For pre-Christmas celebrating, we took a road trip with Grandma, Auntie and Spencer. We headed south to Great Aunt Dixie's house...
The boys enjoyed dancing to music...
...eating snacks...
...and laughing! Can you tell Finley thinks he's the funniest???
Spencer and Finley were excited to spend time with cousins, Emma and Carson. I think Emma will be a wonderful mother someday, she was so excited about the babies!
Right before we left, we opened a few presents. I just knew Finley would love to open gifts this year! From the look on his face, he loves it right???? We quickly learned that Finley doesn't get the whole unwrapping-thing yet, maybe next year!
On Thursday morning, we had a very special visitor...Mr. Pete! Pete lives in Idaho and was visiting his Grandma, lucky for us, they squeezed in a play date. Finley and Pete had never met, but over emails, blogs and FB, Kate and I have discovered many similarities between our boys and couldn't wait to get our boys together. It took a little bit for them to start playing together, but soon Finley was acting like a goofball - why do kids do this? It's like they know when someone new is around, they get silly - funny!
Hannah walked over with a gift for Finley - he's spoiled by everyone! Finley was clingy at first, but fortunately he didn't claw at us like we'd soon be leaving. He actually smiled at Hannah, brought her over a book to read, walked her around the house, so maybe there's a chance she'll babysit again!
Our Christmas Eve began at Grandma & Grandpa's for a wonderful dinner with family.
Of course there was too much action and Finley refused to eat, instead he sat on Auntie's ever-shrinking lap and watched her eat. Do you want to come to mom? Nope!
After dinner, we "slid" to Great Grandma's house to meet up with more family, have dessert, and open gifts.
Of course there was too much action and Finley refused to eat, instead he sat on Auntie's ever-shrinking lap and watched her eat. Do you want to come to mom? Nope!
After dinner, we "slid" to Great Grandma's house to meet up with more family, have dessert, and open gifts.
Great Grandma gave the boys Handy Manny Toolboxes - both boys LOVE Manny and tools are Finley's favorites, so this gift was perfect! Finley loves to carry the bouncing/singing tools all over our house, there's nothing like hearing Wilmer Valderrama (voice of Manny) singing in your hallway!
After gifts, Nixon and Spencer started a game of touch-football. What did Finley do? Checked out the Barbies! Not for long....
....Uncle Ryan decided it was time for a private lesson!
We got home, put our sleeping child to bed and set out cookies for Santa. Check out how cute they are, my mom's cousin makes a bazillion cookies of all shapes/sizes every year.
In hopes that Santa would come, I set Finley's empty Santa's Sack out. What do you know, I hardly blinked and Santa had already been there! Finley's stocking was stuffed, the Santa Sack was full and there was a new beanbag. This is what it looked like when Mrs. Claus went to bed...
After gifts, Nixon and Spencer started a game of touch-football. What did Finley do? Checked out the Barbies! Not for long....
....Uncle Ryan decided it was time for a private lesson!
We got home, put our sleeping child to bed and set out cookies for Santa. Check out how cute they are, my mom's cousin makes a bazillion cookies of all shapes/sizes every year.
In hopes that Santa would come, I set Finley's empty Santa's Sack out. What do you know, I hardly blinked and Santa had already been there! Finley's stocking was stuffed, the Santa Sack was full and there was a new beanbag. This is what it looked like when Mrs. Claus went to bed...
...this is what it looked like when Mrs. Claus woke up! Obviously Santa was keeping a secret from Mrs. Claus; this also explains the banging coming from Santa's Workshop when Mrs. Claus was trying to sleep and cursing that Finley better not wake up!!! 
Finley woke up, bypassed the toys (and tractor!) and had one thing in mind...Santa's leftovers! Next year Santa will need to eat ALL the cookies and not leave a crumb behind!
WE dumped his stocking...
...and literally had to hold Finley down to open his presents! He kept alternating between wanting another cookie and the toothbrush from his stocking. He was so uninterested in opening gifts, I opened the rest on Sunday for him!
Daddy showed Finley how the tractor worked, guess who was scared of it??? The kid that BEGS to ride the big one in the garage (the little one is identical). He wouldn't even sit on it for a picture! We've brought the tractor downstairs, I'm hoping if it's around Finley can climb on it and see it's not so scary.
After Santa's visit, we packed up and went to Grandpa & Grandma's.
In addition to traditional gift-giving, three years ago we started a gag-gift tradition. Right after Christmas, the adults draw names in a top-secret drawing. We spend up to $25 buying or making a gift that must pertain to your designated person. Of course we all wait until December to get started, but we have a lot of fun with it. All year you patiently wait for "your person" to do something stupid that you can capitalize on. Well, "my person" gave me an idea last March in Cancun...
Finley woke up, bypassed the toys (and tractor!) and had one thing in mind...Santa's leftovers! Next year Santa will need to eat ALL the cookies and not leave a crumb behind!
WE dumped his stocking...
...and literally had to hold Finley down to open his presents! He kept alternating between wanting another cookie and the toothbrush from his stocking. He was so uninterested in opening gifts, I opened the rest on Sunday for him!
Daddy showed Finley how the tractor worked, guess who was scared of it??? The kid that BEGS to ride the big one in the garage (the little one is identical). He wouldn't even sit on it for a picture! We've brought the tractor downstairs, I'm hoping if it's around Finley can climb on it and see it's not so scary.
After Santa's visit, we packed up and went to Grandpa & Grandma's.
In addition to traditional gift-giving, three years ago we started a gag-gift tradition. Right after Christmas, the adults draw names in a top-secret drawing. We spend up to $25 buying or making a gift that must pertain to your designated person. Of course we all wait until December to get started, but we have a lot of fun with it. All year you patiently wait for "your person" to do something stupid that you can capitalize on. Well, "my person" gave me an idea last March in Cancun...
For some reason, mom struggled to sit in a chair next to a flower bed - she tipped over 2-3 times in one week, alcohol wasn't even involved. I made her an injury-proof lawnchair; it was bubble-wrapped, had a seatbelt and came with a hardhat for added protection.
What were the other "gifts"? I received a Finley's Training Kit with a manual and supplies to teach Finley how to keep the house clean. There was also a Healthy Living Kit (Patrick), a "Bear" With Me Pregnancy Survival Kit (Heidi), a Tiger Wood's Affairs Scrapbook (dad), and a Brett Favre Scrapbook (Ryan).
After the gag-gifts, we had a yummy brunch, some play-doh time and put the boys down for naps.
While the boys napped, the adults opened our gifts in two stress-free hours. Finley was the first to wake (no surprise) and patiently waited for Spencer - he was very patient because, well, he wasn't that interested in gifts anyway!
Like every year, Grandma made sure none of us went without, there were TONS of gifts and we were spoiled!
There were piles of gifts everywhere, the boys even had to sit on them!
Spencer was a fun gift-opener, he told you "no" when he opened clothes and was soooo excited for "big" gifts.
Spencer liked to be a helper when it was Finley's turn - he was in fact helping me, who opened 90% of Finley's.
OK, Finley did open a couple...
...but he mostly enjoyed checking out his gifts while sitting with someone.
Finley got wwwaaayyy too much to list everything, so here's just a few of his new favorite things...he got his very own Caterpillar...
...a cute fireman's raincoat, umbrella and rain boots...
...a ride-on firetruck that Daddy needs to assemble...
...games, puzzles, wooden table & chairs, clothes, books and more!
Little did I know, I could've just wrapped up my digital camera, it's all he wanted ALL weekend long. He'd beg to play with it!
Santa brought a special present for Grandpa, Spencer and Finley -a Wii!
A few brave adults tried out Wii Bowling that night. The boys were too funny, after a bit of watching, they both randomly picked up a controller (or a cellphone for Spencer) and walked over to the TV swinging their arms.
Saturday night, we had one final Christmas celebration with Grandpa Pat and Grandma Kathleen. We had Mona Lisa's takeout and hung out at our house.
Finley got even more gifts...
...including a Handy Manny tent!
What were the other "gifts"? I received a Finley's Training Kit with a manual and supplies to teach Finley how to keep the house clean. There was also a Healthy Living Kit (Patrick), a "Bear" With Me Pregnancy Survival Kit (Heidi), a Tiger Wood's Affairs Scrapbook (dad), and a Brett Favre Scrapbook (Ryan).
After the gag-gifts, we had a yummy brunch, some play-doh time and put the boys down for naps.
While the boys napped, the adults opened our gifts in two stress-free hours. Finley was the first to wake (no surprise) and patiently waited for Spencer - he was very patient because, well, he wasn't that interested in gifts anyway!
Like every year, Grandma made sure none of us went without, there were TONS of gifts and we were spoiled!
There were piles of gifts everywhere, the boys even had to sit on them!
Spencer was a fun gift-opener, he told you "no" when he opened clothes and was soooo excited for "big" gifts.
Spencer liked to be a helper when it was Finley's turn - he was in fact helping me, who opened 90% of Finley's.
OK, Finley did open a couple...
...but he mostly enjoyed checking out his gifts while sitting with someone.
Finley got wwwaaayyy too much to list everything, so here's just a few of his new favorite things...he got his very own Caterpillar...
...a cute fireman's raincoat, umbrella and rain boots...
...a ride-on firetruck that Daddy needs to assemble...
...games, puzzles, wooden table & chairs, clothes, books and more!
He was anxious to try out Spencer's new trike!
Little did I know, I could've just wrapped up my digital camera, it's all he wanted ALL weekend long. He'd beg to play with it!
Santa brought a special present for Grandpa, Spencer and Finley -a Wii!
A few brave adults tried out Wii Bowling that night. The boys were too funny, after a bit of watching, they both randomly picked up a controller (or a cellphone for Spencer) and walked over to the TV swinging their arms.
Saturday night, we had one final Christmas celebration with Grandpa Pat and Grandma Kathleen. We had Mona Lisa's takeout and hung out at our house.
Finley got even more gifts...
...including a Handy Manny tent!
Daddy and Finley showed off their "mancave" and Finley's train table was enjoyed by everyone.
We want to send out a public CONGRATULATIONS to the Krusemarks, they recently announced Baby K #2 will be arriving this summer! We're so excited for you!
After our Christmas Marathon I'm exhausted! I'm thankful to have another full week home with Finley, now onto preparing for our New Year's Celebration!
We want to send out a public CONGRATULATIONS to the Krusemarks, they recently announced Baby K #2 will be arriving this summer! We're so excited for you!
After our Christmas Marathon I'm exhausted! I'm thankful to have another full week home with Finley, now onto preparing for our New Year's Celebration!
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