Christmas time!

This year we had three days full of Christmas feasts and gift giving and receiving. It was a busy time but oh so fun. On Christmas Eve we always go to my Grandma Roemhildt's house. We enjoying going there because we get to see many family members that we only see once a year. It is also neat to see so many people of different religions coming together to celebrate the birth of Christ. My Grandma works really hard to make sure everyone has a gift specific to them. I'm sure it is a lot of work with all her children, grand children, and great grand children. We ate a nice dinner then cleaned up and opened presents.

The dancing Santa is a favorite decoration. There were multiple times Charlie tried to shake his hips just like Santa

Green Grandma's elaborate tree.

My beautiful cousins Julia and Catherine

Charlie Santa

And here are my precious brothers...haha

It's so fun to watch my curious little boy open presents. 

We had a lovely evening then took our sleepy little boy home to get ready for Santa to come. Max and I finished some last-minute wrapping, prepared breakfast, and did anything else that needed to be done before going to bed.  We were a kind of excited to see Charlie's reaction when he saw what Santa brought him. Christmas with a two year old is like we get to be kids again. 

Justin's stocking is on the right, he ended up not staying with us for Christmas but we made sure he got his stocking later!

Charlie woke up around 8 am. He must have known something was up because he busted through his childproof door and came into our room. I really don't think he understood that we were going to open all the presents that morning but it is funny that this is the year he started coming in our room and jumping onto our bed. I went downstairs first to put our French Toast Rafael in the oven and turn on the Christmas music. I also wanted to get ready to record Charlie seeing his gift for the first time. I tried to include the movie, I hope it works because I usually don't have any success with putting movies on here.

Charlie jumped for awhile, we then peeked into our stockings to see what Santa had left us. Charlie got animal crackers, a pomegranate, and some gymboree bubble.  

I love how it APPEARS that he is being patient. 

Max got a new white church shirt, and a kiwi, and I got a kiwi and some peppermint body wash. We all got pistachios and peanut M&Ms. After we had enjoyed our stocking contents. We went to the table to eat some delicious breakfast. We had French Toast Rafael, Grapes, and Bananas. We filled up then went back into the living room to attack the presents under the tree. 

Charlie opened the Avocado from Grandpa Roemhildt

He then appeared to wait patiently again while daddy opened the truck from Grandpa Roemhildt. He was so excited about the truck that he didn't want to stop playing with it to open anymore presents. That's another thing that's fun about this age, they don't need much to be entertained and they are grateful for what they get.

He then was not-so-patient once he saw how cool the truck was. 

Max spoiled me with many things to make me feel beautiful, which was much appreciated because I feel huge right now and I don't like to spend money on myself. He gave me all kinds of lotions, body washes, and candles. Charlie likes to smell the candles...and I like to pretend to smell candles.

They kept saying "awesome" back and forth because thy were so excited about Daddy's gift. 

Max has been wanting, I may even dare say Needing, a saw for awhile. We finally got him one for his Christmas gift. Both Charlie and Max were excited about this one although Charlie still hasn't been allowed to touch it once it was outside of the box. 

Charlie also got some animal magnets. 

Charlie and baby brother got matching fire truck jammies that will hopefully fit them both next fall!

We enjoyed playing with our new gifts for awhile then had some leftover butternut squash soup for lunch and put Charlie down for a nap. As Max was coming out of the shower he found Charlie jumping on his trampoline. He had busted out of his room again and came down to play some more. Max put him back to bed. After we both showered we thought it would be a great idea to take a nap. Charlie, of course decided to wake up just as we were falling asleep. Max kindly got up with him and let me sleep a little bit more. I'm not much of a napper so I slept briefly while Max took Charlie to a close playground. I then got up and we got ready to go to my Red Grandma's house for Christmas dinner and more family time. For some reason I didn't take any pictures there but we had fun and Charlie loved playing with his (my) cousins. 

We went home full of delicious dinner and desserts. Just before we left, my amazing husband and little brothers did a quick cleaning project for my grandma that she wasn't able to do for herself. I love that my husband jumps at the opportunity to serve my Grandma. 

The next day (the day after Christmas) Charlie woke up way too early. I think the staple has started to bother him more because the last couple of nights he hasn't been sleeping as well and he has been playing with it more. It is probably itchy. We are so excited to get it removed tomorrow. Anyway, with him waking up super early, Max at work, and being exhausted myself, we were having a grumpy morning. Charlie was throwing fits about everything which is not normal for his usually calm temperament. Luckily he was able to go down for a nap just after 10 and slept for quite awhile. We planned on meeting at Max's Uncle Jay's house between noon and one but I definitely did not want to wake up my sleeping grumpy baby. Luckily Max got over there on time and was able to help set up tables. We left shortly after one and I was significantly disappointed that there wasn't any Christmas music on the radio. When we got there we really weren't surprised that everyone wasn't there yet. I'm sure glad I didn't wake up the beast, he was actually much happier after his nap and when he got to play with his cousins. 

We ate a delicious turkey dinner shortly after we arrived. They then cleaned up the tables and soon after it was gift giving time. 

Brent and Lisa

Shadow and Judy

Grandma Annette and Mum-Z

Brayden must have been tired after eating all that turkey!

We got to have a special visitor come and deliver presents. My father in Law makes a pretty great Santa.

He hand delivered a quilt made by Charlie's grandma. He was pretty excited about this

Charlie was spoiled again from all his family members. 

Charlie loved the bells. 

He wouldn't even look at the camera because he loved them so much.

So I took the bells away to get a picture of his face and this is what I get. 

Charlie had fun watching August play games. 

Santa with his kids. 

Once again, the most popular toy in Jay's house. 

Charlie got a police set from Uncle Jay that he was pretty excited about. 

And that is about the end of our Christmas adventures so I better post this before it disappears and I have to do it a third time.