Christmas 2015

I knew with Danny at 3.5 years old and Crew running around like a maniac that this Christmas would be really special and boy was it! Jimmy and I decided to start a tradition for our little family where we take "Donnie", our golf cart, around on Christmas Eve to take in all the beautiful Christmas lights around the island. And then it was time to set out cookies and milk for Santa and hopefully get the nuggets to bed! Note: Danny has a bad habit of getting out of bed at night and early in the AM, so we installed a protective gate so he couldn't see Santa's spoils before we were ready!

The video is too long to post, but Danny's first sight of all the toys on Christmas morning was pretty funny. Instead of a wild and crazy response, I think he said very calmly, "there sure is a lot of stuff down here." After taking it all in though, he was extremely excited! Crew was pretty much amped the whole time - a little godzilla trampling through the presents and crashing all the toys!

Santa came!

Maybe the best Christmas I can ever remember!

Playtime!

Last week was a fun time filled with an outing with Papa and Lita and then Danny's Christmas Party at preschool. I was one of the parent planners for the party and I may have been a little "too much" as far as lofty plans/crafts/Etc, but I can't help myself. I get into it! Unlike Danny who has always been a little timid, Crew is not shy. During story time at Danny's school, he steps all over everyone to get to the "front of the class"!

Fire fighter Danny and Crew at Power of Play

Papa as a grocery cashier

Photo op with cow out to lunch with Papa and Lita

Crew with free reign of Danny's classroom

Porter asked Danny, "Can I touch him?"

The blessing

Thinks he's a big kid

Wanted Crew to sit with him

Mommy, in a picture, amazing!

Center Stage

Danny with his bestie Myles and Biraj photobombing

Meeting Santa

I took the kids to Fort Fisher the other day to try to get some pictures to pull together a Christmas card. Alas, we've decided to go with a Happy New Year card instead - I swear the timing of getting pneumonia around Thanksgiving was the absolute worst for my Christmas preparations!! Anyways, the photo shoot was seeming like a complete flop when Danny spotted someone special across the park! Another family had hired a Santa to take pictures with them and before I could stop him, Danny was on his lap! Crew didn't like him nearly as much...

And then mom and Jerry had organized with the CB Fire Department to have Santa (who happened to be the same one pictured above - great for solidifying the Santa "story), to stop by in a FIRE TRUCK to deliver presents (their own toy fire trucks) to Danny and Crew. I planned a little party to have everyone over for the event and wouldn't you know they came 45 mins before the start of the time window (between 6-8pm) and didn't call ahead of time like they said they would, so mom, Jerry and Jimmy all missed it. Very disappointing, but still a success considering the boys love their fire trucks. As for the whole experience, Danny was a little timid at first, but warmed up to his friend. Crew still doesn't like him.

Tis the Season

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here and luckily mama is feeling better, just still sore with deep breaths! The boys were (are still) in complete awe of the tree lights and are VERY into all things Christmas. Danny especially loves looking for Lopez, our Elf on the Shelf. Both boys - and mama - love Christmas music. Good times around our house!

Loving them as a pile on the floor

Hello tree - early in the AM

Eating ornaments off the tree

This past weekend was my mom's birthday and Ali came to town! We attended the Carolina Beach Christmas Parade where Papa and Lita met us as well. Danny was beside himself excited! 

A pretend campfire at Nana's

Turkey Day Recap!

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I came down with pneumonia in the right lung and as I write this, I'm still not 100%. For someone who's never sick, it's been horrible to feel bad for so long. So thankful for Jimmy, my mom and papa and Lita helping out so much! Anyways, here's some pics from our festivities which kicked off with Danny's recital and feast at school on Tuesday...

And then rallying for a day of cooking and and eating at my mom's condo on Thursday: