The Whole World In Our Hands...: 2012

Our elf came to visit us this year around mid-December. Aaden was excited to read the story and name him. Pete is what he decided on. Don't know where he heard of Pete but it seemed to fit our elf perfectly.

Pete went to report to Santa every night and then came back to our home and hid in a new spot. Aaden was quick to catch on to the routine of finding him in his new spot every morning. Pete was nice and didn't hide in real difficult places so that our rookie could find him easier. And Pete is a good elf, he doesn't get into too much mischief. Not yet, anyway and I hope it stays that way especially since he's supposed to encourage good behavior.

Aaden was a very good boy especially since becoming a big brother - so I think Pete made good reports for him to Santa.

Here are just some of my favorite hiding spots that Pete came up with...

On our Advent Calendar with a get well note for Aaden
(he was sick with a stomach bug)

Chillin in the chair in the bathroom

Hangin' on the chandelier

Fryin' up some fish

Decorating the tree. This was the first ornament put on our tree.

Pete - a little under the weather

Showing Aaden that it's cool to brush your teeth after

a night that Aaden wasn't really into it.

We can't wait to see Pete again next year!

ETA: Even a few weeks after Pete has gone back to the North Pole for the year, Aaden will still ask, "where Pete go?"

This year we celebrated Christmas for about 5+ days. First we got together with the Muenzers and had the kids exchange gifts on the 22nd, then we had Fahy Christmas on the 23rd, then Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day and finally Christmas with the Griffins on the 26th. It was quite a busy time but we enjoyed the time with our family.

Our stockings and mantle

Our Christmas card wall collage

Our tree

Muenzers - December 22nd~

We got together and the kids exchanged gifts. We had lunch and wine and a nice visit. Katie and I were reminiscing how different this year is - last year at our little gift exchange is when Katie told me she was expecting Baby #2. Now a year later, we have both had our second babies.

Aaden & Alivia

Aaden got a book & Toy Story bowl & cup set and Alivia got a cupcake decorating set

These two were really into gift opening ;)

Their older siblings got to open their presents - Cianna got a seahorse and Addison got a really cute outfit

Fahy Christmas - December 23rd~

Fahy Christmas was at Shelton's this year. It was a great get together - good food as always, a visit from Santa and the annual Bump game which didn't dissapoint. Dad was feeling really good, was in good spirits and had a lot of energy. It was awesome to see him enjoy the day with his family.

Daddy & his babies

Sleepy head

Aaden & Em

Santa & Mrs Claus came to Fahy Christmas!

Love this little outfit!

Christmas Eve - December 24th~

Chrismtas Eve morning I got up and went to Target to finish up some last minute stuff. I have never shopped that late before and I hope to never do it again. What a mad-house. But it worked out since Dad had to get a blood draw at Hazel Hawkins before chemo on the 26th.

The rest of the day we spent packing up for Christmas and wrapping and exchanging gifts with Dad. Later that evening we went and dropped everything off at Mom & Kenny's and then went to Pagaran's. It was a nice visit and Aaden had fun playing with the older boys. Everyone was so happy to meet Addison. Dad ran out of steam at about 930 so we said our goodbyes, dropped Dad off and then went to Waller's for a bit. We hung out there for a little while then went to Mom & Kenny's to finish up the night. We put cookies out for Santa, hung our stockings and read The Night Before Christmas to Aaden - a new pop-up book from Gam. Aaden and Aaron went to bed and we got ready for Santa. We finally turned in at about 130.

Aaden helping Pappy open presents

Christmas Day - December 25th~

Aaden woke up at about 7 on Christmas morning. He didn't remember that it was Christmas and we kept him in the room for as long as possible so I could get everyone else up. We finally let him loose to go scope out the presents. He was impressed that Santa ate the cookies and drank most of the milk. We opened stockings and then presents.

Santa brought Aaden a T-ball set and a fun B toys guitar. Aaden also got a few other toys and clothes from us and a tent, sleeping bag & flashlight and clothes from Emmy & Papa. Addison got a Fisher Price Seahorse and a little musical toy from Santa and then a few toys from Mommy & Daddy. She got diapers and clothes and a Carter's giftcard from Emmy & Papa. At 2 months old - Christmas just isn't that exciting.
My mom went all out on gifts for us this year - we all had to put puzzles together that gave us info on where to find our gifts. I got mine put together first (I'm quick like that ;) )and it said to look in the buffet (which my mom has about 4 or 5 of) - once I found the correct buffet, I got my present out of the bottom. I was not sure what it was? I opened it to find a freakin' Canon Rebel T3i DSLR camera! I was so surprised - I've always wanted a DSLR but would never think to ask for one. I was a little imtimidated but also so stoked - what a great gift!!

Aaron got his puzzle put together second and found his gift in Mom & Kenny's closet - it was our bedding!! We got new sheets, a down-comfortor and a duvet cover from Pottery Barn. Kenny got his puzzle together third and was confused because there was not instructions on where to go to find his gift. Instead, his gift was written in a message on the puzzle - they are going to a Giants/Rockies game in Colorado on his birthday! Which is perfect because Kelley and Amber's baby will be about a month old so they can go see them and meet grandbaby #4. Christopher had some trouble with his puzzle so I helped him - finally found his present under Mom & Kenny's bed...a new flat screen tv! We finished opening presents and I think everyone was really happy with their gifts.

After presents - Aaron started to feel really sick. He ended up with some sort of stomach bug and spent the rest of Christmas in bed. The rest of us just hung out in our pjs and worked on Christmas dinner. Christopher left to go visit Dad for a while. We had Christmas dinner at about 4 and then went to Aunt Krissie's and Uncle Danny's to meet up with the rest of the family. We had dessert and drinks and played the Bump Game. Santa dropped gifts off for the kids - but the names weren't on the gifts - instead there was limerick on each gift that told us who the gift was for. Aaden's went, He likes Thomas the Train, and likes Shrek, too...But being a big brother is his favorite thing to do....And Addison's said, She's so tiny and soft and pretty in pink...but when she poops, man, does it stink!....Aaden got trucks and tractors from Santa and Addison got a Glow Worm. We went home a little after 10 to find Aaron feeling a lot better.

Discovering that Santa ate the cookies and drank the milk

Addison on her first Christmas!

Her toys from Santa

Aaron playing with one of Aaden's Santa gifts

Sorting through gifts

Sleepy head

Ruffle butt

Eating Christmas breakfast on the counter

Being silly with Aunt Kerry

Washing dishes - his obsession

Helping Papa with Christmas dinner

Gam & Addie

Gam and her 9th & 10th great grandchildren!

I love this picture of Addison - only because it reminds me of one of my baby pictures

Isn't she so cute?

Me and my little girl

Our babies ♥

Nap time!

Christopher put gel in his hair

He looks pretty cute!

Christopher kept saying that he looks like Ray from Jerry McGuier and kept calling him Ray-den

Jenny & Addie at Aunt Krissie's

Not sure what to think of Michael

There's a smile - she likes him!

Trucks from Santa

Diva boots from Gam ;)

In her brother's first Christmas pjs

I think she enjoyed her first Christmas

What a sweet brother

Merry Christmas Baby Girl!

Christmas with the Griffins - December 26th~

We packed up from my Mom's and ran home to unload and repack for a day out at the Griffins. We got out there at about 11am. It was only Sis and Ann there when we got there. We lazed around pretty much all day. Bub & Tamar came back from working in town at about 2 or 3 and Alec and Nicole got there from Diana's at about 4. It was so great to finally see everyone again! It had been way too long. At 630, Nick Lovejoy came over and took family photos - we had got that for a gift for Ann a couple years ago and this was the first time we were all together since then. Aaden was in a really pissy mood (we had to wake him from a late nap) and so who knows what the pictures came out like? After that, Ann gave him his gift that she had been waiting for him to open - it was a Mini Cooper, a motorized car. He got in and didn't really know what to think. I think it will take him a while to get the hang of it. After that, we had dinner - Nicole had made a few things to spruce up dinner and it was so nice to have some of her cooking again!! I've missed it since they've been in Korea. After dinner we exchanged gifts from each other and then we pretty much packed up and went home soon after since the kids were tired. Alec & Nicole and Tamar & Bub came over for a little while - it was fun, just like old times!

Snoozing in the 90 degree room