Santa: {totally perplexed} Ohhhh, ok, well...

Meanwhile, Josie did a lot of crying. Someone please explain how my children are OBSESSED with a giant, creepy bunny... But afraid of a jolly old man who brings them presents?!?!

Look at Josie - she was practically RUNNING away from Santa. Can you see him waving to her from his house? She wasn't interested in waving back.