Christmas Eve & Day

I finally got a chance to upload the trillions of pictures from Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. We had a very good holiday, of course. We've been looking forward to it for months so the day finally being here was like meeting a movie star. Levi was very excited to open "all the presents." This is Christmas Eve, when we received a package from Nanny & Grandpa Shalz.

Uncle Matthew sent this present to Levi. A big Broncos "shuball" player punching bag. shuball is how Levi says Football. He's played with this present a lot. On Christmas Eve after we got home from the night service he went to town beating on this football player. He was kicking it and punching it and tackling it. I keep trying to make sure he understands he can only beat up this toy...not people.
Pippin got a present from Nanny and Grandpa Shalz too. It's a toenail grinder. As you can see he is less than pleased.

Reading "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to Pippin.

We went to the Christmas Eve Candle Light service at our church. They of course did not provide child care at this service so it was interesting to have Levi in the whole time. He did pretty well though. JoJo was sitting right behind us, so he kept trying to turn around and play with her. He particularly liked when everyone got to light their candles. Though he was perturbed that he did not get to hold the candle. He did get to blow them out, however.

I bought Nathan his shirt and tie and he bought me this dress. He didn't wrap it as a present, cause he wanted to make sure ahead of time it fit and worked and all that. But, he came home all proud of himself cause he picked it out and tried to even follow the rules he's been forced to see time and time again on "What not to Wear" He did well too.

A "Shaka" Christmas ornament that our friends gave us at the Christmas Eve service. Shaka is what that Hawaiian hand gesture is called. I told Levi to hold it up and smile at the camera, and this is how he followed those directions.

Opening his Christmas Eve present. Lightning McQueen pajamas and robe.

He was not in a photogenic mood. But still very cute. It was late.

Reading " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas." We found this really awesome copy at Borders that is pop-up and ornate. Levi loves it and he and Nathan have been reading it nightly for a week or so.

Finally Christmas Morning! We had to talk him into paying attention to his stocking. He didn't consider it one of "all the presents."

He was a pretty good combo of excited but spending time on each present. After he opened "The Incredibles" he actually wanted to take a break to watch it while eating our quiche breakfast. I was a good little wifey/mamma and got up before everyone else to prepare and cook the quiche. And then I cooked the big Ham and fixins feast while letting the boys sleep later that afternoon. I have to brag on myself when I cook something more extravagant than Tuna Helper. It just doesn't happen often.

Had to take a little lie down break in between presents.

Here's one of the presents Nathan got for me. A Broncos bandanna. Gotta represent.

This was Levi's biggest present. He loves to "hide" under blankets and crawl under anything like a fort. So, this was perfect. He likes to drag one of us in there with him, close up the flaps and claim that there's a dinosaur outside that will bite him if he crawls out. He wore those pajamas all day, by the way. And they were so cute...all day. I kept looking at him and thinking "He looks like such a little boy in those. Tall and skinny and cute."

Eating his Christmas feast in his tent.

After he loved that little trumpet ornament, we had to get him a big one for Christmas. He does a pretty good job playing it too. He really blows in it and pushes the...buttons...keys? I don't know. Nathan does pretty well too. He really concentrates.

This mask was from Levi to Papa. Every time we walk down the toy aisles at wal-mart (which is pretty darn often) Nathan has been picking this mask up and showing it to Levi. And every time it scared him and he wouldn't look at it. Finally when Levi and I were shopping one day, I showed it to him, and he was fine with it. Wanted to wear it and everything. So we surprised Papa with it on Christmas with no fear.

That evening he wanted to take a bath because he got a new shark bath toy. After his extremely lengthy bath we put on his pj's and robe and he was tired.

Everyone had a good long day. We all got little treasures and toys and finished the day off by reading about Jesus. So now Christmas is over and it's kinda sad. But we certainly enjoyed it as much as a family possibly can. We squeezed as much special-ness and celebration from it as it could provide. And then some. We'll take it all down, pack it away and rub our hands in anticipation for the next year! Christmas 2009 celebrated somewhere new.