Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Lights of Christmas

Last night, we went with my mother-in-law to a huge holiday light display. Took us about an hour to walk through it. My pictures won't do it justice, but I thought I would share anyway!


This is the entryway:


The boys in front of a blue-lit tree.                     

Golden Koi and its reflection


Pretty tree

Close-up of boys in front of blue tree

Chandeliers hanging in the trees:

Trees                                                                       



Arch


Saturday, December 27, 2008

Good holiday memories

We had a great Christmas. Things began a little rocky when my husband began to feel ill on Christmas Eve, just when we were finishing up the last wrappings and getting the boys off to bed so Santa could visit. He was seriously ill, vomiting and diarrhea. My husband is pretty stoic usually, won't take an aspirin for a headache most times. He was having a rough time of it this time. I felt so bad for him. He ended up falling asleep in the recliner around 9:30 p.m. I just left him there when I went to bed around 1 a.m.

However, before he fell asleep, Gilbert had managed to hook up the big Santa gift, a Wii, to the TV in the playroom. It's a small TV, but it is perfect for the boys to play games on and not take up my living room all the time! Anyway, Gilbert got the Wii ready for action, and then wrapped each of the three remotes separately (in wrapping paper not used for any other presents) and stuck them under the tree without tags. Then he fell asleep and I finished up wrapping his presents, did the stockings, and went to bed.

Gilbert came to our bed around 5 a.m., followed by Jacob at 5:30, who wanted to know if he could get up. I told him to go back to bed and wait until at least 6:30. What do you know, he did! I could hear him and his brothers talking, but they stayed in their beds until 6:30. Then did they hit the ground running!

So, let the festivities begin! The boys began passing out presents, opening then, and having a good old time. They finally happened upon the three wrapped Wii remotes, and couldn't figure out whose presents they were because "they aren't tagged!" I suggested that since there were three identical presents, maybe - just maybe - they were intended for them! Aha! That made some sense, so they proceeded to unwrap them. Jacob got his open before his brothers and was excited at first, then confused. "A Wii remote? Why would Santa get us Wii remotes? We don't have a Wii!" I was biting my tongue to keep from laughing. They kept going on and on about how it would be a great gift, if they had a Wii. Finally, I think it sank in that this couldn't be all there was to it. Then they started looking around. One of them opened the door to the playroom, followed by his brothers close on his heels, and there it was, in all its glory. They yelled, hollered, jumped for joy, danced a jig and even hugged each other! Such wild excitement! And , of course, they set to playing immediately...and pretty much haven't stopped. It is fun to watch, and fun to play, too. Had to test it out, doncha know?!

I got a new digital camera, which I wanted but didn't expect. Gilbert didn't get my gifts wrapped because he was sick (and because he waits until the last minute - see previous entry!). He felt badly about it, but id didn't bother me. It is just nice to get the presents! Haha!

We had a great, relaxing day, playing on the Wii and just bumming around. Later that evening we went to my in-laws' for Christmas dinner, where we had good fellowship and conversation, the boys racked up on Barnes and Noble gift cards and movie passes, and where we ate some wonderful food. It is always good to be with family.

Gilbert started feeling poorly again after we got home. Part of it was exhaustion, I think. We were all tired. The boys went straight to bed when we got home, and we followed soon after. I think everyone was sleeping by 10:00! A great ending to a great day, even though Gilbert was still puny. 

Some pictures of our day:

Jacob, Matthew, Andrew


handmade glass snowflake, created by Matthew

My guys, Christmas morning


Realizing Santa brought them a Wii!!!

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Better late than never!

Last night, the twins and I finally got around to making our traditional Christmas chain. You know, the one made of construction paper that lets you count down the days to Christmas by tearing off a loop each day? Yes, I know we were late getting it done, but I figured it still makes good memories, even if they only have 18 loops to tear off versus 25. We had a great time, and they were so excited, so I felt good about getting it done.

Matthew wasn't interested in helping with the chain, but he did ask if there was any homemade ornament I could think of that we could do together, just the two of us. Talk about being put on the spot! We don't have anything Christmas unpacked yet, so no ornaments were readily available to embellish. What to do, what to do?!?! I have some books on Christmas decorating - I know, ever the optimist! Anyway, I found a picture of a ribbon ornament, made to resemble ribbon candy, so that is what we did. If I can ever figure out how to add pictures to this blog, I will post one. But for a last-minute, throw-together project, it turned out really well. Navy blue, gold-edged wired ribbon - again, something I bought because it was lovely, and I had great aspirations of elaborate packages with gilded bows...yeah, right. Never used, and I bought it three or four years ago. Glad I did, now! More evidence of my misguided intentions - a multitude of beads intended for crafting and jewelry making - became the perfect embellishment to the ornament. (Yes, I have made jewelry and used the beads for other projects, but it has been a while!) 

At any rate, how ever it came about, I had a great time doing Christmas crafts with each of my children last night. Matthew, especially, seemed to really enjoy the one-on-one time, and later allowed that he really felt like he was getting into the Christmas spirit now.

I love my boys!