Christmas 2010

We had a busy, yet fun, Christmas this year.  On Christmas Eve, we went to church with Jim's brother's family, and then back to their house.  After we fed the kids and put them in their pajamas, we loaded them in the car and went to my parents' house.  We put Jack and Patrick to bed and had a nice dinner with my parents, brother, aunt, uncle, and cousins.  Then, we woke the kids up to bring them home. 

Christmas morning we spent at home as a family.  The kids woke up around 7:00 and opened their gifts from Santa.  After Patrick's morning nap, we went to Jim's parents' house for brunch.  We put Patrick down for his second nap at their house (and I got a little nap, too!).  Then, we went to my aunt's house for another celebration.  I didn't take many pictures throughout the day (except for in the morning at our house).

Patrick was more interested in eating the crumbs Santa left behind than opening presents.

 Jim got a didgeridoo from David and Melanie in Australia.

Jack and Patrick are showing off their Australian gifts from David and Mel: a string guitar for Jack and Uggs for Patrick.

For months Jack has been asking for a "string guitar" for Christmas.  David did not know this when he picked it out for him.  It's even green - Jack's current favorite color!

The Uggs are a little big, but Patrick plans to grow into them.

After opening presents, we skyped with Karen and Lenny in Milwaukee.

We had a White Christmas!!!

Jack and Patrick loved playing with their older cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

First Haircut

On Christmas Eve, I decided to give Patrick his first haircut.  Jack was 6 months old when he got his first haircut and he had way more hair than Patrick does now (at 14 months).  I had never cut such fine hair before. 

Before:

 During:

 After:

Bowling

Maybe this post should be titled, "Way Too Many Pictures of Bowling."

Jim and I thought we would take the kids ice skating this week.  It is really cold outside, though.  So we decided to take them bowling instead.  This was Jack's first experience bowling.  I can remember one other time we took him with us to a bowling alley, but he was too little to bowl then.

Jack really had a good time, and keeps asking when we can go back.

After he would bowl, he would run back, turn around, and watch the ball.

Looks good!

Patrick spent a lot of time in Daddy and Mommy's arms.

Jack also really enjoyed getting the ball from the ball return machine.

Daddy was the best bowler.

Maybe next year Patrick can bowl with us.

Here's a funny sequence of Jack bowling.

Look at his effort!

He's watching the ball roll sloooowwwly down the lane.

You can tell by Jim's face in the background that it was not the best.

Patrick played peek-a-boo with us.

Another funny sequence of pictures.  I am trying to hold the boys for a photo.

"Get us out of here!"

What can you do?

Daddy and his boys:

Look Who's Walking!

Celebrating with Friends

We have been fortunate to spend a lot of time with friends recently.  I met up with a few high school friends for happy hour one night.

After this guy played Michael Jackson on his acoustic guitar, Sara decided we needed a picture with him.

My volleyball team took a holiday picture with one of the refs.

We got to see a number of friends at our annual Christmas party.

Later in the night, I decided I needed to get lots of pictures in front of our wreath. 

My buddy Greg showed up.  We used to work together before we both retired.  :)  

Jim has this whole week off work!  On Monday, I took Jack to the Magic House to meet our friend Margo, and Jim stayed home with a napping Patrick.   The Magic House had yummy donuts for us!

Nancy and I took Jack and Margo to see Santa Claus and listen to a Christmas story.  Then, the kids could line up to sit on Santa's lap.  It was a very long line and when we asked the kids if they wanted to sit on Santa's lap, they said no.  Nancy and I weren't upset about missing the long line and so we took the kids to do some more exploring of the Magic House.  They really enjoyed examing things with these magnifying glasses.

After the Magic House, Jack and I headed to a Christmas party for our playgroup.  I took this picture after more than half the kids left!