Lolly Pops make it all better!

 

Christmas 2011

Thanks to being in the car for 6 hours and Trenton sleeping for the last 2.5 of the trip Santa had a LATE night. That kid was bouncing off the walls until close to 10pm. Christmas was so much more simple this year. The boys really do have an obscene amount of toys that Santa had a pretty small list to choose from. Trenton came running into our room at 7AM yelling “There are presents, there are presents!” I kindly asked him to climb in bed with us because it was WAY too early. He laid there for a few minutes before he just had to get up. The look on his face was priceless when he saw his new bike! No initial picture as the batteries in the camera died. Welcome to my life!  Trace was still asleep so we made Trenton wait, but only about 30 minutes later did Trace wake up.

Who wouldn’t want to see this cute PEEK-A-BOO face on Christmas morning! 

  

This is Trace’s 2nd Christmas! He is so big this year!

Just for fun this was LAST YEAR! My sweet 2 month old little boy!

Trace went straight for the cookies Santa left behind. I am glad to see he doesn’t like to see things go to waste!

So much excitement over the new big boy bike!

 

Trenton opening his stocking!

He got Ninja Legos, Candy & Transformers

Mini Transformers that go down as small as a hotwheel!

The bike looked so huge in the house, but once he got outside it was PERFECT!

Who wouldn’t love a 4 foot color in Spider Man!

I think Daddy is way more excited about this gift.

 

Trenton wanted to know “Why Santa only bought one controller?” I guess he wasn’t aware it didn’t come with 2. Maybe he should have read the box!

All of the little boys on the street have their own light sabers. Trenton was so happy to finally get his own!

  Opening games for the Wii & PSP

That smile makes it all worth it! 

 

Trace had a good time opening his presents. Can’t you see the pure bliss on his face?

Trace’s loot

Giant Construction Set & Bouncy Ball

Trenton’s Loot  

Trace climbs on everything. I am very pleased that Fisher Price makes their toys so sturdy!

How cool is this set! The remote controls the dump truck. Trace was scared to death of it at first, but quickly learned to love it!

However, big brothers toys were much cooler!

We had a very blessed Christmas. Our boys were happy with their gifts. Gene cooked a nice ham and I made potatoes and corn. It was a nice day and then we headed to The Scalise’s for a nice evening with friends!

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas was a little crazy to say the least this year. We rarely travel for the holiday because I don’t have time off to take and honestly it is just hard to travel with presents there and back. We pack enough with two kids so gifts would just make it worse. We came home Saturday, got only the necessary things from the car since the weather was so bad and Gene ran to the store for much needed groceries. We were looking for something different to eat so he picked up lasagna and salad! So good. After baths the boys got milk, cookies and their letter ready for Santa. Trenton insisted we set it on the fireplace where Santa comes down. I tried so hard to get a picture and they just wouldn’t participate. Trace kept trying to eat the cookies and break the glass for the milk. It’s fun that he is participating this year, but that kid really keeps me on my toes!

The best picture I could get. Christmas PJ’s, Santa Snacks and giggly boys!

No Trace those are for Santa. 

Shaving

I really thought that I had at least 14 more years before Trenton started shaving, but apparently not! He got the most hilarious gift from Gene’s aunt & cousin. It was a Car’s shaving kid. HE LOVED IT! He wanted to immediately take a bath so he could shave! I had to show him how to put the shaving cream on his face and then he knew how to do it from there. It is so cute. He kept asking everyone “Does my face look smooth?!” Oh My Goodness!

Shaving Cream on

Shaving in progress (look how proud he is)

Can’t forget the other side

Checking himself out in the mirror to make sure he doesn’t miss any spots!

Del Rio 2011

We made an unexpected and very sad trip to Del Rio last week. Gene’s Grandmother passed away at the age of 88. She was an amazing and sweet woman. She cared about her kids, grandkids and great grandkids so much. Her love was over abundant and we will truly miss her. Despite the sad reason for making the trip we got to spend some quality time with cousins that we do not normally get to see. Everyone’s kids are about the same age so it was nice watching a new generation of kids run around, much like Gene and his cousins did I’m sure! This was the first trip where Trenton didn’t seem bored because he had so many cousins to play with. Trenton got to spend a little quality time with Big Dog by taking cans to the recycling place and then visiting his baseball field. He thought it was so funny that Big Dog’s old truck made a Vroom, Vroom, Vroom noise when it took off. It was hilarious when he would tell everyone the story!

Trenton and Raelynn

Trace got a new haircut before we headed down! He looks so much like Trenton now and so much more grown up!

Gene’s parents live on some land and there is a ditch by their house. What’s more fun than playing in a ditch full of leaves?

Big Brother was very cautious to make sure Trace did not slide down the side.

What goes down, must come back up! They played in this ditch for HOURS! At first I tried to keep Trace away, but gave in and he loved it! BOYS!

Sweet Raelynn!

Playing a little Peek-A-Boo under the bridge Big Dog made

Trace finally started crawling in and out himself. This boy really has no fear!

Trace was taking it all in as Daddy & Trenton were playing baseball

It was super cold towards the middle of the week. So cold that it was almost hard to go outside and play. I am glad I took our warm jackets. My boys cannot stay cooped up inside for long.

Trace would waddle around in this jacket like he couldn’t move!

Chasing after Trenton on Grandpa’s ramp to the house

More cousins!

Trenton (4.5), Savion (3), Raelynn (3) & Trace (1)

Everything became a slide to these two!

Isn’t she just the prettiest little girl!

Now for the big cousins!

Sammy, Sergie, Gene, PJ & Luis

Savion showing me his snack!

Aleksa, Trenton & Raelynn

 

We had a great visit and made the trip home Saturday so Santa could make his delivery.

Christmas Gingerbread Train

Our weekends in December are full of Christmas fun! Friday we headed to The Simonds house to play with friends and decorate cookies. Mrs. Shannon ordered pizza and the kids had a blast. I miss seeing everyone and watching the kids play. This past year has been an adjustment for all of us with our second babies! On the way home Trace fell asleep so I took Trenton to look at Christmas lights. He had such a great time! I love Christmas lights and some of the neighborhoods in our area really go all out!

When we got home Trenton was sad that no one could play so we decided to make the Gingerbread Train I bought. This is our first year to do this and I thought “Oh this will be easy”. WRONG! Although it was fun, I am just not great at working with frosting so it was a bit more messy than I had anticipated. Trenton had a great time and he was very particular about how to decorate it. In the end we may have had some structural issues, but it turned out very nice!

Getting the candy ready!

Not sure what’s up with the lighting, but Trenton licked the icing more than he put it on the train!

He bailed on me for a bit and decorated his cookie. He said the train was taking too long.

 

Very serious about adding the candy JUST LIKE THE PICTURE!

Our masterpiece TAKE 1

(see the structural issues)

Quick Smile 1,2,3 before it falls again!!

Once the icing set it stayed pretty nicely! Not too shabby for our first go around!