White Christmas

Well Christmas 2008 has come and gone. It was me and Mike's first Christmas married, and Asher's very first Christmas. We had a wonderful holiday! The weather kept us from our usual large family gathering, but we had a nice quiet celebration. I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful little family!




The boys in their matching shirts!

Me and Gavin with the ornament he made for me at school. I can't believe my little boy will be four in just a few days!

Daddy helping open his stocking. Asher looks just like a little Mike!

Asher and daddy on Christmas morning. I loved watching the new little guy at his first Christmas.

Well this Christmas was a rare white Christmas in Seattle (very white!). We had about a foot of snow on the ground, which left us snowed in for Christmas.

Gavin and Asher posing in front of the tree. Gavin was sooooo excited this Christmas, he said it was the best Christmas ever!

Gavin decorated cookies for Santa. He wanted Santa to have four cookies so that he would have "a big belly like Papa"

All snowed in!

We have had some crazy weather the past week! It has been a long 8 or 9 days of ice, snow and freezing rain. Today is the warmest of the recent days heating up to the low 30's! Being snowed in the week before Christmas has been a little stressful, there is just so much to be done! Gavin went outside this morning to help Papa "shuffle" the snow in the driveway.

There is no going anywhere for me and the boys. Mike drove up to Everett last night and stayed in a hotel so that he could make it to work. But his hotel was at the bottom of a hill which he was unable to drive up this morning! So luckily a man in a hummer stopped and gave him a ride the rest of the mile or so to Boeing. We are both hoping he is able to make it home!

I think Gavin has had just about enough of the snow!

It was so nice to have Mike home for a couple days. Asher is getting to be quite a big boy!

Boy is it COLD!

I think I am going a bit stir crazy. The weather has kept us in the house most of this week. Gavin's school has been canceled every day which leaves him with tons of energy! We did get out on Monday to take Asher to his Audiology appointment. It is such a tough appointment for both me and him. He has to be sleeping, which is not something he does much of during the day and definitely not on demand! Thankfully after awhile he did fall asleep, but then it is a nearly 2 hour test with me holding him on my lap... it is just not an enjoyable experience. But I'm am very grateful to have the test over with and the results were much better than expected. His left ear, which is the larger of the two, has normal hearing! His right ear is nearly normal and they are hopeful as it grows like the left did his hearing will be completely normal!

In other news, we finally got our Christmas tree! It is all decorated and ready for Santa! Christmas really feels like it snuck up on me this year. Mike and I finished our shopping tonight, so regardless of the weather we should be all set.

Tomorrow is supposed to be Gavin's Christmas performance at school so I am hoping the weather can hold!

The family hanging out on the floor.

Asher is now reaching and grabbing toys. He put this bracelet on himself!

Mike and Asher after the lights were put on the tree (Gavin put the ornaments on today)

Santa Brunch

Today we went to a Santa Brunch at my nana's country club. Gavin was so excited to see Santa... that is until he saw him :) There was an elf making balloon animals and Gavin asked for a blue and green Spiderman of course!
While Gavin was nervous of both Santa and Rudolph, Asher was infatuated with Rudolph's flashing nose! I am fairly certain that Rudolph was Asher's most favorite part of the brunch.

They had several arts and crafts for the kids too do. This is Gavin making a Gingerbread house... I think it all may have been a bit overwhelming judging by the look in his eyes :) But he had a great time, he is a craft loving sort of kid!
We had a blast and along with the snow we received last night and today it has helped it feel a bit more like the Christmas season. I love Christmas and it is even more wonderful watching my boys love Christmas!

Play time with the boys!

The weekends just fly by! I spent most of today cooking for the week, not much fun but it has to be done. We have been so busy lately... moving, trying to get ready for Christmas and taking care of the boys. There just aren't enough hours in the day! I am nearly done with Christmas shopping which will take a big weight off.

Gavin is loving his pre-school! He is such a quick little learner. He has started to read and is just so hungry to learn. We have only had a couple of bouts of jealousy so far. The other day he told me that his favorite part was when Asher was in my belly not when he was out. Then he asked if that was my favorite part too. He also told me that Asher told him he wanted a different mom. But other than a couple of comments he seems to be adjusting well. I am so very blessed!

Candyland

Asher is just in love with Gavin. He loves to watch him and smile at him. Gavin decided to share his favorite Candyland cards with Asher. Gavin is a wonderful big brother. It is so exciting to think of watching them become playmates and friends!

Lately the days just seem to fly by. The boys keep me very busy, but it doesn't feel like much else gets done! We are working on getting on some sort of routine... but really Asher sets most of our schedule :)

I am so looking forward to this weekend when Mike will be home! It's been quite an adjustment to have him working these long days. We don't see each other much during the week and that really makes me appreciate the time we do have together.

I sure LOVE Christmas time and am excited to celebrate with all my boys!

Bath Time

Getting two boys ready sure takes longer than one! But Gavin loves to help with Asher. The boys keep me so busy I wonder where the day has gone, and seem to have accomplished so little! But the joy they bring is unexplainable.

Asher was supposed to go for another hearing test yesterday but the doctor was out sick so we had to reschedule in two weeks. Trying to keep a baby still for 2 hours is not something I am looking forward to.