Christmas Pictures

We had a very busy time of Christmas, and I've been taking a bit of time to relax and enjoy since then.  Without the chaos of an upcoming holiday, Robin has settled back down into his normal self.  I think all the hustle and bustle was worrying him.  On Christmas Even he told me he didn't want Christmas to come--but starting Christmas morning, when he realized Christmas meant presents, family, and breakfast sitting on the floor, he had a wonderful time.  He did a good job of waiting his turn to open presents and enjoyed handing them out too.  He did go a little nuts, but we all had fun.

Setting out cookies for Santa

Helping to pour the egg nog

Our tree, with all of the gifts we were planning to give each other and our family

All the swag that Santa brought

Robin really wanted Annie and Clarabel, the coaches that Thomas the Train pulls, to go along with his Thomas.  We suggested early on that he could ask Santa for them, and he did.  And Santa came through!

Liam wanted something to bounce on, because he loves to bounce.  He also wanted something big to climb on, like the lion Robin has in his room.  Robin interpreted this to mean that Liam wanted a bouncy castle.  That obviously didn't happen, but Santa did bring Liam a bouncy cow

We had our traditional breakfast of Sticky Buns, with fruit and Little Smokies to balance it out

Ah, to get excited about something like an umbrella!

Mmm, new train tastes good!

The musical train that Robin wanted to give Liam (mainly because he wanted to play with it himself.)

Dean's family came over to exchange gifts after we'd had the morning to ourselves for a few hours.

Dean wanted to play a trick on his sister.  We gave her a wii for Christmas (and for her birthday, and their parents chipped in too) and we also got her a little figurine.  Apparently Dean kept the box from our wii, so he put the figurine and a weight in our box and wrapped it up in addition to the real wii.

"Yay!  I got my wii!!"

"...  Oh."

"Is this really a wii this time?!"

We also brought Dean's parents into the 21st century by giving them a 3D bluray player to go with their fancy 3D TV.

After opening our gifts with Dean's family we all trucked down to Longmont and had dinner with my family.  (I didn't take my camera out once while everyone was there.  Phooey.)  After the meal Dean's family trickled out.  After that, before we opened gifts, I gave the camera to Robin for a while.  His random shots sure can be artistic sometimes.

Getting his Poppa and Great Uncle

He also got this one of Dean and Liam

And this one of Mama and Great Nana

At last, as the long, exciting day drew to a close, we opened gifts with my family.  Robin squashing his new Thomas pillow

Mom crocheted Peep, Chirp, and Quack from one of his favorite shows.

The book by Glen Cook we got for Dad at MileHiCon.  Signed even!

Mom got new circular knitting needles

Nana got her traditional "Rhoadarmer boys" calendar.  (Lots of other people got them too)

Liam with his Poppa and Great Uncle, showing off his Santa Baby outfit

Apparently I need to hand the camera off more often (or perhaps give it to Dean and say "take a picture of me") because there aren't any photos of me opening presents this year, and only one of me helping Liam.  I do believe Dean took video of me though, so there's something.

After this gift opening we loaded everything into the car and headed home, at a very late hour for three-year-olds and six-month-olds.  It was a wonderful day.  I hope everyone out there had a Very Merry Christmas too!