I feel like our Christmas is a marathon--we practically celebrated Saturday to Saturday. This is something very special, but also quite tiring! We are hunkered down at home today, our first day in a week that we're not visiting family or hosting family. And as this year winds down, I'm determined to be caught up on my blog...so reader beware: there might be a lot of posts and pictures in the next week!
We celebrated Ruda Christmas at our home...it was so fun to have a bigger house for hosting as well as double ovens for cooking the Christmas meal! Before Katie's family joined us in the afternoon for the meal we opened presents in the morning with my parents. We didn't get the boys much in the way of presents, as Rosey the puppy was the main gift this year. Joshy did receive a toy tool bench, in hope that he'll twist all the screws on it instead of twisting all the caps off our bottles!
Seth, Sam and Josh
Josh's new tool bench
Sam sporting his new hat from Uncle Tom and Aunt Julie
Both boys posing with their new snow gear from Tom and Julie
I took Seth and Sam shopping for a gift of a couple Christmas books for Josh. When Seth saw this stuffed puppy, he was adamant that we also purchase it for Josh. Josh loved it and sleeps with it now.
Reading his new Christmas book with Mommy
The final gift to open was a BIG one from Papa and Titi
It was an electric train set!
All set up
Notice the boys' monkeys: according to S & S one was the conductor and the other was shoveling coal
This just totally cracked me up: Hanger and George monkey train conductors extraordinaire
After a busy morning, both "puppies" took a nap
Josh in his cute new shirt from the grandparents
When the cousins came over, the oldest 5 picked up right where they left off...playing mommy and daddy with the girls' American girl dolls. Silly kiddos!
I was insistent upon family pictures!
The Platos
The Ruda Grandparents and Grandkids
The Morris'
Papa and Josh
The boys were so excited to finally get a nutcracker! And so fun for their cousins (who dance in the nutcracker ballet every year) to give it to them.
This picture is hilarious! The kids were taking turns running the train and being the tunnels for it.
Katie was determined for us to play a family game of charades. The kids had so much fun! Here Titi and Clara are acting out an owl.
I was so excited for our dessert: a decadent layer cake from a gluten free, dairy free bakery...you know you're an allergy family when having a dessert that everyone can actually eat is a REALLY big deal! It was chocolate with peppermint frosting and was scrumptious.
