The Life of the Shrimpies: Sam and Ava.: 2012

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

CHRISTMAS 2012

Christmas was a lot of fun this year, particularly as Sam was so excited about Christmas and everything was new and exciting to him - from the Christmas tree to Christmas lights, snowmen, Santa, Elfie and Baby Jesus...! Every time we drove in the car, it was nonstop of Sam, "Mom, Christmas lights,", "Daddy, Look - Christmas lights!" Dad and Sam actually put some lights up at our house and every night Sam helped plug them in.

Sam Loved helping mom & dad decorate the tree - he helped hang lots of ornaments! Ava and Sam both loved the tree. We had to keep an eye on both of them and most of the time the tree was barricaded with the ottoman and chairs.

Ava was more interested in removing all the ornaments and attempting to EAT them!

Not surprisingly, our tree was pretty bare 1/3 of the way down! It was easier to just move all the ornaments higher as Ava removed them.

We did have a couple of "incidences" of pre-Christmas package unwrapping we had to stop. Mom rewrapped at least 4 or 5 items....

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Vander Stelt's house - Sam was SO EXCITED to see and play with all his cousins - he has so much fun running with the pack! Below was a picture of all the cousins - with one on the way!

Sam and Ava had lots of fun playing and opening presents - Sam loved helping being the "Elf" and delivering presents as well as helping to open them.

All three of the little boys help Papa open his presents!

Playing with some of the Christmas loot!

Christmas morning was stocking time!

Christmas Day was very laid back with just our little family, a yummy brunch, and lots more presents to open. We had a couple face times with Mema & Pappa and Aunt Stephanie to open presents and say hi.

Sam got lots of fun gifts - Thomas the train books and a train, PJ's, an art easel from Mema & Papa that Sam LOVES and a Clifford book that came with a stuffed Clifford dog - which has been inseparable from Sam and is sleeping with him in his crib!

Ava got a big kitchen from Grandpa and Grandma Vander Stelt that is yet to be built - she also loves her chair from Mom & Dad and loves to sit in it. She also got a talking/singing pink teddy bear from Mema & Papa that she loves and dances to when it sings! And, of course, she loves all of Sam's toys and drives him crazy trying to tear it all up!

Sam enjoyed playing with his new train and truck set from Grandpa & Grandma - it's almost a full time job keeping Ava from tearing up all his track!

All in all, it was a great Christmas and we had so much fun just being together and enjoying all the festivities. We feel very blessed!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Sam's first letter to Santa

Later, I asked Sam in the car what he wanted for Christmas and he said "Thomas" so he does have a litter grander visions than just the Christmas tree!