Merry Christmas

We have had a lot of fun the past 2 days celebrating Christmas! We started with a nice dinner and few gifts on Xmas eve and ended with a breakfast, santa, and opening more presents this morning. Joshua finally got on a roll with opening presents this morning...he usually prefers to open one at a time and play with it before he moves on to the next. He even did the requisite kid thing by literally throwing the clothes present over his shoulder so he could get to the better stuff :) Here are some pics from last night and this morning...

Gift number 1 was an exciting Tonka Dumb Truck...

Then we moved on to Xmas PJ's...Initially J was not nearly as excited as Mommy...then he realized they were cars-PJs...he cried when I changed his diaper this morning "Car Pants. Car Pants" Had to put them right back on them ;)

He also got some car house slippers, although he does not believe me that they are shoes...in fact,

after trying to get him to try them on we witnessed a full scale meltdown. I have it on video...its pretty funny in retrospect.

After a bath, post melt down, we were friends again and he was ready to play with the crayola coloring toy Mi and Grandpa Poirot got him.

Santa came last night and left Joshua a stocking full of socks and videos. Joshua was quite the star...here he is really feeling the sweet music he was making...

"My name is Joshua and I am here to rock you out!"

A friend of mine, Paul, got Joshua some blocks and a wagon...some of J's favorite things...colors, and something with wheels. Thanks Paul!

Opening another one...Black Beauty...Daddies' and Mi's favorite book.

Tonka Truck break

It wouldnt be Christmas if we werent frantically putting together toys after Joshua lost interest. :). Sit and Spin from Nana and Grandpa was a hit!

Oh My - a big one...

The final gift - a parking garage! The boy equivalent to a doll house. He was very excited about this and all the new cars to play with it on. (Especiall his new Doc Hudson...which he even slept with last night. He doesn't let it out of his sight :) )

Merry Christmas everyone! More to come soon...

Countdown to Christmas Part Two

Tonight was a big night. Daddies, Mommy, and Bubbies loaded up and went out to Saluda Shoals Park for their Holiday Lights Display and family fun night. It was actually pretty cold and I was wishing that I had gotten Joshua some mittens. He had a lot of fun.

This might end up being my favorite picture of Dan and Joshua...I love thier hats (J will only wear his once he sees Daddies put one on first :) )

This year Joshua wouldn't sit on Santa's lap solo. In fact he didnt want to be anywhere near the guy...so Mommy is in this year's Santa shot.

Daddies and Joshua getting on the choo choo train...ooo it was cold...

After the lights we went for Mommy's favorite - Mexican food! Joshua said "guacamole" for the first time tonight...he eats with a fork.

Too bad he doesn't use a fork for rice :P!!!!

Ahh...eating out with a toddler always an adventure...

Countdown to Christmas Part One

We have been celebrating Christmas since the day after Thanksgiving :). But we really kicked up a notch this weekend. We started with a get together at Shevaun and Rowan's on friday night. Sunday we had an all day affair - brunch with Rowan and Aiden...followed by nap and then continued play with Aiden until after bath time. Joshua and Mommy were worn out when it was all done.

I thought I would start the countdown with a picture of our tree. It has been up and decorated since the day after Thanksgiving...I wasn't going to waste any time :). This year's is much better than the Charlie Brown one I used to put up. Joshua enjoys the many animal ornaments I got to pu on the tree just for him!

Joshua, Rowan, and J's cute monkey backpack. They were being pretty silly...

The three boys...Rowan holding down the fort with some milk and "mep" (his blanket).

Cowboy Joshua...maybe he misses Texas...

Enjoying a flick after baths...what a great day!

Antics

I turn my head for one second...

McDonalds Fun!

Tonight Joshua got to hang out with one of his new friends, Aiden, at McDonalds. He ran around so much that he was sweaty, flushed, and really really thirsty by the time we left. He and Aiden have become fast friends as they share a love for all transportation related things generally, and Pixar's CARS more specifically. Here are some pics from our outing.

Shenanigans

Now that the Christmas cards have been sent out, I thought it would be fun to post some of the pics that did not make the cut. It was quite an evening trying to get a good pic for the card...Daddies was the photographer, Mommy was the choreographer and set designer, and Joshua was a man committed to making everything as difficult as possible.

AIRPLANE!!!

...all fall down...

If you smile you can have some cookie...

Yay...see my cookie!!!!!!!!!

Look..that's my mommy

who knows what we were looking at.

Football stance...

Joshua's favorite kind of flower...one from Mommy's pots.