Christmas

Christmas time was really fun with a 2 1/2 year old. He was able to appreciate everything so much more than last year. He really liked hearing and singing Christmas songs with Brendan and I. He loved the Christmas tree and decorations. He loved the presents and he loved reading books about baby Jesus. What a special time of year. I can tell it is going to be fun seeing Christmas through our children's eyes as they grow up.

Here is Hobbes at our Ward Christmas party with Santa. I'm so proud that both this year and last year he wasn't scared of Santa, even though other children his age are. When I was showing Hobbes these pictures he said it was "Hobbes and Jesus" not Hobbes and Santa. I guess he already knows that Jesus is the true reason for Christmas.

We spent Christmas Eve with Brendan's Dad, Shayne, and his sister, brother and half-brother (Christina, Ross and Grayson). We ate a delicious prime rib prepared by Brendan. Then we played the longest game of Uno I have ever played. I think we were playing for over 2 hours. At least we were all having fun while we were playing!

When bedtime came Hobbes wore his Christmas pajamas from Grandpa and Grandma Nash and then he had a tickling/wrestling match with Daddy. Here's a cute picture of them. We read a more age appropriate version of the Christmas story and then Hobbes was off to bed.

Here is Hobbes searching through his stocking on Christmas morning.

Here are the Mega Blocks that "Santa" brought Hobbes. Brendan did an amazing job of setting them up so he had a tall giraffe and some other kind of creature waiting to greet him on Christmas morning.

Here are two of his favorite presents by far: a race car and Thomas the Train.

After Christmas morning at our house we headed over to Grandpa and Grandma Nash's house. We had a fun day of visiting with family. I think Hobbes liked being the oldest cousin. He would boss the other kids around and delegate which toys they could play with, it any. We're working on helping him share more. Obviously, we still have much work to do.

Here are some pictures we tried to take of all 3 of the grandchildren on this side of the family. It's pretty hard to keep such small children still for even 30 seconds.

We spent Christmas with my family in Tillamook the week after Christmas. I forgot to take my camera so I don't have any pictures. Marianne was there with all her kids along with Joanna, Valerie and Liz. Hobbes really liked having older children there to chase him and play with. He really became attached to Marianne and Wesley's only son, Ammon. Hobbes just loved watching his every move and following him around. I'm glad our second child will be a boy, Hobbes is really going to enjoy having a younger brother to teach and play with.