Christmas Menagerie

December was crazy busy making Christmas magic for two very special little boys.  Here are the pictures we took with iPhones, point-n-shoot, and DSLR cameras.  With how fast our boys move I'm surprised any technology can capture more than a blur!

Ben loved the Christmas tree and especially the "magic" Hallmark ornaments.

After a few heated discussions about the ornaments not being toys, he was ok with leaving them on the tree.

We made sugar cookies and decorated them with Mimi.

It was Ben's first time decorating sugar cookies, so he did not understand why he needed to let the cookies "dry" before he could eat them.  Of course he'd probably eaten three cookies before we even started decorating them.

Sam was carefully copying Mimi's designs.

Yes, that's a Halloween shirt.  Don't ask.

Eating cookies after seeing Santa.  Ben chose the whoopie pie.

Sam got a Snickerdoodle.

Cleo has been sick off and on most of December.  We think she has a bladder infection and some intolerance to some of the medications she has been on.  The vets aren't really sure what is wrong with her and have mentioned we might consider bladder cancer if she continues to have issues.  They are hopeful that another round of antibiotics will clear it up though.  We got her 11 years ago this month so we think she's about 12 now.  One of the medications she was on was Prednisone, so she gained about 6 pounds in one month.  Of course the only way she'll take her medication twice a day is with a tablespoon of peanut butter, so I'm sure that's not helping.

It's been very important that Cleo get her daily walks, but I can't complain since this is the view on the creek trail by our house.

Gearing up for our ski trip in Jan/Feb.

Mister and Mimi came over for pre-Christmas dinner and to exchange presents with Pops.

Sam was soooo excited he could hardly contain himself.

Ben got a little carried away and started opening Pops' present for him!

New necklace from Mimi

Ben got lots of food themed presents since playing kitchen is his favorite thing to do!

Sam made a gingerbread train with Lulu

Making cookies for Santa.  (Hmmm, I wonder why I've gained a few extra pounds.)

White chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies.  Yummy!

After a wonderful evening at the Johnson's, we exchanged presents with Mister and tried to get the boys ready for bed.  Cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer were on the checklist.

The next morning, it looks like Santa and the reindeer were hungry when they stopped at our house!

Lulu managed to keep Sam from waking us up until 8:30 and Ben was still not quite ready to get started.  Going through his stocking goodies helped him get in the spirit.

Lots of presents under the tree!

Sam was willing to stop for a quick picture.

One very patient big brother waiting for his little brother.

Cleo was very excited about her treats ... uh understatement!  She's got the crazy eyes and she's licking her chops!

Mickey!  Ben's new best friend!  

And now Mickey can join Goofy (from Ben's birthday).

I kinda like Toms ... a lot.  I got four new pairs!

Ben dipped one of the carrots in Lulu's coffee and fed it to Cleo.  Not sure why, but that's what happened.

I took the camera from Chris for a few minutes so I could grab a few shots of him too.

Ben insisted that Winnie the Pooh and Piglet needed to take a ride on the airplane and was not very happy they didn't have a seat.  He wasn't thrilled with my rubber band idea either.

We went to visit Grandma Smith a few times during Christmas break.

So many new toys to play with!

Chris got a new camera lens and some new flash gear so I found myself posing for quite a few pictures whether or not I was ready for a close-up.

Oh my, Mickey, that's quite a big sandwich you have there!

I pulled my old doll bed out of the attic so Ben could put Mickey and Goofy down for a nap.  My sisters and I played with that doll bed when we were little and so did my mom and my aunt.  Ben's great-great-grandfather made it around sixty years ago.  

Sushi with Lulu

I have to laugh. They just picked up that salmon sushi and started eating it.  No questions asked.

Sam got a few Lego sets for Christmas and had kept Lulu very busy building them.  He built this one with Daddy.  It was a Ninjago motorcycle.  Both of the boys are crazy about Ninjago and fight over which one of them is the Red Fire Ninja.  I can't believe Ben even knows what they are talking about.  Sam tells everyone he meets about Ninjago.  I mean everyone.  Random strangers.  Anyone who will listen.  Then he says something like "Ninjago!" or "Tornado of Creation!" and starts spinning in circles.  Oh boy!

The boys go back to school tomorrow and I going to miss having them around the house all day.  I had a great time with them at home and the time went way faster than I thought it would.  I loved watching them play (and fight) with each other.  Ben moved into a big boy bed and the boys started taking turns sleeping in each other's rooms.  It's hard to believe that Ben wasn't even walking or talking this time last year.  I wasn't quite ready to tackle potty training over the break though.  I also can't believe how big Sam has gotten this year.  He's so tall now.  He still had a baby face in the video of him opening his stocking last year.  He starts his first day in E1 tomorrow.  He's moving up after two and a half years in P1.  Chris officially starts his new job this week too.  Lot's of changes coming this new year!