Christmas 2010

This post includes pictures that are only a week old instead of a month. ;)

We had a very nice Christmas here in Ames. We decided not to go home for health reasons (and not just mental) and we knew the weather wasn't going to be ideal (we did not want a repeat of last year - driving for 7 1/2 hours during a severe blizzard that included rain, ice and snow). So we decided to just spend Christmas at home and it was wonderful. We had a relaxing time and really enjoyed being together without running all over to visit family. We love our family but when we go to NW Iowa it can be exhausting. :)

This is how I displayed all our Christmas cards this year.

 The boys liked to lay under the tree and look at the Christmas lights.

On Christmas Eve, before church, we went out for Chinese. We thought this would be a great tradition and was started with Chinese delivery the Christmas after Phin was born. This year we decided to get them dressed up in their church clothes and head out to The Mandarin for more of a "fancy" dinner. The boys really love Chinese food and they didn't even spill on their church clothes. I knew I was taking a risk.  It was snowing while we were inside eating. When we got outside after dinner Phin exclaimed, "It's all sparkly out here!" What a sweet memory. And this year Asher was allowed to hold the candle during the candlelit singing (while being watched very closely by me and every other adult in the vicinity). He did a great job of holding it straight and by being responsible. He couldn't sing though 'cause it made the light flicker too much. He couldn't keep his eyes off the flame and I'm glad he was paying close attention. It kind of felt surreal, like a he was a big boy for real for the first time. It was a bitter-sweet for mom.

Here they are posing at the restaurant.

 

The boys waiting "patiently" on Christmas morning.

Capes I made for the boys:

We call Asher "Squirrel" so I put that on his cape.

And Phin is our "Pickle Pie" so he has a giant pickle on his cape. 

Our stockings filled with all kinds of goodies.

Asher got a Zurg Lego kit that he's been eyeing for a while.

He was pretty excited about it. 

One of Phin's gifts was "Toy Story 3," the first movie they saw in the theater.

We received lots of gifts in the mail thanks to Gramma Van Maanen and Grandma Joyce. And then our Ames family also got the boys gifts. They are very loved, and very spoiled. We usually get them each three gifts: item of clothing (capes), a book, and a toy. This year they each got a game too, Sequence for Kids and Connect 4 (which we already had but the stand-thingy is broken). And then we fill their stockings with little things: treats, and apple, toothbrushes, a Matchbox car. This year Jonathan and I decided to just get each other stocking gifts and we had a nice time opening them too.

Here's Phin and I playing a new game he got from Mr. Jim and Miss Juli.

Asher playing with Buzz Lightyear and Zurg.

Christmas afternoon we enjoyed a delicious meal and great company at Denny and Diane's house. It was nice to be with the Wilsons and the Footes for Christmas. We shared a great meal, the boys played outside in the snow (Phin didn't last too long but Asher loved it), then watched a movie downstairs, and we had great conversation. We are so thankful for our Ames family and we feel really blessed. It was a wonderful Christmas together as a family.