Christmas Day

Christmas Day!  The best day of the year!  Santa came at the stroke of midnight and left lots of presents under the tree!

Being sick doesn't stop us from seeing what Santa brought!  In fact, the night before we had told the boys that it must be daylight outside before we open presents.  Eli came in our room a little before 5 am and asked, "Do street lights count as light outside?"  Poor thing.  He was told no, go back to bed. :)

Brady and his stocking

Eli and his stocking

Brady and a huge T-Rex from Santa!

Santa brought Eli some games for his Wii

Santa brought Major a corn popper to push around the house

Brady with a Harding football from Santa

Eli with a Harding basketball from Santa

Major loves these books that also have sounds.  (Also notice the cup hooked up to Major's mouth.  We call it his IV, like they have at the hospital.  Just hook him up, and he's ready to go!)

Santa's big gift to the whole family...a new iPad!

Daddy and Eli figuring out the new iPad

Brady playing with Santa gifts

Then we got dressed and went to Big Daddy and Gran Betty's house to see what gifts were there!  There is always a small tree in the kitchen with gifts for the little boys.

Major got a University of Texas bear!  Ahhh, giving some bear hugs!

 Daddy and Major opening gifts

 Brady with his new shoes!

 Poor Aunt Kam, Eli, and Uncle Devin.  They really weren't feeling very well.  We called this the "sick couch" and the sick ones sat there.

 Big Daddy, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Alex opening presents

The whole family enjoying Christmas dinner! Starting at the bottom left and going around the table: Uncle Devin, Aunt Kam, Eli, Brady, Major, Bill, Uncle Alex, Aunt Sara, Gran Betty and Big Daddy

3 days later, I got my picture of my boys by the tree! :)
Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve!  It finally came!  We have been so excited about Christmas in this house for a long, long time.  Usually, we go to the Christmas Eve service at our church and get a family photo in front of the tree and one at the church building, but this year all 3 boys were pretty sick, so we didn't get to go.  Eli was so sick, he couldn't even get up to make treats for Santa and his gifts had to be brought to him.  You know that means he was pretty ill!

Brady got up and decorated some cake balls for Santa.

Then...present time!  We always do presents youngest to oldest, so Major goes first.  His first gift was a teddy bear from mommy and daddy.

Brady opening his first gift.

Eli opening his first gift...an animal set from mommy and daddy!  

Daddy's first gift, an ornament from Eli! (Poor little sick Major)

From Papa and Nana to Brady, a Michigan football outfit!

After this gift we put poor little Major to bed.  He really wasn't feeling well.

Brady's gift from mommy and daddy...Tom Brady and Eli Manning football players!

 Brady and Eli with our tree on Christmas Eve.  I wish Major could have been in the picture, too, but he was already asleep.

 Every year we put out foot for Rudolph and the reindeer so they will be sure to come to our house!

Treats for Santa, now off to bed!

NASA and Zoo Lights

We had an extremely busy few days leading up to Christmas.  Sara and Alex flew in Thursday night, Friday was the last day of school before break, Friday night we went to the Christmas Train, Saturday morning we went to NASA, Sunday we went to the zoo, Monday was Christmas Eve, and then Tuesday was Christmas!  WHEW! What an exciting and busy time!

We had a really good time with Sara and Alex at NASA.  Alex is really into computer science and space, so it was a great place for him!  The boys just really enjoyed getting to play with all the cool things that are there!

Astronauts Brady, Eli, and Major

Brady and Eli inside a mock rocket

 Tram ride to Mission Control and the Saturn V rocket.  Brady, Eli, me, Major, Sara, and Alex

 Saturn V Rocket (Eli and Brady)

Bill, Major, Eli, and Brady

The next day we went to see the lights at the zoo.  Sadly, by this point, we were all getting pretty sick and worn down and I was having to hold a crying and tired Major, so I didn't get many pictures of all the lights at the zoo.  The only pictures I got were of Brady and Eli riding the carousel.  It is something they ask to do every time we are there and we finally let them do so.  They were so excited.  Immediately, Brady picked a lion to ride and Eli a wild dog.  Afterwards it was back home for some much needed rest.