What I got for Christmas!

errrrrr, I mean, what Colin got for Christmas.

Last night we finally had a little bit of time and energy to put together Colin's new kitchen... and by "we" I mean Chris of course.

Chris, in case you've missed this fact about him from previous posts, is super handy. He's taken our 120 year old Chicago bungalow and made it ours. He built us a basement, moved the laundry to the second floor, added our boys bedroom, gutted and re-built our bathroom, laid hardwood floor, custom built our closets .... I could go on and on. There's no project that intimidates him,

except apparently this kitchen. He avoided putting this together like the plague. 

"There's so many pieces!" he kept saying as I laughed and reminded him that he basically re-built our whole house. 

A few beers and an hour and a half later, it was complete.

I just about freaked out, possibly jumping up and down, clapping my hands like a seal and squealing,

"OMG I LOVE IT!!!!!"

I also may or may not have started playing with it.... while the kids were in bed.

All day today I felt like I was stalking Colin, following him around asking, "Wanna play kitchen? Wanna play kitchen?"

He bit a few times and I loved every minute of it.

Doesn't he look sooo into it?

Then we went back to the usual: sawing, hammering, leaf blowing and playing trains and cars.

Kitchen found here

The year of the leaf blower

This Christmas I have four healthy, happy, sweet little boys, wearing cute little Christmas Eve outfits to boot. 

I could not want for anything more.  

I've always wanted to learn how to make one of these picture collages ..... but it never seems to work out quite right. Today's attempt is courtesy of photoshop elements, but I think it will take me a while to get the hang of it.... I'm not very computer savvy with these types of things.... anyhoo, a goal for the New Year!

"Please bring me a leaf blower... I've been so good"

Warning: LOT'S of pictures in this post! I use my blog in large part as a container of memories, for myself and especially for my children to one day go through. This year, I got a new lens. Previously I've mostly just used the one that came with my camera so this was really a splurge! It also meant that I was reaching for my camera even more than normal! I couldn't help myself.

Things I'll especially remember this year:

Red Christmas booties.

These booties, along with the chubby little hand reaching for them, remind me that the babies will only be babies for a short time. Next year they'll be almost two when Christmas rolls around and I'm sure, not wearing booties.

Chris and I making a midnight run to Toys r Us the night before Christmas Eve. Chris was driving while eating frosted cookies, not the home baked kind, the kind you impulsively buy while waiting in line at Walmart when you know it's going to be a long night. We ate and laughed about how last minute we were about shopping this year. Those people that completed their shopping the day after Thanksgiving?.... yeah, soooo not us! Not this year, and let's be honest, maybe not ever. Truthfully, we had a blast running through the isles picking out toys for our boys and niece. 

My dad, doing fantastic and getting stronger every day.

Chris, assembling Colin's bike at midnight on Christmas Eve (or I guess Christmas day at that point) because I decided it would be sooo much better for Colin to come downstairs to an assembled bike rather than a bike in a box. He's such a sport!

His and her bikes, one for Colin, one for cousin Macy.

The quiet at the end of the day on Christmas Eve- the kids all in bed, presents assembled just right, the fire just starting to peter out, Christmas music still playing softly. For as long as I can remember, this window of time when everything feels calm and still and lit up by candles and Christmas lights, has been my favorite. 

Colin's joy about everything Christmas this year!

"Look, Santa ate the cookies!!!!"

Watching Colin and Macy enjoy Christmas together. 

These two are so fun to watch.

Christmas morning:

The trips, enjoying the excitement but contained!

Colin got a saw from Aunt Madeline and Uncle Kyle and proceeded to open every gift there after with his saw!

I'll also remember how generous our family and friends were to our boys. They are so blessed by the people in their lives. Some even made them adorable, hand made gifts... you know who you are! 

Thank you. 

Singing "Happy Birthday" to baby Jesus. This is an old tradition that got reinstated this year. As the boys grow and get even more excited about all the gifts, I'm finding myself looking for additional ways to help reinforce to the boys what Christmas is really all about. This was one of the things we did this year to help us re-focus after a morning of unwrapping!

And yes, Santa did bring Colin a leaf blower. 

Turns out it's also good at keeping babies at bay. 

Hmmm.... maybe this was his plan all along???

Santa, I want a leaf blower

We made it to Michigan! 

Colin, snuggling his new Elmo, sitting next to my parents tree. Elmo was a Christmas gift brought out early.... hour 3.5 of the car trip to be precise. It was necessary.

I'm thrilled we get to spend the week at my parents house, just relaxing (well, as much as you relax with four boys under three) and enjoying time together. We're the first to arrive and then the house will gradually become busier as Christmas approaches and  my brothers, sister in law and niece arrive too. I can't wait. 

Chris and I took Colin to see Santa today. It was his first time going to sit on Santa's lap ever- in his whole almost 3 years! :). This year, he was all about going, in part out of curiosity to see Santa in person, rather than just in pictures and books. And especially to make sure he knows, Colin wants a leaf blower and a hammer for Christmas!

He was excited AND nervous. 

The look on his face says it all as we wait for our turn.

When it was his turn, he said, "Mommy too" so of course I went. But he did sit on Santa's lap which surprised me. I could tell he REALLY wanted to do it, and to chat with Santa without getting upset.

He held himself together. He mustered up all his bravery, said what he had to say. "Leaf blo- wer, Hammer too please." "Yes, me good"

And then the tears came. 

Pretty sure the thought bubble above his head would say, "I've said what I needed to say. I'm ready to leave."

After our Santa visit the three of us went out to lunch and it was really really nice. I love when we ALL get to hang out (pretty much all we do on the weekends), when I get to spend one on one time with each child and when Chris, Colin and I get some time together. The original three. 

Then I went home, parked my butt in the living room and snuggled the rest of my babies, next to the tree, for the rest of the afternoon.