Day after Xmas

The day after Christmas was filled with another party - this one featuring the world travelers of Libby, Alexis, Nathan, and Ben along with the Holzemer parents, the Boysens, and the Davis family including Ruby's friend Zoe. Let the party pics begin:

Nathan and Oliver decided to spend much of the first hour playing in a marching band together. Here is Nathan on percussion with safety goggles on...always good to be safe when drumsticks are involved!

Here the two are again working the beat

Zoe and Ruby gossiping about the latest entertainment news

Oliver and Nathan giving a toast before dinner

Ruby and Jonell kicking it after dinner

Oh yeah, ice cream time!

Oliver and Nathan then turned out almost all the lights in the house and started hiding and going on bear hunts with their flashlights. Here we caught them in the closet finding some snacks...luckily it was dried fruit and not a bunch of candy!

Christmas Day

Christmas day started with Oliver asking for cereal and to go play trains. We had to do a little reminding of what happened the night before and what morning it was. What did we do last night? Who did we leave cupcakes, carrots, and celery out for? Oh yeah...it's Christmas!

Here is the tree with the new Train set that Santa brought, the stockings are full, and the food has been nibbled on up on the mantle.

Santa ate most of his cupcake and took the one for Mrs Claus home with him. The reindeer at a lot of carrot and celery

Oliver really likes the remote control train set that Santa set up around our tree!

Oliver checking out his new bike from mom and dad...ok but really we need to thank Gavin for the hand me down.

Oliver also happy about the new Thomas gear - a crossing gate for the train table and Harold the helicopter

Ruby trying on her new winter booties

Oliver in his new towel checking himself out in the mirror

Superman giving Uncle Steve a leg hug

Ruby and Grandpa Jim making smiles at one another

I'm ready for more presents!

But first Grammi brought out the wishbone from Thanksgivings bird...looks like Grammi's wish might come true

Steve and Rachel gave Oliver TEN EGGS!

Oliver not sure what to make of Rachel's new hat

Nicole and Ruby spending some snuggle time together

Uncle Steve and Oliver having fun with the whip cream!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was filled with fun time with Grandma Joan. We hit church, the lights at the Botanical Gardens, and made our own calzones. Here are a few pics from the evening...

Oliver and his favorite lights...yup because they are blue like Thomas!

Oliver, Grandma Joan, and daddy

Smile!

Calzones...they were so yummy!

Ruby and daddy hanging out ready to open some presents

Oliver giving Grandma a hug and saying his thank yous

Still loving the Superman PJs...checking himself and the cape out in the mirror

As we prepped the house for the evening, we put out the cupcakes for Mr and Mrs Claus, the carrots and celery for the reindeer and also sprinkled reindeer food on the lawn for them to munch on while Santa was in the house.

Christmas Eve Eve

You may think this first picture isn't very Christmas like...but what better than Optimus Prime and Superman to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve with. We made the trip up to Mt Vernon on the Eve before the Eve to spend with the Wright family, Grandpa Bryan and Grandma Tami. Here is Oliver in his new pajamas from Riley, Luke and Zane and Luke in his transformer costume...oh and Zane makes the photo as himself

Oliver and Luke giving dinner high fives...Luke featuring a leg of turkey and Oliver a handful of olives

Grandpa Bryan and Ruby hanging out

Grandma Tami and Ruby hanging as well

Ruby is 3 months old

Happy 3 month old birthday Ruby!

Oliver and Ruby have reversed matching pajamas...they are Oliver's new favorite pjs...beating out Thomas almost every night.

Pre School Christmas Sing-a-long

During the final week before the holiday break from preschool, we had a sing-a-long of holiday tunes. Here are a couple pics from the event:

The teachers receiving their gifts from the class and parents

Oliver and Kelly warming up their voices and smiles

Oliver was worn out by the end as he was the loudest singer in the room for much of the early songs

The teachers got a hold of Ruby and wouldn't let her go

Oliver wore his reindeer hat that he made home that day

Santa visit

Last week we made the trip to Nordstrom downtown to visit Santa. Nancy and Scotty Swantek joined us for the event and for lunch following. Here are a few pics:

Oliver and Ruby smiling for the camera

Where are you looking? The camera is over here...

After lunch Oliver and I jumped on the carousel in Westlake Center for a spin. Occupy Carousel could have happened as Oliver wanted to stay on it the rest of the day!

Gingerbread House Building

Earlier this Christmas season - Oliver and Hayden got the families together to build some gingerbread houses. OK, we bought prefab built homes, but the boys brought the decorating touch to the homes.

Here the boys are talking strategy on how they were going to attack the decorations

Brett and Kelly helping to squeeze out some frosting

Line the candy up...not sure if we consumed more candy or put more on the homes

Taylor and Ruby in conversation while the silly boys decorate

Someone told a joke...this was the first laugh that the two girls shared...not the last

The boys have finished their masterpieces

Now it's time to take a break and eat!