Christmas 2008

It's hard to even put into words the kind of Christmas that we had. If I had to describe it I would say that it was pretty close to perfect! We had an amazing Christmas Eve spent at Grandma & Grandpa Esbenshade's house. We dined on delicious food, opened many awesome gifts (John Deere Gator for the boys), and spent the evening laughing away in the presence of family. The kids had so much fun playing in Grandma's playroom, running around with cousins, and discovering new and exciting games to play.

This year on Christmas morning we switched things up a bit. Instead of spending the morning at Nana & Pop-pop Swoboda's house we decided to host and have the whole Swoboda clan over to our house. It couldn't have gone any better! What a great idea, we woke up Christmas morning and spent a few hours with just Chris, myself and the boys. We had time to open our presents, create a couple of family traditions, had time to play with some new toys and mommy had time in the kitchen to finish getting our Christmas lunch ready, all before the family arrived. Before we knew it we were opening many presents again and the boys were just loving it. Logan would rip one open, take a quick look, toss it aside and say, "More presents please!" Eventually, the whole gift giving came to end with the big present from Nana & Pop-pop....the boys very own Train table! Logan and Luke couldn't have been more thrilled!

How blessed are we? Christmas Eve was just as awesome as Christmas Day! It's not about all of the presents we receive (although a lot of thought went into them - not to mention that they are awesome and we love them) but it's about who you spend this special day with, FAMILY, and celebrating the birth of Jesus!!!

Family Picture taken Christmas Eve

Daddy and Logan

Daddy and Luke

Mommy and Logan

Mommy and Luke

Logan really studying to get that present open

Our funny little Luke

Logan trying on his new helmet (yes, it's backwards)

Their fabulous new Train Table from Nana & Pop-pop

John Deere Gator from Grandma & Grandpa - vrmm vrmm!

Our gift to the boys - their very own swing set!

It's not too often where we get a good family picture - I just love this one!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We Wish You A....

MERRY CHRISTMAS
and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bloopers...
As with taking pictures of any child, it is extremely difficult to get a good picture of one child let alone two! After many, many shots we got some good ones but these were dropped at the editing room floor!

I don't want to sit here...

Logan going lalalalalala

Turning that frown upside down...

She wants us to do what?

Oh big bear, I'm so tired of this!

Snowy Fun

After nap-time I bundled the boys back up to play in the snow again. It was a little more enjoyable this time around as we had 3 more hours of snow since the last time they were out. We went sledding in the backyard, did a bit of shoveling, built a baby snowman (quickly knocked down by the boys), and played a round of golf?!?!

Luke showing off his shoveling skills!

Poor little snowman...hardly had a chance with these two little boys!

A little bit of snow doesn't interrupt a true golfers game!

Logan's tears are due to me stopping his fun ride for a picture! He is saying, "No camera, no camera!"

Our home at Christmas time

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

It began to snow just as the boys were finishing up lunch today. Logan was so excited to see the large flakes as he has been waiting patiently each day for snow. The boys were watching out the window and I thought, why not, as I preceded to open up the patio door and let them go out in it. Sure, they had no coats on but what's the harm, I thought. They were enjoying themselves so much and we had 30 minutes before nap time that I quickly bundled them up and let them go outside and play. They had a blast and had many tears when it was time to come in for a nap. As I tucked Logan in he said, "Mommy and me play more in snow."

Logan quickly exclaimed, "Woo-Hoo Snow!"

Logan catching the snow flakes with his tongue!

All Luke could do was a little dance and giggle!

All bundled up and serious about play I couldn't get them to look at the camera

Our view from the back of the house. I love the way the snow looks on the trees!

A Christmas Tree and Santa

An annual tradition of ours is going to Elizabeth Farms to pick out and cut down our own Christmas Tree. Chris and I have been doing this for the past 4 years. This year was no different. We bundled the boys up, loaded them in the car, arrived at our destination, boarded the horse drawn carriage, got out to the Christmas tree field only to discover that Logan was having an asthma attack! YIKES! We boarded back up onto the horse drawn carriage who then took us back to our car and we loaded the boys back up and headed back to the house for his medicine! Who knew...the boy is now allergic to Christmas Trees! So much for that tradition! Now, next year we will have to start another tradition, what that is we don't know. But what we do know is that we will no longer be cutting down a tree and bringing it home, instead we will now just bring it out of storage!

The boys are excited for Christmas this year. It is fun to see their excitement with every little thing. They are loving their stockings, the Christmas Tree and ornaments, the outdoor lights and decorations and Santa. Luke is especially fond of the tree and the glass ornaments. He loves looking into them only to see himself looking back. The does that several times a day and just giggles and giggles at himself.

A family picture at Elizabeth Farms (before Logan had his asthma attack)

Santa

I took the boys to see Santa at the mall this week. Logan got right out of the stroller and walked right up to him and sat on his lap. I got Luke out of the stroller and Luke turned right around and climbed back in. He was having none of that! Logan enjoyed Santa and asked for a swingset and train table for Christmas...looks like it is going to be a very good Christmas this year :)

Luke's 18 month Pictures

Luke at 18 months

Today was Luke's 18 month well baby visit. He is doing great and it was confirmed that he is one big boy. Luke currently weighs 31 lbs (94Th %) and is 34.5" tall (95Th%). Luke is just 4lbs. lighter than Logan is at 2.5 yrs!

Luke is such a delightful little boy. He has a smile that is just contagious and the cutest dimples around! He is becoming our little clown, loves to make people laugh and loves to laugh. One of his favorite words is unny (funny) followed by a fake little laugh that he does. He enjoys playing matchbox cars with his big brother and currently loves to wrestle Logan to the ground (much to Logan's dislike). We enjoy watching him grow and becoming the cute little person that he is.

Crayons

Here the boys are making beautiful art for their daddy. They enjoy coloring, however, Logan prefers to paint.

Big Bear even gets in on the action with Logan's assistance!

The finished products! Logan's is on the top and Luke's is on the bottom

Wish List

I have been receiving toy catalogs in the mail and Logan thoroughly enjoys looking through them and making his wish list. Last night he looked through this catalog for 35 minutes! He was at it again today just before lunch. I am hearing a lot of "Maw this, me want this!"

Here they are again this evening. Logan really studies each and every page as Luke flips through them pretty fast. If you'll notice Luke's catalog is upside down.