Christmas 2009!

Where do I even begin??!! This Christmas season has been CRAZY busy and exhausting, but most of all FUN!!!!!!!!

My dad and Cory flew in on Tuesday and were welcomed by FREEZING temperatures and a few inches of snow. We were so happy to have a white Christmas, but sadly, the cold put a damper on some of our plans.

On Wednesday, I had planned for us to all go to the North Pole about an hour away, but since it is outside and the high that day was 12, we decided to skip it. We ended up trying out the Wildlife Experience in Denver which was fun, but AJ is a few years too young for it. He did enjoy seeing all the animals and running around, but was more fascinated by the snow blower outside the building than anything.

On Thursday, Pop & Grammy Cory got to experience Little Monkey Bizness. AJ got to run around and play with other kids and play on all the toys there while we watched. Pop & Grammy were amazed at how much AJ has changed in the past 3 months. He was running around all week saying "Pop! Pop!" So cute!

Then, that night we all went over to my mom and Dave's for Christmas Eve dinner. I feel SO incredibly lucky that although my parents are divorced and remarried, they get along and are willing to spend the holidays together. I can't tell you how much easier this is on me and how comfortable it is.

So, my Mom cooked up this WONDERFUL meal; prime rib, corn, salad and all the fixins. YUMMY! We enjoyed the meal together and then it was time to get AJ to bed because SANTA was coming!!!

On Christmas, AJ woke up early (you'd have thought he actually KNEW Santa was coming??!!) and I made breakfast and we started opening presents. We opened..and opened...and opened...and opened....For THREE hours we opened presents! Somewhere in there my Mom & Dave come over so we could exchange with them as well. My house looked (and still does look) like a bomb of presents went off! AJ's pile of presents was ridiculous! He got SO many wonderful gifts! The gift of the year though was the TRAIN. He got FIVE trains for Christmas- all different ones. Santa got him this awesome ride on train (see video below), Grandpa Dave got him this beautiful wood train, Pop & Grammy got him this awesome small wood train, Grandma got him a ride on Vtech train and then I got him some train bath toys. It was CHOOO CHOOO allllll day long!

AJ also got some other amazing gifts. Oma and Papa got him this wonderful Vtech giraffe that is a stationary bike. When he rides it, it talks to him and teaches him letters and colors among other things. He LOVES it! In fact, yesterday I heard him on it and he started trying to say some letters.

We had a really amazing Christmas this year. It was so nice to be with family and to all be able to watch AJ enjoy the season. He learned to open presents and I felt like he really appreciated each thing he opened (As much as he could).

Christmas Videos

Christmas Eve


Playing with his train

Christmas Fun!

Pop & Grammy Cory came out to visit and spend Christmas with us. We're having a great time and they are enjoying a very white Christmas!

Here are a few pictures:

Reading a book with Pop
BURR!!!

These pictures are from my moms house- she's had Santa and Mrs. Claus since I was a kid and now AJ loves them! He was kissing them, giving them hugs and talking to them.

Videos with Santa

Visiting with Santa




Dancing to Santa's music

Party Party Party!

It has been QUITE the holiday season. We've been to more parties this year than I think we've ever been to. It's been such a fun time, but we are all exhausted!

Yesterday, my mom and Dave had one of the best parties of the year. It was amazing! She invited a lot of my friends and their kids and some of her new friends and neighbors along with this special guy:

All the kids got to sit on Santa's lap and Santa gave them each gifts especially for them. Then, Mrs. Claus read them a story, and to top it off, Santa even played some music and they all sang songs together. It was REALLY special and such a fun day!

AJ wasn't too sure of Santa- not surprising considering how our first visit was this year, but he did enjoy playing with his friends, dancing to the music and watching Santa from afar. Here are some pictures:

Watching Santa with Grandpa Dave

Not such a fan of Santa this year...

All the kids listening to Mrs. Claus read Polar Express

He did give Santa a High Five!

AJ and his buddy Dax checking out Santa (and probably teething)

Broken Record

Here's just a small sampling of what I say, over and over....all day long:

"AJ, please sit down. AJ, sit down. AJ, I don't want to tell you again, you have to sit down".

"AJ, be gentle. Don't hurt Buster. Please be gentle. Gentle, Gentle AJ. Go give Buster hugs and kisses and tell him you're sorry"

"We don't hit Mommy. That hurts Mommy. Be Gentle"

"Honey, do you want a bite (insert any type of food)?"

"Please be careful honey".

"Can I have a hug and a kiss?"

"AJ, honey, I love you" to which he replies "MUAH!" :)

"Group" Christmas Party

For the past few years our "group" of friends has had a Christmas party in December. One family hosts the party- with kids- and we do a kids gift exchange. Last year we started an ornament exchange with the women and a beer exchange for the men. We always have a GREAT time and each year it gets more and more fun! This year, Kris & Joy offered to host. For me, it was awesome because AJ is old enough now to be totally entertained by all the older kids and they still really enjoy playing with him. He loves to play Barbie with the girls and has learned to play Star Wars with the boys. Here are a few pictures:

The Dads with their Boys
THE GROUP! (Jason, Kate AJ, Kris, Joy, Joel, Holly, Domenic, Riley, Ashlyn, Maddy, Joseph, Samantha, Kellyn, Heather & Braylon)

The Girls

Holly & AJ