Christmas Day

The boys went to visit my sister and brother in law (Aunt Booey and Uncle Jas) for Christmas week, while I was in the hospital. We tried to make Christmas special for them, here, before they left, but should have known that they would make sure that the boys had a wonderful, and memorable day, despite the circumstances. I can't thank them enough, they truly are like another set of parent's to our kids.

Christmas Morning: Santa came to visit, and brought them a few of the gifts that he must have forgotten to put on his sleigh when he made his early trip to our house.

They were blessed with a "white Christmas" up there, and were able to build a snowman. Brayden has been begging to do this, but we haven't had the chance to do so yet.

Christmas dinner was hosted at their house this year. This is something that has always been at my mom's all my life, but she too just got out of the hospital. The boys had a great time with the whole family--- including meeting their new cousin, Emily, who came all the way from Ohio.

Christmas is almost done for the Atkisson Boys.... we still have Jason's side of the family this weekend.

Atkisson Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas- a few days early!

Our family celebrated Christmas this weekend- Friday was Atkisson Christmas Eve, less church, and we woke up on Saturday morning to a living room full of gifts from Santa. He had called Brayden last week, to make sure it was ok to come early this year, since Mommy will be in the hospital over the holiday. What 5 year old would turn down the opportunity to have Christmas come almost a week early, under any circumstance?!?! Plus the boys will get to have Christmas again when they are with my sister this week...... and again with Jason's family the following week.

It was so fun to see Rhylan this year- he actually got it, and was so excited opening gifts. Not just excited to tear the paper off, but excited to find what was inside. It was also so sweet to see how much Brayden got into showing his baby brother things, and the excitement that he showed for Rhylan's gift- looking to see what Santa brought Rhylan even before checking out his own loot (video further down in the post).

On "Christmas Eve" we always exchange the gifts to/from each other, and the kids can play with the toys/watch a Christmas movie while I prepare dinner.

Brayden giving Rhylan one of the gifts he bought for him:

Brayden was super excited to get his Space Shuttle from us:

And Rhylan loves his new Clipo table:

Jason and I both got very thoughtful gifts that Brayden shopped for on his own, even using his own money. He gets so excited to give us something each year, all on his own.

And Jason gave me what is possibly the sweetest, most thoughtful gift he has ever given me. (Don't get me wrong, I have a wonderful, thoughtful, caring husband, but gift giving creativity is not usually his forte!!!) I was completely shocked. He had taken my diploma from Graduate School, and sent it off to be framed and matted with a picture of the building on campus that housed my program. All these years, I had it just sitting in a filing cabinet folder- and he wanted to do this for me to be able to hang it in my office on campus when I start teaching in January.

"Christmas Morning" was truly fun and magical to see the joy on both boy's faces. Brayden got everything that he had asked Santa for, even though Santa had already forewarned him that the elves may not be able to get everything finished in time because of having to come early.

A little glimpse of what the boys woke up to find:

And, them seeing it for the first time:

From the looks on their faces, I think that they were pretty happy:

Happy Holidays 2008

Children's Museum

I took the boys to a local children's museum for our Lunch Bunch playgroup. This particular museum is much smaller than most of it's type--- but, Brayden loves going, and it is the perfect size for Rhylan to be able to run around pretty freely. This was the first time that he really started showing an interest in interacting with the displays, and he had a blast. It was a great way to spend a very cold afternoon.

Gingerbread House

Brayden has been begging to make a gingerbread house. I can't say that I have ever made one- or had the desire to make one, but decided to be a nice Mommy and go for it. I was really surprised with how well he stuck with it. I had honestly thought that he would start with a bang, and then decide he was bored, and lose interest. He did not at all. He did everything himself- other than the frosting piping on the windows/door, and some of the actual construction of the walls.

He is really proud of his creation--- now just to find where to put it that the cat won't snack on it....

Another Haircut

Once Rhylan started to (finally) grow hair, it just keeps growing and growing--- and very quickly. The time had already come for his second haircut. The first time, I wasn't ready to admit that my baby was possibly big enough to "look like a big boy", and had them keep a lot of his curls in the back. Lately, the little curls were beginning to resemble more of a little mullet; so the time had come to admit that he needed a true big boy hair cut.

Here he is before church this morning; our little man showing off his new hair cut:

Update on the Job

I got the official word this afternoon--- the new job is for sure a go!! In fact, I may even be teaching one more section than originally slated for. :-)

Rug Rats

Brayden and I met a couple of friends, and their "rugrats" for an open gym time, called Rug Rats, at the local Y. He had a great time- swinging from ropes, jumping/falling into foam block pits, jumping on the trampoline, doing the balance beam, and just running around. It was a wonderfully fun way to burn of some energy on a winter afternoon. We are hoping to go again next week- it falls during Rhylan's nap time, so we have to adjust some things, but I know Mr. R would have a great time there as well.

Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

The anticipation of the upcoming holiday is at a high level at our house these days. Conversations are pretty much usurped by questions about Santa, how many days left, what Mommy/Daddy want, etc. It seems that it has become a nightly ritual to watch some form holiday movie, and the tunes we hear coming from Brayden's room are all festive in nature.

Brayden was all too excited when he talked Mommy into getting him a "big tree" for his room this year. Here are a couple of pictures of and Rhylan decorating it together, while Jason and I unpacked decorations for the rest of the house after Thanksgiving.

And, our little chef, preparing one of his latest holiday concoctions: Reindeer Sandwiches: