xmas eve and xmas 2009

pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/XmasEveAndXmas2009#
Xmas 2009: We started our Christmas groove before Thanksgiving by dressing the kids up in their holiday clothes, going to the mall to get a picture taken with Santa. When Santa asked them what they wanted for Christmas, Chloe said “Swim To Me Pup” (a water-proof dog robot that really swims), and Alex asked for “a flip-over remote control car that is the same on the other side”. Our official Christmas celebration started just before lunch on Christmas Eve when Casey’s dad (the kids call him “Big Daddy”), Bubbe, and Jeff came over for lunch and a gift exchange. They gave Alex a Lego set that had enough pieces and directions to build a jet, a prop-plane, or a helicopter. Alex decided to build the jet and by the time they left, he had completed it with little or no help from adults. We are all very impressed with Alex’s ability to stay on task, and his ability to understand complicated multi-step directions. That evening we went up to Uncle Steve’s house outside Baltimore for our annual Christmas Eve dinner with MomMom. PopPop was recovering from pneumonia and although he was well enough to be home from the hospital, he didn’t feel well enough to come to the party. Cori, Sarah, Blade, and Skye were there too, so the twins had lots of kids to play with. We didn’t get the kids in bed until 10pm and they didn’t have much trouble getting to sleep despite the excitement. In recent weeks the kids have been trying to get up as early as possible so they have time to watch cartoons before school. One day Alex got up at 4:30 am and I didn’t want that to happen again, so I told them before they went to bed, “don’t get up before 6am”. At 6:04 am they were in our bed asking if it was time to go downstairs. By 6:30 all the presents were unwrapped! Around 9am my family came over for breakfast and gift exchange. The kids really enjoyed showing off their presents to their cousins (Natalie and Aiden) and we got a chance to sit down and enjoy each other’s company while the kids played. Although each twin got the toy that they’d asked Santa for, neither one was their favorite. Alex’s favorite toy was a mini remote control truck. Playing games on the Wii over the past year has significantly improved his hand/eye coordination and he was able to drive the fast little truck wherever he wanted. Chloe had several favorites. She got an art set with pastels, paints, colored pencils and an easel that she’s been using a lot. She got a loom for weaving pot-holders and finished her first project before dinner Christmas day. She got a stencil set that both kids have been using a lot, and she got a “Spin Art” rotator painter that allows her to drip paint onto spinning paper to make patterns. For Christmas dinner we went to Grammy Barb’s house and got to visit with Blade and Skye again. After all that Christmas we were all exhausted, but joyful and very thankful. Here's a link to the pictures (I already sent the link around via e-mail) http://picasaweb.google.com/constance.phelps/XmasEveAndXmas2009#