Christmas 2011 - Part 2

Merry Christmas from the Chathams!

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun. First my mom cooked a big lunch that we all enjoyed. Then Joshua and I made cookies which we would later leave out for Santa. Next everyone got dressed and we went to mass with mommy's family. Afterwards we went to the Garrett's house as we've done every year since mommy was little to celebrate, track Santa's sleigh (which is really sophisticated these days with a fancy app), eat, drink, and be merry. It actually wasn't hard to get either boy to sleep that night. Noah is always a good sleeper and Joshua was tired and while he talked about Santa, I'm not sure he totally understood he'd be getting presents. We did have to say good-bye to Zoopy (our Elf on a Shelf), at least until next year. I asked Joshua to remind Zoopy that he'd been a good boy this year and Joshua said "No Mommy, I've been an extra-good boy."

Joshua and Grandpa

Noah and Mommy

Extra good boy!

Santa put a new sippy cup in Noah's stocking and he kept testing to see if there was any juice.

The next morning Joshua slept in the latest. When he woke up I asked him "Do you think Santa came last night?" And he said no so I asked "Do you know what today is?" He looked at me still sleepy and answered "Sunday?" I prompted him further "And..." Joshua's face lit up and he said "It's Jesus' birthday!" "Yes that's right! And what else?" He looked at me "Um, we'll sing him Happy Birthday." It is so sweet that he paid attention and remembered it was Jesus' birthday. Then I asked him "Did you hear any sleigh bells or reindeer hooves last night?" He asked "Did you?" I told him I did and he said "Me too! Do you think Santa came?" And with that excited revelation we joined the rest of the family upstairs to eat some breakfast and then open presents.

Joshua to Noah "Look at my moon!"

The boys and Daddy

We opened so many presents from Santa and family. Everyone was so generous - if it weren't for the van and Daddy's car, I'm not sure everything would make it home. I think Noah's favorite thing was an empty box which he thoroughly enjoyed climbing in and out of. I'll have to tell UPS "Way to go! You really outdid yourself this year..." Thanks so much Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunts Celeste and Elaine! We missed seeing Aunt Stoppie and Uncle Chad as they were in Missouri, but we did see them later that week. After opening presents and cleaning up we got dressed and went to Maw-Maw's house in Oneonta for Christmas lunch. Maw-Maw made a delicious lunch. She was happy to have her great-grandchildren together. The boys got to play with their cousin Landon and Logan. I should mention that in probably every picture I took Joshua was wearing a Santa cap because he LOVES it.  I'm actually writing this post after Christmas and backdating it so it's in the correct order, but for days and days he wore that hat from sun up to sun down. Thanks to Aunts Celeste and Elaine for the hat. Oh and for as much as Joshua loves his hat, that's how much Noah hated wearing one, whether it was a Santa hat or reindeer antlers. Different brothers, different likes.

It's a box!

After leaving Maw-Maw's house we went to Grandaddy's house in Pleasant Grove. Pictures from that trip will make the next posting. More Christmas cheer to come!