Christmas 2013

This year we ventured, through the ice and snow, to SE Missouri for Christmas with the Korenaks. The plan was to leave Saturday, but it was too icy, so our plan of driving it in two days, with a break in Springfield, was shot. We powered through on Sunday, with a ten hour car ride with two kids. Zane did great, per usual, watching movies, singing, and snacking, mostly without complaint. He was very excited to see Grammie, Papa, and Shy Shy ( the dog). Rowan hated his life most of the day with very little sleeping and lots of playing with Sophie the giraffe. I was pretty car sick most of the trip from turning around handing out toys and snacks, but we made it in time for dinner and wonderfully welcomed home by everyone.

Jingle Boy made the trip with us, Gary met us there, and Zane found a new elf friend, who he named Todd. We decided Todd was a retired elf, not unlike Jingle Boy, so he could be touched. "He just have a little magic Mamma."

Monday we made cookies with Grammie and played with the Prance kids in the evening.  Zane is officially taller than Levi and they had lots of very loud fun together. Christmas Eve we had a big, delicious, lunch at Aunt Trina's with lots more fun with all the Prance kids. Adeline and Clay took turns holding, walking, and feeding Rowan. They are great big cousins, very gentle, and always making sure Rowan was alright, with lots of toys to play with. In the evening we went to Christmas Eve mass, which prior to children was my favorite mass of the year. The church was beautiful, everyone was in their Christmas dresses (not my boys obviously), and all the best Christmas carols were being sung. However, with children it's like a marathon. We got there early to get a seat, which we ended up not using because the attention span of our kids was pretty well used up by the time mass started. Zane was excited to see Baby Genius, who was carried in during the processional, but we couldn't see them from our seats, so the long wait was on to go to see him after mass. There was lots of walking around in the back of church, checking out the Christmas trees, and pictures of Baby Genius. All told it took over two hours but Zane got to go see the baby in the manager with daddy and papa after mass.

 Very serious about decorating Christmas cookies. 

Rowan's new friend, Miss Adeline.

 These were Zane's fake smiles for the evening. 

As good of a Christmas family photo as we could manage with two busy boys.

Once we got home there was lots to do, dinner, baths to take, matching Pjs to put on, cookies to put out, a video from Santa to watch, good byes to say to Gary, and then off to bed so Santa could come. The boys looked amazingly adorable in their matching pjs. Zane got to hug and kiss Gary since it was his last night, then set him out to go back with Santa.

 Santa called in to update us on his night. He was headed our way!

 Final hugs and kisses for Gary.

The Korenak boys in their matching PJs. I'm definitely doing this again next year, way too cute!

All ready for Santa!

And then there was Christmas day, Rowan's first Christmas. The morning went well, Santa had come, filled the stocking and there were a few presents for the boys. I didn't go over board this year because we don't have lots of extra cash, we were going to have to transport them to and from MO, and I knew that the rest of the family would also be getting them things. So the morning present opening only lasted maybe twenty minutes, after a month of build up. So there was a minor breakdown, which I had expected. However, the rest of the day, with multiple huge screaming fits about wanting more presents and all sorts of not fun or appropriate things, I had not expected. It was heartbreaking on numerous levels. I hated that he was missing Christmas, which he had waited so long for and was so excited about. It was sad that during all the craziness I totally missed Rowan's first Christmas and Zane didn't pull it together enough to enjoy the toys that he gotten. Needless to say it didn't go as I had envisioned and my apologies to Grammie, Papa, and the Prance clan for all the screaming and craziness. 

 These two pictures of Ro are about it from the day. The big bouncy cow, Howdy, was his big present from Santa.

 The little alligator at the bottom is Snappy, my personal favorite toy of the day. 

 Although Zane wouldn't believe it, he did get tons of fun stuff, like matching Spiderman's with Levi and a super cool Police costume. Multiple people gotten taken to jail throughout the day. There was a fit about daddy not going to jail when he was busy setting up the Prance kids new X-box.

Aunt Trina got Ro the ball bouncer which was a huge hit for all ages!

It was wonderful seeing everyone, lots of good food, fun times playing with our niece and nephew. As happy I am that I get to see Abbey's kids more now that we are in Oklahoma I am equally heartbroken that I don't get to see Trina's kids more often. I miss them and adore them all. They are growing up to be such lovely people. We had a great game of Sorry with Adeline and Levi, while Zane was napping, too much fun! I did get to hold Rowan while he was sleeping, but other than that not sure how he spent his first Christmas. Such is life I guess, but still sad. Thanks to everyone for all our wonderful presents they are greatly appreciated. 

Not sure why we even allowed Zane in this picture since he was pouting/crying, but there he is. 

Clay (10), Blaine (9), Levi (4.5), Adeline (nearly 7), Rowan(10mn), Zane (3.5)