Mimi, Grampy and One Cool Train

We loved having Mimi & Grampy in town for Christmas...the fact that they gave the boys a remote- controlled Santa train was just a bonus!    

 How fast can you put this together, Daddy?

 Carter put himself in charge of the remote & Davis drowned his disappointment in some chocolate (as evidenced by his face)...

Christmas Morning

Unfortunately, I was working again all through Christmas so we didn't get to celebrate the way I would have liked, but at least nobody was sick this year!  Mimi flew into town on Christmas Eve & we opened presents Christmas morning after Mommy got home from work.  The boys were very spoiled this year--THANK YOU so much to our Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles for the very cool Christmas gifts!  You all were so generous...our boys are pretty lucky!  We were very happy to have Mimi & Grampy in town to help us celebrate this year. We hope your Christmas was Merry & Bright, too!

Daddy had fun helping Carter & Davis put together their Ride Makerz Cars 2 vehicles.  

That gift was a win-win for big AND little boys.  :-)

Buzz Lightyear Mr. Potato Head

Lots of boy loot!  Not a single ounce of pink in this house (except maybe Mommy's closet).

Rock & Roll Elmo!

Check out Elmo, Mimi!

Carter & Daddy with the much sought-after Leap Pad. This was the "Cabbage Patch Kid of 2011"; if you're old enough to have lived through the CPK craze of the early '80s, you know what I'm talking about!

Snow!

We got about a foot of snow right before Christmas and the boys couldn't wait to get outside to play in it.  It was beautiful and always so nice to have a White Christmas!  Guess it's time to buy a sled...

 Daddy really wanted to make a snowman with the boys, but the snow didn't really cooperate.  All we got was a snow body with no head.  

Blossoms of Light

We decided to mix things up this year & see the Botanic Gardens' lights, instead of Zoo Lights again.  The display was awesome--tons to see and a winding path that ended with a light display set to Christmas music.  The boys got 3-D glasses that projected shapes on the points of light as we walked through the display...  that was the best $1.50 ever spent!

 The Hutches taking turns pulling the boys.

 Carter was obsessed with having the glasses on at all times.

 Aunt Debbie, Mimi & the boys

Afterwards, we drove past all of my old apartments downtown and then past the City & County Building that is always decked out beautifully for Christmas.  It was a great trip down memory lane for me to see the old 'hoods, as Mom & I remembered how fun it had been to decorate all those old places with tons of character.  How times have changed!!

Good Things

Grampy was thrilled to find his favorite restaurant, Black-eyed Pea, here in Colorful Colorado.  We enjoyed a lovely meal of down-home cookin' and I can't remember the last time I've seen Grampy so happy!  

Then, Mom & I took a tour of our builder's new model homes in the neighborhood.  Mom's favorite spot was the laundry/mud room!  Big surprise!  I probably could have left her here to wash a few things, but we decided to do a little after-Christmas shopping, instead.  An all-around great day!

Calling All Space Rangers

Davis was cracking me up talking on the Buzz Lightyear phone yesterday.  He is so funny...he waves to say "hello" or "I'm sorry".  I guess he thinks they're interchangeable.  Sorry the first video is blurry, my lens had tiny fingerprints all over it--imagine that! 

Rub-a-Dub-Dub, Two Boys in a Tub

Bath time is a party at our house...especially with new Mickey & Thomas tub toys from our beloved babysitter, Hannah.  Keeping all the water in the tub isn't so fun, however.  I'm sure one day these boys will be so stinky and opposed to baths that I will wish for super splashers and tears when bath time is over...

Alfie's Back!

Our Elf on the Shelf, Alfie, returned to our house after Thanksgiving.  Even with the constant "reminder" that Santa is always watching, it has been a struggle to keep our boys in line this holiday season.  They are very four and very two.  

Anytime Davis does something that his brother doesn't like, Carter points to him accusingly and yells "Naughty List!!!!".  And, if Sean or I put Carter in time-out for something, he reminds us that Santa won't be bringing us anything in our stockings this year, because we're "not being nice."  He was speechless when I told him, "That's okay, Mommy doesn't need any presents."  What?!  No presents?!  I think his jaw hit the floor.

We are anxiously awaiting Mimi's arrival on Christmas Eve and Grampy's arrival on December 26th, along with our family celebration here at our house that evening.  Hope you are all enjoying this magical time of year!

Christmas Card Spoiler Alert

Since I was too cheap to pay for express shipping, it is safe to say that you will be getting our Christmas card after December 25th.  So, here's a sneak peak...I know I'm a little biased, but I think these boys are pretty darn cute!

Toy Story on Ice

On Friday I took the boys downtown to see Toy Story 3 on Ice.  I was starting to doubt my judgement in taking them both by myself as I was carrying Davis, a large tub of popcorn and a large lemonade while Carter trailed behind me tugging on my coat.  However,  I am SO glad we went to see the show--it was awesome!  We had great seats and got to see all of our favorite characters up close & personal:

We got a surprise visit from Mickey, Donald, Minnie & Goofy!

And yes, I bribed the boys with way-overpriced souvenirs during the show.  (FYI: all Disney souvenirs have a two year warranty which comes in handy when you notice on the drive home that Woody's hat is cracked in half .  One quick call to the Disney Ice show people and you will have new replacement Buzz & Woody toys in the mail to your house!)

Davis sat on my lap the whole time, mesmerized by Buzz, Woody, Slinky Dog and Rex.  He did not make a peep or any escape attempts during the entire show!  I don't know if you've been around many two-year-old boys lately, but that is saying a lot, people!

Here come the Army men!

Slinky Dog, Rex and Mr. Potato Head were the boys' faves.

Buzz Lightyear makes his grand entrance!

To infinity...and beyond!!!

The aliens & "the claw" coming down to get them.

My personal favorite, Barbie & Ken playing out the entire skit from the movie.  

Ken even modeled his many cool outfits!  So funny!