Re: Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! We had a busy, but fun holiday, with our very first Christmas at home. FUN! On Christmas Eve, cousins Chloe and Walker helped us bake Christmas cookies.



The kids definitely had too much sugar that day...

On Christmas morning, Ranier enjoyed some of his new toys (above), and also trying on mommy's new slippers (below).




Later in the day, we went to the Bissells for a tasty duck dinner.


Ranier with Baba.

...and more presents.


On the 27th, we party-hopped with the extended Bissell family (below) for appetizers, dinner, then dessert. All the little cousins (7 total) had great fun running loose in new places and playing together. On to a VERY mellow New Year's. Perhaps a movie after the kids are in bed? Such a luxury!!



Ranier is quite fond of "globos" (balloons), and has a new one to play with here:

Re: preparing for the holidays!

Just a couple of weeks ago, we went out and chose our very first Christmas tree ever!!!! We got this nice pine tree, which certainly smells nice. The boys had great fun helping to decorate the tree, although I should say that Ranier mostly helped UNdecorate the tree. As of now, the entire lower half of the tree is bare because Ranier just cannot help himself (pulling off and breaking ornaments). He's getting quite the reach!! We call him mr. trouble.


Here are the boys helping daddy pack for one of his trips. Ranier thought he might come along in the suitcase.


Nana sent a WONDERFUL package with homemade stockings for the boys, ornaments from her collection, books for Dahrius, and BEST OF ALL...a box for Ranier to play in!!!! He's had great fun with it. We are definitely re-using this box.

It's nice to see the boys beginning to play together. It's a HUGE help when they can play for 30 min. or so while I prepare dinner, rather than both whine and hang on my legs.

Here's one of their silly moments: