This Year's Big Present

We've been trying not to go too crazy with our gifts to Oliver, since he has plenty of family members that get him things.  Last year, we got him one big present (the rocking horse) and one little present (wooden fire truck) and I wanted to do something similar this year.

This year his main gift was a retro-red kitchen. Many reviews online said that the kitchen was great quality, but the reoccuring complaint was that it took 3 hours put together, including almost a half an hour just to get everything out of the box and set-up.  Adam got to work, confident that it couldn't possibly take that long to assemble - did it ever!  Good thing he did in on the 23rd and not after we got home on Christmas Eve. 

Christmas Eve at Longwood Gardens

We spent Christmas Eve with Scott & Jenn for their first Seven Fishes feast.  After dinner we all loaded up and went to Longwood Gardens, which is nearby to see all the Christmas lights.  Oliver was under the weather and we were really on the fence about bringing him - if I had realized just how much of our time at Longwood Gardens was going to be outside, I would have listened to Adam and stayed home with Bubba.  He was a real trooper!  I haven't been to Longwood since 2001, and it was so nice to walk around and see all the lit trees, with the added bonus of getting to play with my new camera.

Christmas #2

The day before Christmas Eve, Ken, LeeAnn, & Tammy joined us for an afternoon/evening to celebrate.  We were so thankful that they came to us, as Oliver was feeling under the weather and actually took a bizarre 6pm nap.  I loved ending the night with a game of Skipbo - it was a good reminder that we need to make family game night happen more frequently. 

Here are some photos from our festivities.

Looking at Pop-pop's calendar

Thomas!

Oliver will NEVER lay still, so we knew he was really sick when he snuggled up with me just before dinner.  Check out the very awesome Thomas blanket that Grandma MADE for Oliver!!!

 

The very next morning, we put the very fun Richard Scary book from Chris/Steve to good use - so much to see!

Let the Christmas Season Begin!

Yesterday, we drove to Jersey to celebrate Christmas with my mom's family.  Oh how the dynamic has changed now that there are four babies to chase!  And next year there will be 3 more! 

We moved the event up to a 1pm start, which I really loved.  Oliver napped in the car on the way up, we spent the afternoon and early evening together, and managed to get home in time for a normal bedtime.  With enough leftovers for two dinners!  What more could you ask for in a Christmas celebration?!?!

My new camera takes some pretty awesome photos!

POTD: Veggie-lover

Tonight, as a snack to distract Oliver while we were getting dinner ready, Adam gave him the last 4 inches of a cucumber, which he ate like normal people would eat an apple or a banana!  This kid!

Welcome Pauline

On Thursday we welcomed Pauline into our family.  We all love her and Oliver can already say her name.  His favorite thing about her so far is her UGG boots!  :-)  We spent the weekend getting her situated and today I worked from home.  Tomorrow Oliver is in daycare in the morning, so we are able to slowly ease her into life with a toddler.  On Wednesday, she will get a true sense of what her life is going to be like! 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... Oliver-style!

We decorated our Christmas tree with Pauline, our new au pair, last night and now the house feels very Christmas-y.  I am in love with our tree.  We have tons of wooden German Christmas ornaments and lots of sterling silver ornaments/bells and red balls.  All we are missing is something to go on top - Oops! 

Getting the Christmas Tree

On Jana's last day, we went with my family to get our Christmas trees.  This was the first time that Adam & I were finally getting a tree too.  The weather was so much more cooperative than last year (which was cold, overcast, & windy), which made the day so much more enjoyable.  After all the trees were found, we put out blankets, enjoyed hot chocolate and German gluewein, along with far too many Christmas cookies.

So glad we had the pack along, Oliver had zero interest in walking around

about to chop down our tree - it was hard work!