Merry Christmas everyone!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We made very special memories. Not only did we enjoy the anticipation leading up to it, but the actual day.

Christmas Eve was a very busy day. I started my day at the gym, rushed home to do some baking, and went with Andy and the kids to get a last minute gift. After nap time we headed to our church for a Christmas Eve service. I'm sure it was wonderful, but I feel like the entire hour I was busy trying to keep Knox entertained! :) After church we headed to Andy's sister's house for a Christmas Eve celebration. We had yummy food, and loved watching the boys play (our 2, plus her 1) together.

My parents were not sure until Christmas Eve if they would attempt to make it to Tallahassee. My dad had surgery a little less than a week before they were traveling and although he was pretty uncomfortable during his visit, I think he would tell you it was all worth it to get to see the kids enjoy Christmas morning. We are soooo glad they made it! Drew had been praying for that.

Here is Knox playing with their train set. Drew got a Geo Trax train a few years ago from Uncle Eddie and Aunt Kate, and since then we have been adding on to it. They have such cool accessories. What surprised me is how into it Knox is. A few weeks before Christmas I was able to purchase a huge amount of used Geo Trax tracks, accessories, and trains that I'm saving to give Drew for his birthday. (and since he can't read I feel comfortable posting that surprise here:) )

I had to go in the stash the other day to get another train out for Knox, so the boys would both have a train to control. They have been playing with it every day. I finally broke down tonight and put the tracks away. I had left them out all week, but I wanted to see our loft picked up again. :)



Here's Drew openning one of his larger gifts. We got him an Imaginext Space Shuttle and all of the accessories. He got the Fire Station last year and has loved it. I highly recommend any Imaginext toys. They are GREAT quality, and the kids are able to manipulate them to do many different things.


Another space accessory.

Knox received a doctor's kit. He has really enjoyed giving us our physicals.

Knox really did a great job openning his presents, and didn't seem disinterested until the very end, when it appeared he was going to pass out from all of the excitement.

Knox openning his farm from Uncle Eddie and Aunt Kate. They were in Orlando celebrating with Kate's family.

The week of Christmas we received some money from the great grandparents to spend on the kids. We wanted to make sure the kids had something on Christmas to open for them, so we could take some pictures for our grandparents to see. Drew's was the first gift I bought. When we were at Barnes and Nobles that week he was fascinated with a book that was all about Battles. Drew LOVES looking through books. He asks a BUNCH of questions,and will sit there as long as you'll read to him. Since he had found the book that week, it was fresh in his mind, and he was so excited Christmas morning to open it.

Knox took a little more thought. We wanted to have something he wouldn't grow out of too quickly, but something that was unique. We went to a local toy stoy on Christmas Eve, where we stayed way too long. We just couldn't find the right thing. Then when we were about to settle on something I saw this grocery cart out of the corner of my eye. We knew immediately that this would be perfect. It looks just like a real one, and is great quality. It's made by Melissa and Doug, who make great wooden toys/puzzles. Since Christmas we have taken the cart to Publix and the boys took turns shopping. So fun! (pics to come soon)

Drew's Battle book

Drew openning a Decepticon (transformer), which is what he always said he wanted for Christmas this year when asked.

Knox helping to model a necklace Andy got me. (Andy got me some great gifts. He has always been a great gift giver. Way better than me. Probably my favorite gift was a heart rate monitor that I wear to the gym. It tells me my heart rate while working out and how many calories I burned. And I love it even more because it's Pink!)

We hope that you and your families had a wonderful Christmas! What an awesome time to reflect on the Lord and His goodness to us. Although we should celebrate Jesus every day it is so great to have a time where we are focused on Him.

May 2010 bring you even closer to our Savior, and if you don't have a personal relationship with Him, may this be the year that you KNOW Him!