Starting the New Year off with a Little Bowling

Since Joshua had school off on Monday we decided it would be fun to go bowling as a family. Erin ended up having her meeting cancelled so their family joined us. The boys had a great time! Joshua used both the ramp and bowled by himself and enjoyed both. This was Matthew's first experience bowling and he mostly used the ramp, but at times enjoyed pushing the ball down the lane - oh and yes he did throw it at one point, oops! It was a fun, cheap way to entertain the family!

Matthew took delight in watching his ball S.L.O.W.L.Y roll down the lane after pushing it!



Joshua tossing his ball.

Matthew decided to toss the ball too, it created quite the noise. 

The matching cousins!

Gift Exchange with Cousins

Every year the cousins names go in a bowl and then the kids each get to pick a name and buy a gift for that cousin.  This is so much fun for them, especially as they are getting older they know their cousins' likes and can really put some thought into what would be a good gift.  Christmas night they did their exchange.  This year Joshua picked out a gift for the baby girl Hager which he was very excited about.  Matthew picked out Legos for Sam.  Joshua loves his Lego game from Nicholas and Matthew loves his Uno Moo game from Aiden.  Creating memories with their cousins is a special thing I am sure my kids will cherish when they look back.

Captured these boys at a rare quiet moment, love it!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Day

We were fortunate enough to be able to gather with extended family over the course of the afternoon and evening Christmas Day.  We spent the afternoon at my Uncle Steve and Aunt Cher's house where we got to catch up with relatives we don't see enough.  It was a good time.  The boys were blessed with a few presents as well which they were tickled with.  (Excuse the delay of this post (blogger seems to have issues lately posting pictures) and and the poor picture quality - apparently my camera was on the wrong setting and I realized it too late.

Rachel and Joshua

My grandparents and Matthew.

Uncle Steve and Aunt Cher totally surprised Joshua with a die cast Nascar car signed by the driver!

Clifford and Clifford books for Matthew!

Matthew hugging Clifford.

Uncle Steve and Joshua checking out the Nascar.

A new Lego set for Joshua and Duplos for Matthew - Thank you Uncle Jim and Aunt Nancy!

Matthew shows off his Santa diaper :)

Shannon, Matthew, Joshua and Rachel.

Baby Pierson's first Christmas.

The boys made ornaments for some of the special people in their lives and Joshua snapped this picture of Aunt Cher just after she opened hers.

Matthew plays with his new Duplos with Uncle Phil.

We don't believe in Santa at our house, but when my Uncle Paul arrived Joshua said, "maybe Santa is real". 

Matthew, Pierson and Joshua with "Santa".

Christmas Morning

This year, like every other year, we tried to keep the celebration of Christmas all about the Christ Child instead of it being about everything else you could fill Christmas time with.  We did our Advent wreath all throughout the month of December and even Matthew could help tell the Bible stories that went along with our Advent wreath!  We really enjoy preparing our hearts for Christmas this way every year. That being said we did have our own small, relaxing family celebration with presents of Christmas morning before the busyness of the rest of the day was upon us.  The boys loved their presents and were thankful for each one of them.  

The ornament Joshua made for us in school - can you see his picture inside of it?!

 

Opening the little gifts they got each other.

A new game for his Mobigo.

More Duplos for his ever-growing collection!

The look I got when Joshua realized I had tricked him by wrapping his gift and hiding inside another wrapped box - apparently it wasn't as amusing as I mom thought it would be :)

Super Mario Bros. for the Wii!

 

Matthew playing with his new Playmobil bus.

 

Another game for his Mogigo, this time it's Scooby Doo.

 

Castle blocks for the boy who LOVES to build.

 

The one and only item he requested for Christmas, a Playmobil fire boat.

 

Matthew opening his big present.

 

His own keyboard!

A new game for Matthew.

Christmas Eve Evening

Christmas Eve night we had my dad (aka Papa) and my brother (aka Uncle Phil) over for dinner and to open gifts.  After stuffing ourselves with delicious honey baked ham and all the side dishes to go wtih it we sat down to open presents.  Since Dave was unable to be here for Christmas we talked to him via skype and he watched the boys open their gifts and the boys watched him open his.  We all had to be quite strategic in just where to sit so Dave could see us, but not get too dizzy doing so!  The boys loved their gifts from Papa, Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave!  The Playmobil collection was added to, they each got some new clothes, Matthew has lots of fun Duplos and Joshua has a cool new marble maze.  The putting everything together process came next and soon after it was time for the boys to go to bed and the house to be cleaned up before Christmas morning soon arrived.

Matthew didn't quite know what to think about talking to Uncle Dave via the computer.

Joshua gets in on the conversation with Uncle Dave.  Dave even walked around with his laptop so we could have a skype tour of his apartment.

Matthew's new Duplo supermarket from Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave.

New Marble Maze for Joshua from Uncle Phil and Uncle Dave!

Clothes from Papa.

Joshua's Playmobil hospital from Papa!

Mocha getting in the middle of the action.

Matthew's Playmobil school from Papa!

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The boys thought Papa needed a bit of help opening his gifts.

New clothes for Papa.

Annual cologne and and gift card for Uncle Phil.

All the guys helping to put together the marble maze.