Christmas Recap - Christmas at our House

We left Massachusetts at around 7pm on Christmas night to drive home while the kids were sleeping.  It worked out well and we made good time, getting home just before midnight.  The kids woke up around 7am on Monday morning, ready to open their presents.

Our Christmas tree with the gifts under it

Close up of the gifts and stockings

Two still-sleepy babies ready to see their Christmas gifts.  Check out Leah's hair bows - she asked for them before she would go downstairs.

Being the sweet big brother he is, Cameron helped Leah down the stairs

Going to see the tree

 They did not want to sit still and get their picture taken while all those presents were waiting to be opened!

Cameron opening a gift

This ornament is from Mama and Daddy.  Mama bought it when she was in Europe from one of our favorite Christmas shops.

This is Cameron's gift to Leah (so of course he has to help her open it!)

His gift to her was skates (his old skates) - such a sweet boy

Leah loving her princess floor puzzle

Cameron opening his present from Leah (it was Joker, the Batman villan)

Hugging Leah in thanks

Leah opening another one

And Cameron opening one of his big gifts, the Batcave

Cameron opening the big shared gift.  Leah was too busy playing with other stuff and did not want to help Cam open.

Cameron with all of his gifts

Mama and her gifts, including some great handmade ornaments from the kids

Daddy and his gifts

Leah with her gifts

Cameron and Mama put together the easel (Cam and Leah's big shared gift)

Cam was a great helper and he really liked being a big part of putting it together

While we were putting the easel together, Daddy went to get Dunkin Donuts as a special breakfast treat.  As you can see, Leah was very excited to be having donuts!

It was a wonderful family Christmas!!!

Christmas Recap - Christmas in Swansea

This year was our year to celebrate Christmas in Swansea with Tim's family.  We were able to go down a few days early because I had a business trip in the Boston area.  I dropped Tim and the kids off at Kim and Jeff's house on Tuesday night and went to my business trip.  I joined back up with them on Thursday down in Swansea.  The kids loved having extra time seeing their Massachusetts family!

Cam, Leah and Tim got to spend a day with Cathy and Lucia.  The kids loved getting to know their youngest cousin!

And they certainly didn't hesitate to get right in her face to get to know her!

I love this picture - what cuties!

The Borsts came down to Swansea on Christmas Eve.  Leah loved snuggling up to Jack, who loved reading to her.

Lucia is such a sweet baby, we were all fighting over our chance to hold her

Tim and Lucia

Ella and Lucia

On Christmas morning the kids celebrated by watching some Christmas movies on TV.  Santa delivered their presents to our house in Syracuse, so we would open them on the morning of December 26th.  Cameron and Leah were perfectly fine with that.

Cousins!  Ella is holding Lucia, Jack, Leah, Cameron

Leah enjoying her new animal book

Tearing into another gift

This is just about the best picture of Leah's pretty Christmas dress that we have.  She looked so darn cute though!

Jack and Lucia

Cameron with his backyard explorer kit

 Ella and Lucia

 Ella and Leah

Leah throwing a tantrum, how lovely

Cameron helping Auntie Kim open a gift

Grandpa very excited to get a cover for his iPhone

Mimi is about to experience the same excitement

Cameron showing off his mad face

Daddy and Leah reading the animal book

One of Ella's gifts was a real working microphone.  Once Cameron found out about it, we practically had to tear it out of his hands.  He LOVED signing into the microphone and serenaded everyone with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer about twenty times in a row.

Dinnertime!

We had a wonderful time in Swansea and loved getting to see everyone and celebrate with them.

Christmas Recap - Two Christmas Parties

One of the most fun things about the Christmas season are all of the parties that we get to take the kiddos to.  This Christmas we had two fun ones - the Lockheed Martin Employee Association party and the Syracuse Crunch party.  Here are some pictures from both.

This was the first year we had ever been to the LM Christmas Party (well, I went when I was a kid, but this is the first time our family went) and it was really fun.  There was good food, lots of dancing, crafts, face painting, and of course, Santa!

Cameron and Leah both got to see Santa, and each of them got a gift from Santa.  Cameron got a big robot toy and Leah got a baby.

Once again, Leah wanted nothing to do with Santa.  Mama went up with her and Leah would only acknowledge Leah's presence until he showed her that he had a gift for her!

There were frost-your-own cookies

Cam with his masterpiece

Leah really loved her frosted cookie!  She mainly ate the frosting and not so much of the cookie.

Hands down, Leah's favorite part was the dancing.  She was out on the dance floor busting a move every chance she could get!

The Crunch Christmas party was for season ticket holders.  They had dinner, a raffle and a chance to meet and talk with the players.  Cameron really, really liked it.  He was all over the room, talking to any players that he could find.  I think a bit of them were taken back to have such a little guy come up to them and start a very spirited conversation.  He told all of the players about how he played hockey, what his number was, and asked them about their playing.  It was super cute.

Cameron with Al the Ice Gorilla

Mama and Leah with one of the Crunch

Cameron practically crawled up on this guys lap to take a picture.  Luckily he was very good with Cam, unlike some of the others who looked at him like he had two heads!

Can you tell how excited he is??  He loved meeting the Crunch!