Zach and Zane spent most of Christmas Eve at the movies, watching the new Star Wars movie, a first for Zane and Zach's second trip to see this movie. Rowan and I delivered goodies to the Blakley's at the spice shop, who were finishing the final push at the shop. Rowan and I then ran some errands and rested, as both of use were under the weather by this point.
Yes, Zane went to the movie in costume.
This year we changed our mass time from 4:30p.m. to 6:30p.m. in hopes of getting a seat in the actual church. Of course there were lots of pictures before we headed out and our boys were looking very handsome. I personally really enjoy Rowan's band aid on his face, classic. Our church plans worked and we not only had seats, but actually got to sit with the Richards Family, making it that much more fun. All five Grandkids made it through mass with flying colors, and Rowan didn't even hit his head/face on the pew. A huge success if you ask me.
Zane planned out this posing situation, where Rowan would sit on his knee, very cute stuff.
The Blakley Grandkids, missing Grandma Blakley. Maybe she can join us for this fun next year.
After mass we drove pass the gorgeous light display at the park by the Edmond Library. I had tried to get over there to see it all month, so glad we managed to see it on Christmas Eve. Once we got home it was time to put on our Gary jammies, put out cookies and milk, and wish a sad farewell to Gary and our two reindeer, Cedo and Buster Bill. We had so much fun with them this year, as always, but it was time for them to fly back to the North Pole with Santa. Per tradition the boys got to hug and kiss Gary before they went to bed, always adorable, "I really enjoyed our time together." -Zane
Those faces though!!
One last hug for Cedo to fill his heart with magic so he coould have enough power to turn into a real reindeer and fly back to the North Pole with Santa.
All ready for bed, reindeer, Gary, cookies, and milk, everything set out and ready for Santa.
Once the boys were in bed Zach and I started our Christmas eve tradition of watching It's a Wonderful Life and assembling gifts. There wasn't a lot to put together this year, scooters, and a basketball goal, much less labor intensive than some years. Presents were put out, stockings were stuffed, and we headed to bed around 11:30pm, once everything was ready for Christmas morning.
I knew Zane would be up early, but I didn't think he would be in our room at 3am. I am pretty sure he never went back to sleep since he was coming out of his room about every thirty minutes. I know I didn't get much more sleep and finally gave up at 6:30a.m. By the time we were all up and ready to open gifts, Zane's little eyes looked so very tired, but he forged onward and handled the day well on very little sleep. I think Zane got all that he had requested from Santa and so much more.
His big gift was a new scooter that he wasn't sure he was big enough to ride, even though he has ridden his cousins a hundred times and of course did great with it, inside and outside. He got lots of Legos (the only thing he really asked Santa for), a nerf bow and arrow, rain boots, board games, soccer goals, a remote control car, lots of Star Wars stuff in his stocking, books, pretty much everything you could ever want. Oh and they did get the new Samsung Tablet that I won with my prize, that was amazingly not their favorite thing of the day and was pretty much ignored until around three when I could barely stay awake and used it to entertain them while I rested. Hooray for real toys!
Zane got a Batman and an Iron Man costume, both the same size, but the Iron Man costume is huge. Oh well, both are awesome and were great post Halloween finds.
Iron Man!
Zane did get one very special present from Santa, Stitch the Lion. He has a little stitched heart on him and I hear that Santa takes one to all heart kids. Zane's other stuffed animal request was a tiger seal, which had been on the front cover of National Geographic Kids last month. He is aware that tiger seals have a diet consisting mainly of penguins, but Zane had a talk with Surfer (the seal) and Surfer agreed to not eat any of Zane's penguins.
Rowan was very excited to see Santa had come while he was actually sleeping. I love this picture of tiny Ro taking in all the presents under/around the big tree. Almost three is a wonderful age for Christmas. Everything he opened was the best thing he had ever seen and exactly what he wanted. So much fun to watch!
A wallet had been on his list for Santa for months. He wanted one just like Bobo's and Santa delivered, complete with lots of play money.
Rowan's stuffed animal request had been an elephant and I found this big, soft guy with the Nancy Tillman books at Kohls. I love all Nancy Tillman books and You Are Here For Reason (the elephant book) just happened to be the only one of her books we didn't have, so it all worked out nicely.
His other gifts included a pancake set (Melissa and Doug version of course),
a big ride on train thing that I was afraid would be too babyish for him but he seems to love it,
an Iron Man costume (per his request),
and the one thing he really wanted from Santa, a hamburger (toy of course).
Santa also brought Rowan new rain boots, which he does every year, that Santa is so thoughtful. He also got a crane that he can take apart and put together, two screw drivers (also a specific request from Santa), a chain saw, a scooter, a basket ball goal and other little things in his stocking.
After all the presents were opened I made our traditional home made biscuits and gravy for breakfast while Zane cleaned up the post present mess. The rest of our day was spent playing with all our new things, inside and out. It was a gorgeous day, with days of rain/snow ahead, so we took full advantage of it. We rode scooters, played soccer, played basket ball, drove Zane's remote control car, and showed all our new toys to Peyton, our friend next door, who got a little bicycle from Santa.
A boy mom on Christmas!
Rowan loved posing with his new basketball.
GOAL!!!!!
I got shot by Batman's bow and arrow multiple times throughout the day.
Driving his remote control car through the neighborhood.
Lot's of fun Christmas pictures, I know, but they are all just so adorable. It was the picture of a boy Christmas with all the classic boy toys, super heros, legos, scooters, remote control cars, Star Wars, you name it. It was so much fun watching them enjoy all of their new stuff.
I spent most of the day feeling miserable and extremely tired. I have yet another cold/sinus situation going on and couldn't keep my eyes open for most of the day. I did get some great presents as well from my lovely husband, but Christmas is really about watching the boys enjoy their things. I got to take a nap, which was the best Christmas gift as all. Everyone went to bed early, all in great need of lots of sleep. It was a wonderful Christmas, everyone had an amazing time, no massive meltdowns (those seem to have been saved for today), and life long memories were made by everyone!
Snoopy Christmas band aid for the occasion, of course!!
This big kid seems so much older than just a year ago.
These sweet boys are my greatest gifts. I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas as well!!
