Christmas!!

Aaden loved Christmas this year.  He still doesn't get what Christmas is all about but he is starting to get the gist of what presents are.  I think he likes the act of actually opening the presents more than finding what's inside the wrapping.  He has fun ripping the paper and pulling tissue out of bags.  That being said, there were a few gifts that were opened that he got really excited about - even did the beyond excited, "oooooOOoooh!" at some points!  I love when he does that - it's the happiest sound ever and fills me with joy.

We planned on staying at my Mom & Kenny's on Christmas Eve so Santa came to our house early on Christmas Eve Day and delivered Aaden's play kitchen while he was napping.  When he woke up, we showed it to him and he was excited but not nearly as excited as the play food that came with it!  I got some great videos of him and his reactions to the kitchen and the food.

His new Kidkraft Red Vintage Kitchen!

Great job, Santa!

 

In the evening we all went with my Dad over to Fisher's house for a bit and there was a 2 month old baby there - Aaden loved him.  He kept offering his blanket to him which really melted everyone's hearts.  After Fisher's we drove to San Juan to go to the Pagaran's for a little while.  Again, Aaden was the center of attention and everyone loved him.  We wrapped up the evening at Aunt Krissie and Uncle Danny's where Aaden had an absolute blast dancing naked in the living room while getting changed into pjs - everyone was cracking up!  We drove to Mom and Kenny's and watched a movie and then called it a night.

Aaden did not sleep well that night so morning came all too soon.  But it's alright - we were excited for Christmas!  Santa came to Emmy and Papa's overnight (maybe that's why he didn't sleep well ;) ) and left some great gifts for Aaden!  He got a great table and chairs set and some blocks and a toy drum.  We opened stockings and then moved on to presents.  Aaden took a long time to get through presents because he was busy playing with everything that he opened.  I don't think he realized quite how many presents he had to open (and actually, he was still opening some a few days later because he never got through all of them that morning!).  From Emmy& Papa he got a Wheelies set, clothes, books (a couple Matthew Van Fleet ones!), some play food and his favorite - some pots and pans for his kitchen that make boiling noises and light up.  He played with those forever!  From Uncle Brother he got a Fisher Price Little People Safari Jeep that he really likes and some super cute Woody (from Toy Story) pajamas.  We got him books, puzzles, clothes & a drawing pad with crayons. 

Sitting at his new table playing with his stocking stuffers

 Playing with his Wheelies

Opening his Safari Jeep from Uncle Brother

 

  (Love the nappy hair!)

 Takin' a break to eat some cheerios

Being a goofball

 

Awww!

Christmas is exhausting!

Yep, sleepy boy.

Aaden took a nap while Kenny made breakfast and we all enjoyed some mimosas and opening the rest of our gifts.  It was such a relaxing morning - it was perfect!  When Aaden woke up he was ready for some good breakfast -

Enjoying breakfast at his new table.

I am not sure where his other sock went?

Breakfast with Clifford

After more bummin' around hangin' out and playing with new toys, Gam and Cory came over for a little while.  Gam got Aaden the whole box collection of Beatrix Potter - it has about 20 books in it.  So awesome!  After they left, we popped the lasagnas in the oven and played Bingo for Bucks.  It was so fun!  Aaden was having a blast helping Emmy pull the balls out and put them in the tray.  After Bingo, Aaden and I both took naps - which were much needed!  We had a lovely dinner and then got ready to go to the Waller's to hang with the rest of the family.

We played Bingo again at the Waller's and one of Nikki's girls, Noel, was calling numbers - Aaden kept yelling out right after she did - it was hilarious! Everyone was getting a kick out of him.  He was just being so silly that night!  It truly was a great Christmas! 

Pictures from the rest of the night:

With Uncle Brother



Our sweet boy all dressed up!

 Aaden waaaay over there with Santa

 (Aaron was the photographer, we'll just leave it at that)

 Mommy helping Aaden open his present from Santa.

More Wheelies! Yay!

Trying to pose with Emmy and Santa -

nope, won't have anything to do with it!

  Aaden and Thomas

Gam's oldest great-grandson and youngest great-grandson

Pictures like these are ones I cherish ~

Gam & Aaden

I wish this wasn't so grainy -

Aaden in his Woody pajamas!

Aaden & Emmy

Aaden & Papa

♥ Merry Christmas!!♥

Aaden and Alivia Exchange Gifts

These two are so cute and fun together!  Aaden was all about helping Livie open her presents (while "ooooh"-ing the whole time) and he tore into his like he's an old pro.  And of course Livie had fun helping Aaden out.  Actual Christmas is going to be a blast for these two!
Aaden got Alivia some pink and purple legos (that Aaden was extremely excited about) and a Melissa & Doug puzzle.  Alivia got Aaden a Melissa & Doug train and a cute book.  Love these babies!

Fahy Christmas 2011

Fahy Christmas was up in Martinez this year at my cousin Brigid's house.  Aaden did great in the car and slept pretty much the whole way up there.  When we first got there he was a little shy around the adults and older cousins.  But he started to open up as time passed.  A little later some younger kids came  (between ages 3-13) and we got to see just how much Aaden loves them (other kids).  He turns into a whole new person trying to show off in front of them and he's always so interested in what they are doing.  With these kids, he was going up to them and in the sweetest voice saying, "Aye"  (his way of saying "hi"), dancing, running back and forth, throwing his blankie in the air, handing his blankie to them and my favorite, trying to push the couch to impress them with his strength.  It was hysterical!  And sooo cute!  There were some points that I felt sorry for him though because he wants SOO much to be a part of them and to entertain them and sometimes they were too busy doing other things than to entertain a 1 y/o.  I don't think Aaden really noticed that he was being brushed off though so it's all fine - just a stupid little thing that would only pang a mother's heart.

 

Aaden did great with Pappy dressed as Santa.  He actually grabbed the gifts as Santa was handing them to him and even opened them himself.  He loved his wooden train from Santa and his John Deere tractor from Pappy!  He played with them for a bit, making "vroom" noises the whole time.



Pappy also got him some overalls with a cute long sleeve onesie that has trucks and trains and planes all over it.  Perfect for Aaden!  All-in-all it was a good day and I'm glad we made the trip up there.  We got to visit with a lot of family that we don't get to see very often.

Santa! And Christmas Tree Hunting

We went out to Spring Grove to see Santa at their Breakfast with Santa Holiday Faire - I wasn't sure what the Santa would look like and of course, I wasn't sure how Aaden would react.  Well - we were pleasantly surprised at how real Santa looked and how great the picture set was.  Aaden was not as thrilled.  He didn't really cry though but he definitely looked worried!  Couldn't even be bribed with candy canes.

This is a picture of the actual picture (and yes, that is Lovie you see Aaden holding)



Of course, the next day we go to pick out our Christmas tree at Barone's and there is a totally fake looking Santa there and Aaden really liked him! He was a sweet guy and also gave Aaden candy canes. 

Aaden & Santa

Aaden was such a ham when we were picking out our tree with Emmy & Papa.

 

Aaden & Papa

Waiting to checkout

Umm, yum?



 

And our little tree - we got a 4' to put on top of the buffet in our front room, because well, frankly - I was a little worried about Aaden & the tree!  He did great though.  We decorated it a little differently this year - very simple but some bright colors and butterflies!



 This picture makes it look really lopsided but it wasn't.