For another year anyway.
All of that prep work, and all the anticipation and it all leads up to that most magical day, and then you blink your eyes and it is all over.
And your are left having consumed way too much food, a chaotic mess in our family room downstairs (seriously, up until a few hours ago it looked like a bomb went off down there), a whole new collection of toys that must find new homes, some incredibly tired parents and for that matter kids....and a whole new little pocket of memories. Memories that won't soon be forgotten.
Oh, how I love me some Christmas!
So here we go... a look at our 2011 family Christmas.
My handsome little men all ready to go..
Now one with their mama. Too bad Lincoln's not looking at the camera...
Before we left for our parties we set out Santa's cookies and milk. And went out in the yard and sprinkled our reindeer food. The boys always fall asleep on the way home, so we make sure and do it before.
I know I said Santa was going to get store bought cookies, but my sister invited us over the day before to decorate some home made sugar cookies that she had made. Why not. So she sent us home with a plate or two. Lucky Santa...he did end up getting the real thing.
First up is our Christmas Eve party at my Grandma Grovers (which is my mom's whole family). There is a whole lot of us at this party. Its super fun though. Pretty cute picture of my mom and us girls. Lucky Thiago got to sit there and snap this shot with 4 different cameras for 4 very picky girls. He had to take it, and retake it many times...with 4 different cameras. Haha, good thing he is a pretty easy going guy.
Drakey bug and his grandma. Such a little snuggler.
Present time.
Oh Lincoln boy was quite the character during this. We have 2 sets of grandparents at this party. Both of them send us money and have us go buy presents for the kids and then we bring the gifts to the party so they can open them in front of my grandparents. One of the presents for Cars and Linc were these giant transformers, which they loved. Carson's second gift was a power ranger and Lincoln's was a transformers blanket. He loves blankets and he loves transformers, so I thought he would be excited. Wrong. He freaked. Unwrapped it and starting screaming "no blanket, I want a toy" and then started to kick it. Such a lovely child.
On a side note, a few days later and he absolutely loves it. Just as I knew he would. Guess just not at first. Little stinker.
This party always ends with the boys opening up their Christmas pj's from my mom. One of my favorite traditions.
Next up, we head to my inlaws where my mother in law makes a delicious dinner for all of us. We had just eaten a huge dinner at my grandma's house, but heck its Christmas why not one more.
When Thiago was little they used to open up one present on Christmas eve...so they all still do that. Well not me and Thiago, just the kids. The boys always pick their Tou's (uncle Gus) present...he buys good stuff. Lighting Mcqueen guitar for Carson and a little handheld thing for Lincoln, they both loved it. Oh and the baby got a bath toy. They were all happy.
Lincoln boy started to get tired, so he layed back and played a little Angry Birds on his dad's phone.
Put your feet up, my boy.
The previous mentioned Christmas jammies..pretty cute.
And after that we headed on home. Three little boys fell sound asleep, its hard work being that excited.
What we woke up to Christmas morning..looks like Santa came.
Since we got home so late the night before, they all actually slept until about 7:30. Worked out nice, I woke up before them so I could start getting ready and was just finishing as Carson woke up. He then went on to wake up Lincoln, who jumped out of bed and was ready to head downstairs.
I have decided it is actually quite hard to get good pictures of Christmas morning. Especially with three kids. They are all just too fast, and I am spinning from one kid to the next trying to capture their expressions. However, I am not quick enough. Oh well.
Carson's pile..his favorites are his gigantic Optimus Prime with the jet attached, his transformers ark and his telescope.
Lincoln's favorites are his Wheelies ramp, Mobigo, batman helicopter and Jessie doll. Yes, doll. What can we say the kid loves Toy Story.
And Drakey...favorites include wrapping paper and sucking on the top of his new sippy cups. Yep, that is what you get with an almost one year old.
Their is something so great about your Christmas pile. I used to love to see my stuff all gathered together like that when I was little. Heck, I still do.
Quickly got the boys ready, we had places to go and people to see.
Carson sporting his new coat that me and Thiago gave him.
and me sporting my new outfit as well. Haha.
Back to the Cano's for Santa presents with them and a huge breakfast.
My big boys had just as much fun playing in the wrapping paper as they did playing with their toys.
And my mama's house for Christmas dinner. Pretty much my most favorite dinner of the entire year. (Honestly, how cute are these nametags?? My mom pulled out old pictures of all the kids and cut them out for these little tags. That is a 9 month old baby Carson there. Isn't he the sweetest. And kinda looks like Drake.)
Their traditional hallmark Christmas ornament from my mom and Dean and these little monkey sock hats.
Drakey bug looks pretty cute too...Lincoln wouldn't try his own. Shocker right.
Here is where the day took a sad little turn. Carson had been totally fine all day, and suddenly at my moms house he started to feel super sick. He had a bad stomache ache and started to get a fever. Poor little guy. This is how he spent the remainder of his day. Pretty much broke my heart. The poor kid had been soooo excited for this day, so excited. And this is how he has to end up. I was just happy he was able to enjoy Christmas morning and Christmas Eve. At least it wasn't the whole day.
Final stop of the day is my dads house.
More good food and presents.
And a poor little Carson, who was going from bad to worse. By this point he had the aches and chills and we needed to get him home. Sweet boy. And sweet Lance. He was so sad that Cars couldn't be playing with him, so what does he do. Sits by his side all night on the couch. Never will you see two truer friends. Almost made me cry, it was just so sweet.
And once we got all of their grandparents and other gifts home, this is a final look at their piles. Spoiled little monkeys.
And that my friends is a Christmas wrap.
Now all the fun of cleaning it all up and getting back to normal around here. It is such a project for me getting all the toys reorganized and taking all my Christmas down. I started a little of it today, but honestly most of it won't be happening until next week.
Well thats that, until the season comes round again..right folks!
