Merry Christmas weekend

The WA Leonard cousins in their Christmas Eve finest. Jack (8), Tommy (11), Ian (5), Karina (15), Helena (2), katie (13), Luke (5), James (3).


Christmas Eve eve:
1. The Harry Potter Exhibit. Brilliant.
2. The Gingerbread Exhibit. Brilliant.
3. The Christmas Merry-go-round downtown. Kind of cold.







Christmas Eve:
1. Wrapping presents.
2. Dinner, presents and the Christmas story at Amy/Eric Leonards. So yummy I can't stop thinking about it.
3. Decorating cookies for Santa and leaving the reindeer treats.





Christmas:
1. Waiting for the boys to wake up so we can watch their excitement as they go downstairs. Seriously - 7:15? - they are still amateurs.
2. Lots of squeals of delight.
3. Lots of recycling.
4. Raspberry scones for breakfast.
5. Lots of playing with toys.
6. Grandma Leonard's house for Christmas dinner.
(Ian loved showing off his new mustache and told everyone it was from his aunt the tickle monster - I told him he looked like his Grandpa Clay at 35)

The day after Christmas:
1. So happy to play with all their new stuff. It is like they never want to leave the house again. (Dev and Con - they are reading the Star Wars book in the tent.)

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all the very, very best.

Ian's Christmas Concert

The ward party picture

Here they are with the Mr. and Mrs. and I didn't even have to force James to sit on her lap.

Good guys and bad guys

Should I be worried that Ian's favorites are always the bad guys?

The other day he walked in the room with his face painted like this and asked me if he looked like Darth Maul. Hmnn kind of. And stop drawing on your face with markers. And awesome hair do.

The Nutcracker

I took Ian and Josie this year. Ian insisted that he had never seen it until he saw the battle of the toy soldiers and the mouse army. No one could forget the Sendak Mouse King. He only asked when it would be over a couple of times. Josie, on the other hand, loved every second and so did I.

3 (yesterday)

Happy Birthday to James. He is three. And an angel. (No, not really.)

We started out the day opening presents - which is a great way to start out any day.
Then we headed to Tacoma to meet the Penrods for a Chuck E Cheese lunch and some fun.



Then to the Santa train to tell him all about the fun stuff we want for Christmas. Ian went first because he has a lot to say.


James thought is was magical and horrifying all at once, especially when Santa had us stand up so the whole train could sing him the Happy Birthday Song.

But he took the candy cane anyway.



After the cold and rainy train ride, we had cookies and hot chocolate around a warm, wood stove.

Then home for some candles, cupcakes, friends, more presents and lots of cute three-year-old smiles from the birthday boy. Love that kid.

Things I love about Jamesy at 3:
- He giggles while he is playing tag with his brother.
- He insists on playing duck duck goose as our activity every family night.
- He is obsessed with Boba Fett and Lightning McQueen.
- Nothing makes him happier than having "lone time" to play with his toys in peace (he actually asks Ian to leave).
- He LOVES Target. If it were up to him we would go daily. I think he might choose that over going to the park or to a play date.
- He is always aware of where we are in the car and what turns we should be making.
- He is getting to be very affectionate and he tells me I am the best mom ever. Who wouldn't love that.
- He is so fun to buy presents for because he is so excited to open them, screams "this is my favorite" when he does and plays with everything he gets. Christmas is going to be fun.
- He like to put his arms around me and put cover his hands with my hair. He says because my hair is warm.
- He takes my face in both hands and pulls me in for a kiss - on the cheek - he doesn't like lip kissing.

The tree

Tuesday night we were off to the tree farm to pick out a tree.

There was a huge snowman that blew snow out of his...mustache?






Both boys are so excited about Christmas - but Ian seems to be at the perfect age where he really believes in the magic of Christmas and is also starting to understand the meaning of Christmas. Somehow it makes it even more magical to me.

Me: Ian what else is on your Christmas list for Santa?
Ian: I don't know, maybe Lego Star Wars II.
Me: I didn't know they had that, have you seen it?
Ian: Mom! Santa can make anything - he could even make Lego Star Wars three, four and five.
Me: That sounds like a lot of work, maybe we should stick to things that already exist.

Ian's Star Wars fantasy

Ian: Mom if James gives me his three dollars I will have 40 dollars and then I will only need 60 more to buy the AT AT.
Me: Well if you asked Santa for it, maybe he will bring it for you and you won't have to buy one.
Ian: Mom, the movie had five.

Wishful thinking, little one.

Scott and Doris

I really, truly, wish this wasn't the ONLY picture we have of Scott and Doris' trip. We had so much fun hanging out with them and wish they didn't live quite so far away (Hong Kong). Hopefully we can visit them soon...

I met the baby!

Last weekend I went to San Diego all by myself to meet this sweet little girl. She is totally a snuggler, and darling and perfect.

And to play with this crazy little girl. She comes up with some of the funniest things I have ever heard.

And to do lots of holiday crafting and shopping with this sister. It was dreamy.

Oh, and of course, to go to Legoland (I actually felt a little guilty being there without my boys - they would have loved it).

Loved the palm trees and the poinsettias.

And Santa in a swim suit???




We hit the beach on my way to the airport.

Unfortunately, James got the 24 hour flu while I was gone and made the awesome boys weekend they had planned "not awesome" (according to Ian). Thanks for taking care of our sick boys Curty. And thanks for the ticket mom and dad!

This Thanksgiving...

I was really thankful for child slaves.

Especially the kind that clean up after themselves.




Actually, I have a million things I am grateful for this year - but those two boys seem to make everything else pale in comparison. They are the best gifts I have ever been given.

Tuesday snow

Was all about this:


And then this:

No school today or tomorrow - happy thanksgiving vacation to us!