Holiday Happenings

So I already have lapsed on my blogging commitment. I can't believe how fast December has gone. We had a great time with Christmas this year and have created some fun family memories. However, before I get into Christmas, I wanted to recap the last few holidays; and yes, I'm starting with Halloween since I didn't post anything about Halloween this year.

Halloween

Drew and Hailey had two different costumes this year. For the mall trick-or-treat event, Drew was a train engineer. He was going to be a race car driver, but I couldn't find a race car helmet anywhere. While I was looking at Spirit Halloween, I came across this train engineer outfit. It had blue overalls, a blue hat and a red scarf. I added the blue shirt underneath and he looked almost like the real deal. The costume was size 3T so he may just be a train engineer again next year. Since Drew is in love with trains right now, he sure was excited to dress up. He was even more excited to don the outfit when he discovered that candy was a major part of the fun. Even now, several months later, he says "trick or treat" when he wants to raid the candy bucket.

At the same mall trick-or-treat event, Hailey was the little doctor. She wore a pumpkin designed long-sleeved onsie under a pair of blue baby scrubs. Her ensemble was completed with black headband. Two years ago Drew wore this costume sin headband and helped us win second place in the church trunk-or-treat trunk decorating contest. I had mixed emotions as I fished out her costume from Drew's boxes of old clothes. I can't believe my little boy has grown up so fast, but I was glad to also have Hailey carry on the doctor costume tradition.

The kids' second costume was part of our family dress up for the ward Halloween party. Since there was and adult costume contest, I thought Rob and I should participate (my running partner spear-headed the activity and was judging the contest so on threat we had to dress up!) Rob and I were the washer/dryer pair while Drew and Hailey were the dirty laundry. I'm pleased to say we won the contest; although, I had an unfair advantage because I knew my friend would get a kick out of it.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was in two parts this year. Since Rob was scheduled to work 6 am to 9 pm on Thanksgiving, we joined him at the hospital for a Thanksgiving feast in the cafeteria. The meal consisted of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing (filling as they call it here). Rob didn't mind the food (he's gotten used to the cafeteria-style food), but for me it was just an "at least we can be together" moment.

Thanksgiving round two was definitely better. The Sunday following Thanksgiving we had our feast at home. My sister Ashley and her husband, Matt, joined us. Rob's dad, Wally, was also with us. Drew loved having more family around. He relishes the attention he gets and is quick to perform for them, whether it be eating extra food or making silly faces. Hailey was doted on for the weekend and couldn't get enough of being pampered and held.

Christmas

These two pictures are my favorite pictures from Christmas this year. The first is of Hailey and one of her gifts. She fell asleep while we were opening gifts on Christmas Day so she opened some of her gifts after church on Sunday. I like how this gift was a big as she is. She was very interested in the colorful wrapping paper, but as of yet has not played with the gift inside!

The second picture is of Drew opening his first gift of Christmas. He had his eye on this gift under the tree for several weeks. Each day he would tear a little at the present hoping to get a peek inside. When it finally came time to open it, he couldn't contain his excitement. He tore it opened, throwing the wrapping paper all around him. Even the wrapping paper on the couch behind him came off of this gift.

Christmas was very special for us this year even though we were away from our families. We had Christmas Eve with a senior missionary couple who is serving in our ward. The evening was very special for sll of us. We are grateful they were able to share the evening with our little family.

Christmas Day was full of memorable moments, from Drew's excitement with every gift he opened to brunch with friends from Rob's work to Skyping with family to open gifts to each other to Hailey crying because, while playing with her new baby book, she would drop it and not know where it would go. With how busy Rob has been, I sure appreciated his efforts to try to surprise me with a sewing machine. (However, I stumbled across the wrapped gift hidden in a closet a few days before Christmas. I didn't know what it was but I was sure hoping it was a sewing machine by the size of the present.) But my favorite Christmas moment this year was putting Drew to bed on Christmas Day night. Even after a full day of excitement, new toys to play with and candy to eat, the last thing he said to me that night was "Happy Birthday Jesus." Christmas is a time to not only celebrate with family, but a time to remember the greatest gift we'll ever be given and the givers of that gift, our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father.