Project Life ~ Weeks 51 & 52

and a NOTE:  I have tried for two weeks to post our Christmas pictures.  I had them all sorted into folders and ready to go only to not be able to upload them to blogger.  Frustrating! Just today, I found a way around this dilemma and have spent {too much!} time backposting our Christmas pictures (so keep scrolling if you'd like to see them!).  However, this process is a bit more difficult and time consuming.  Ugh!  Without further ado, the last of Project Life ~ 2012. 

 

the kids' Christmas program

 

 

 

 

We bought a tablet (and a new point and shoot camera - still $aving up for my SLR) for our Anniversary gift.

 

Another item crossed off our Christmas bucket list - make Christmas cookies!

 

 

We got a babysitter and headed to Taste of Italy...

 

 

for our 9th Anniversary!

 

 

It is a rare thing for I Man to look at and pose for the camera.  Today he did both!  I love that the picture also captures his love for cars!

 

 

Bean bag races!

(and to think, I bought those beanbag chairs to use in a reading nook in the playroom - ha!)

 

 

The night before we left for Christmas with D's family, we had a birthday party for Jesus including cupcakes and a Christmas scavenger hunt (idea from here).  It ended with the kids finding "baby Jesus" and I love that I Man is kissing His head!

 

 

 We headed north on Saturday where L hunted for presents with her name on them! 

 

 

Ok, so technically this is the only picture actually from Week 52 of Project Life.  It was taken on Christmas Eve day while we hung out at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing golf (with cards, who knew?!).  

 

However, lest you think I slacked on week 52, there are plenty of pictures here, here and here!

Christmas at Mom's

Our final Christmas for the year was at my Mom's place.  We ate, laughed, talked, opened presents, watched football, enjoyed foot massages from A2 and played with new toys and cousins!  G, C and T came over later but I didn't get any pictures of that (boo!).

 

(that's I Man behind there in case you couldn't tell!)

 

 

 

 

(see that polka dotted scarf?  She gave me the exact same one!) 

 

(that's pretty neat.)

 

(a book of memories from this trip.)

 

(cowabunga!)

 

 

(look at that determination!)

Christmas at Dad's

 

included a family picture (with everyone!)

 

 

lots and lots of gifts

 

 

 

 

 

and of course spoons(!)

 

 

which was intense (as usual)!

 

 

I've included this one just because it's cute

 

 

and this one because some of you (you know who you are) deserve to have me post this picture for all the world to see the five people who look at this blog to see!  ;-)

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

In total, we celebrated 5 Christmases (in addition to our own family Christmas, of course) spread over two weekends and 400+ miles apart.  Three of these Christmases we celebrated on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  First up...

 

Christmas Eve at Great Grandpa's!  Take a look inside...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonder why she's doing the double fist bump dance?



Because of THESE!
Blogger isn't letting me upload videos right now or I'd post the one of her opening this gift.  It's probably just as well...there was lots of screaming with excitement!

 

One last picture in front of the tree before heading to bed.

 

Doesn't she look ready to sleep?  Nope, she wasn't!


Christmas Day found us at R and M's for a Christmas breakfast...

 

more pictures in front of the tree

 

and MORE presents!

 

There was even some time to play with new toys...

 

before heading to another Christmas for lunch and time with more family.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

...and a Happy New Year!

 

 

(or something like that!)

'Twas 10 Nights Before Christmas

When all through the house,

 

Only Mom and Dad were stirring and maybe a mouse;

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

 

In hopes that Mom and Dad would put something in there;

 

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

 

While visions of toys, ToYs, TOYS danced in their heads;

 

And I wrapping presents while D watched the game,

 

Were hoping for our own family Christmas this year, not the same.

 

 

Ok, so in reality, the stockings were placed under the tree after one of them was too heavy to remain hung by the chimney.  But we did want a Christmas of our own this year.  Yes, we've always done our own gift opening, but it's usually been the night before we leave for one family or the other leaving the kids little time to use what they're given and honestly it all kind of gets lost in the shuffle.  Plus, there's just something special about the kids waking up in the morning all excited to open presents. 

 

Enter our own family Christmas 10 days early but a Christmas all our own!  



L was up at the usual time begging us to wake I Man so we could open presents!  When we finally did get him up she informed him that we were going to open the presents.  He made if halfway downstairs and said, "those presents down there?"  When I said, "Yes."  He said, "let's do it then!"



 

(their gifts from each other)



 

(we gave I Man a new Cheetah - I love his genuine thank you in the video above)

 

 

(trust me - they are exactly the same {same company, same sku number etc. one has just been loved a little more}!  I Man now sleeps with 'Old Cheetah' and 'New Cheetah.')



 

As part of our gift to them, each child got a new game.  Angry Birds (which is pretty fun and kind of hard) was the favorite over Ants in the Pants. 

 

We ate a special breakfast (store bought muffins and caramel coffee cake with lattes a la D - yum!) and spent the day playing together. 

 

It was really great!