Monday, January 3, 2011

Christmas Celebrations!

We just got home at 10pm last night from a great holiday trip to Idaho!  We love being close enough to drive "home" for Christmas and New Years!  Forgive me for the massive amounts of pictures on this post, this is my only scrapbook and we did a lot of stuff.

Tuesday Dec. 21: we celebrated our first Christmas as a family of 3.  Since we weren't going to be at our own home on the 25th we decided to have our celebration early.

We read the Christmas story together....


in reality, reading the Christmas story with a 10 1/2 month old really looks like this....

Peter had to put his cellphone on the book so he'd pay attention :-)

Then, we opened a few presents that we had given each other and a few from some out-of-town family that we weren't going to be able to see this year

 Benjamin's elmo hand puppet from Mommy & Daddy
 a super fun puzzle from Mommy & Daddy
 a hilariously cute Winnie the Pooh costume from Aunt Jen, Uncle Kris and the Mortons
Daddy can't wait for him to wear the Buckeyes shirts too!
 He loooooves his new Praise baby DVD from Aunt Nita (and he'll love the travel potty someday too!!)
YEA, a pound a peg toy from Mommy & Daddy!  He knew exactly what to do with this one :-)

Since the attention span on this age is pretty much zero we didn't have many activities but it was fun to celebrate as a family and spend time together!

Wednesday Dec 22:  Full day of babysitting a friends 7 month old all morning, delivering Christmas goodies, attempting to pack for our trip and going to our small group's Christmas party.  We had sooo much yummy food, a white elephant gift exchange and had a great time.  We really have awesome friends.

Thursday Dec 23: We drove the 8 hours to Moscow, ID and Benjamin did great.  Of course, a laptop with his favorite DVD, ritz crackers, and the Cedarmont kids CD help us survive!  We arrived to my parent's house and they were sooo excited to see us....I mean, Benjamin.  Peter and I have officially been forgotten.  As you can see, he quickly made himself at home!



Friday Dec 24 (Christmas Eve):  We lounged around a bit, then headed to the mall to do a little browsing.  We thought it'd be a great opportunity for Benjamin to get some walking practice since it's such a wide open space, so we took his walker.  It was hilarious, we was adorable walking down the mall.


Benjamin and Nana were racing down the mall, toooooo cute!

Our family's tradition on Christmas Eve is a dinner of lunch meats, cheeses, crackers, breads, veggies & dip, clam chowder, and lots of Christmas goodies.  We also get one present from Dad on our plates to open.  This year was no different, we stuffed our faces and had a great time.  I love my Bath & Body Works candle, Peter loves his tool, and Benjamin loves his animal race cars.

 hey Mom, this family tradition of yours is pretty awesome!
 thanks for the toys Grandfather, you're the best!
 working off all that yummy food by playing with coasters with cousin Alexander
 just a little after dinner storytime with Grandfather
as Auntie Amanda would say, he was in a "food coma" HA!

We enjoyed time together as a family then went to sleep waiting for Santa to come.

Saturday Dec 25:  Christmas morning!!!  Now that we're all grown and our kids are still under 1, we don't open presents at the crack of dawn, we wait until 9am.  Benjamin didn't sleep great so he was a bit tired by then since he was up early, but a little breakfast of monkey bread helped perk him up.  It was present time!!!

 you have to love stocking stuffers!
 Uncle Adam checking out his loot!
 thanks for the gift Great Grandma, I looove the koala and books
 Auntie Amanda you rock!  I looooooooove the sports center.  I'm sure I'll go professional in baseball, basketball and football and have you to thank :-)
 Dad gets a new hat of his beloved Notre Dame
 Mom can watch the Planet Earth series (in all her free time, HA!)
 cousin Alexander, Uncle Alan, and Great Grandma watching the action
 thanks Uncle Aaron and Aunt Hannah, you know us well.  We LOVE Starbucks!
 I'm not quite sure what it is Dad, but since it's in a cool box I know I'm going to love it.  Lots of cool things come in boxes.  Thanks Nana & Grandfather....I know he's going to spend hours on his musical activity table.
oh Benjamin, this is just embarrassing.  He was one worn out (and obviously well fed) baby.
It was these red Christmas pajamas that didn't quite fit because of his um, tummy, that inspired our choice for his Christmas ornament this year.  It's a little boy in red pj's that don't quite fit toddling around with a gift in his hands.  It'll always remind us of our sweet Benjamin at this age.

We received some great gifts, thanks everyone!  After gifts we ate SOME MORE (surprise, surprise).  Dad, Mom and Amanda cooked up a meal of ham, corned beef, mashed potatos, vegetables, fruit salad, rolls, etc and eclair cake for dessert.  It was delicious!!!




Afterward, the boys did the dishes....

while Benjamin tried out his new sports center.....
 figuring it all out....
 watch out, crazy boy with a bat!
 should I be concerned?.....
Yeah probably! :-)

Aunt Natasha and Alexander getting in on the relaxing!

We also brought out some home videos of when us 5 kids were younger.  It was hilarious to see us back then, it'd been awhile since I'd watched them.  This was me at Christmas time when I was around 4 maybe?


Later that night Benjamin played with bath toys in the bubbles Auntie Amanda made for him in his high chair tray...


while the rest of us played games...


Mom needed a nap because she works way. too. hard.

It was a great Christmas together with almost the whole family.
Uncle Aaron, Aunt Hannah and baby Azalea were in Arizona with her side of the family, we missed you guys!


Sunday Dec 26: We headed off that morning to Uniontown, WA to visit Peter's parents!  They had been in San Diego with the Larmores to celebrate Christmas and welcome baby Mandy Grace born on December 23rd!!!  She is a CUTIE.  I'm definitely a proud Auntie.




We met Poppy & GongGong to drive down to Lewiston for church.  They were a little excited to see Benjamin waiting for them in their car when they came out of Sunday school :-)
We went to church, stopped at Costco for samples and then headed home.  We enjoyed a tasty roast beef dinner then celebrated Christmas together for the Klingler side of the family.

 Benjamin and his audience, I mean grandparents!
 what is it Benjamin?????
 a TRICYCLE!!  Wow, what fun.  Thank you!!

Peter has always wanted a Snuggie. I told him they were kind of dumb and didn't want to spend the money.  He thinks they're pretty much the greatest invention.  Ever.  So, imagine his complete and utter JOY when he received this from Jen, Kris and the Mortons.....
 oh man, the look on his face says it all.  SWEET!  A Cleveland Browns snuggie.  He can now die a happy man.  I guess the worst, I mean best, part is that my lovely sister-in-law gave ME one too.  HA.  Now we have matching Browns snuggies.  Don't puke too much thinking about us snuggling on the couch in our snuggies!  Thanks Mortons :-)
 Hey Mom, you take a break...I'll play the piano for this Christmas carol
but Daddy, I don't want to be returned, I like my life!

We enjoyed more great gifts and had a wonderful time together.  We're very blessed.

Mon Dec 27:  We all slept in a little and lounged around a bit.  Benjamin got countless rides on his tricycle and showed off his skills with his walker.  While he napped in the afternoon, we played a nearly 4 hour game of Monopoly.  Peter came from behind to beat me, but I did pretty good considering I only had 1 Monopoly and nearly whooped everyone.  It reminded me that I only like to play that game maybe once a year.  We ate stir fry for dinner and watched a documentary on the Nazis before heading to bed.

Tues Dec 28-Thurs Dec 30:  We headed back up to Moscow to pick up Mom, Amanda and Alexander.  We were heading to Spokane for the night!  We were off to shop, veg, and enjoy time together.  First stop, was Olive Garden, of course!

He is definitely a son of his mama....this boy can eat some pasta!

We shopped at the malls, and various stores then bought some frozen pizzas to bake at the Residence Inn.  That, and ice cream topped off our great day!

The next morning we ate breakfast then realized that the weather was not going to be too great.  We shopped a bit more and were told by family that we should probably stay in Spokane another night.  We thought we'd try to go home anyway, despite the blizzard warnings, but when the roads started icing up really bad, we changed our minds and spent the night at the Quality Inn.  It was fun to play with the kiddos, watch a little tv and laugh together.

 Benjamin got to go swimming with Daddy!!
 Pure goofiness.
 my greatest joys!
 cousin Alexander wishing he could swim too (he had a bit of cold) but still looking adorable!
 we died laughing because when Peter would put Benjamin on the edge of the pool water would squirt out of his bum.  It was hilarious.
 our little fish
two little cuties in a tub!

Now I KNOW these two boys would tell you Aunt Amanda is pretty much the greatest. thing. ever.

We ended up driving home on Thursday late morning.  After we unloaded at my parents house we headed back to Peter's parents for another visit.  We spent the afternoon playing with Benjamin and watched the first half of the movie "North and South" in the evening.

Friday Dec 31:  New Years Eve!  We ate a big breakfast, then headed to Lewiston to run a few errands/do a little shopping.  We went to Starbucks to enjoy some coffee and Christmas cookies, then headed home.  Mom fixed up some New Year's eve goodies of Ritz crackers with sausage/cheese, clam chowder, meatballs, and veggies while the boys played pool.


 Benjamin was all ready to bang, I mean ring, in the New Year!
 he didn't stay up until midnight, so he celebrated early!
multi-tasking.  he'd beat the walker with his pool stick like it was a horse!

 Benjamin stole a basket ride!
 of course there was lots of playtime with Poppy
 and a few more rides on the Trike!
 smiles with GongGong
Benjamin with the Klingler grandparents 2010

We stayed up until midnight, passing the time by finishing "North and South" and watching the first part of "Beauty and the Beast".  We had a bit of a long night after that since Benjamin didn't sleep well (he wanted to be up celebrating the new year apparently) but it was a fun day!  It was fun to think of how much has changed in a year.

Saturday Jan 1:  We headed back up to Moscow to celebrate New Year's Day with the Malgren side of the family.  We watched football (Grandfather had 3 screens up) and ate chicken wings, meatballs, little smokies, chips with chili cheese dip, pop and lots of Christmas cookies.  All of the no-bake cookies had disappeared after Christmas so Peter insisted, uh, I mean, asked Amanda to make some more.  They definitely have a bond over their love of peanut butter :-)


It was a day of pretty much pure laziness which was awesome.  It's nice to just have a day of family time and not much else.  Benjamin just loved getting lots of attention from Aunt Amanda, Nana and Grandfather.

 lots of snuggles with his favorite Grandfather
 he love, love, loves the Elmo bib.  It was sooo cute, he was talking to it and holding it.  Thanks Nana, you're awesome.

Sunday Jan 2:  We headed to church in the morning, then brought some McDonalds home for lunch.  We ate, then finished loading up the car.  That was a real miracle that all the toys from Benjamin's incredible Christmas showering fit in the vehicle.  I think we need a U-haul, or a mini-van.  We had to sadly say goodbye, but promised to come again soon.  We sure love our families.
Benjamin did really well on the drive home, only having a very, very short time of fussiness.  He's a great traveler.

Monday Jan 3:  We're home, trying to adjust to "normal life" again.  Benjamin didn't nap terribly long today which was to be expected and I'm pooped after unpacking SO MUCH STUFF and taking down Christmas decorations.  Trying to do that with an active baby is nearly impossible.  He seriously turned into a toddler overnight.  His mannerisms are different, he can reach new things, he's exploring new things, he has new "skills".  it's awesome.  I forgot to mention that he stood for the first time on this trip without holding on to anything!!!  Yeah Benjamin!  He did it holding two coasters in his hands, holding on to the coffee table, then let go and stood by himself.  He later did it for almost a minute straight!  He also kind of took a step or two towards Aunt Amanda, but I'm not sure I'll count that as his real first steps :-)  He is just soooo stinkin' adorable and I've spent most of the day just staring at how cute he is and thinking of how much I love him.  And also realizing that I'm going to be one tired mama chasing him all around, ha. 

It was an awesome trip to visit family, we love you all and can't wait to see you again soon!!!







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