Santa Claus Was In Town...

Awhile ago...at least I'm getting this in before next December.  Noah and I were still doing a lot of sleeping and not leaving the house much because well...we were sleeping cause it ws cold and dreary outside so Nick's birthday was low key.  Jack wanted to bake an Easy Bake Oven cake but after Bebe's we know that it isn't quite enough for sharing so Nick made a pan of brownies...Noah and I were asleep.  Jack helped him blow out the candles while Noah was...asleep and it didn't take me long to finish off his pan being at home all the time.  Don't be mistaken though, Noah now doesn't nap much at all during the day, but is a TROOPER at night.

Once Nick's birthday passes is when the holiday festivities began...but with Noah being so young we divided and conquered this year...can't wait til next year although he is growing up way to fast for me!  We started with Jack and I stepping outside the box and decorating a rice crispy house from a kit that we turned into an ornament.  Once it was finished we turned out the lights, flipped on the Christmas tree lights, and watched Frosty the Snowman with hot chocolate and of course, rice crispy treat.  Why make the gingerbread house when no one eats them at our house....we ate this for sure. Another night we continued the craft streek by making a holiday house that Bebe sent..it was peel and stick and Jack loved making it.  Put it with his train table and it was hard to sneak it out....we agreed to put it in the Holiday boxes in the attic...not sure if Nick followed through with this...but I bet Jack will remember next year that it is supposed to be in there.  Another movie with cookies this night.  The other activities that we did this year were that Jack and I went to Santa's Village in Richardson, Spaghetti with Santa with Olivia, and ICE at the Gaylord-the ice slides while getting our family pictures taken with Chantel.  The Clampetts party was very intimate this year with hot dogs...we'll be back up in full swing next year-I just couldn't mess up our annual aspect of the tradition so we threw a little something together.

 School was out for Nick and Jack so it was time to load up to go home for the holidays.  Well as the picture below show...we were delayed a bit by Nick coming down with the stomach bug.  He was just too weak, the house was a mess, and none of us wanted to be in the car with him for over 7 hours.  So we postponed our departure by a day.  Our first stop was New Orleans.  Jack loves to play with Nana and Blake so Nick and I had sometime to rest while we had extra hands.  Family gatherings were great- lots of tasty food, family, and fun!  Christmas Eve we went to Domini's house where the kids played and the boys...played with their iphones.  Before bed we opened up one present for Jack and Noah--matchingish pajamas that didn't fit Jack and Noah would have been too hot so Jack slept in an alternate pair I brought (which came off shortly after waking up Christmas morning.  He was really into wearing a Daddy shirt to sleep so I had to bribe him to keep the cute holiday pj's on for Santa presents.  Next year I'll be better prepared for this.  Back to Eve...only Jack Relle would want to put a fork and wrap the carrot ends so Santa didn't get his white gloves dirty....what can I say- He might look like Nick, but he sure acts like his Mom. 

 Santa did a good job at getting the boys great gifts this year. Jack had asked for a bike, changed to itouch, and then robot. His original robot was something not in existance, so with some ad persuasion we got him turned onto Alphie. His gifts included Alphie, Duplo Toy Story, Lama Lama Holiday Drama book with Lama stuffed animal, Trio pieces, Don't Spill the Beans, and a few other odds and ends.  Noah got a lot of things that "his brother had when he was younger-wink, wink) and a Sophie giraffee that I have wanted since before getting pregnant for my next baby...and he loves his Sophie.  In the end thought the scooter from Nana and Gramps was the favorite for Jack this year.  We cleaned up as the family started making their way over for turkey and spaghetti.  Jack played with his cousins hard...that afternoon it was time to head to Baton Rouge for the steak dinner and more gifts. 

It is so sweet how Jack and Gab pick up where they left off like no time has past or distance is between them.  They all looked so cute in the matching initial reindeer shirts (onsie) from Aunt Betsy.  Dinner was great, Jack enjoyed playing with Nicholas & Joseph, and the hit from the day in Baton Rouge was the Hot Wheels radio from Mary Beth that we just "love" that Jack blares the music often to do his dancing.  Bebe was under the weather so the day was a bit chaotic without our director...but we managed just fine.  Lots of lazy days in Baton Rouge and Nick relapsed so our departure was much like or original departure...delayed. 

 

We made it home after a long drive (which Noah was a trooper but was done with the car about half way- bless his heart) and unsure where all the new loot was going to go.  Not long after being here I ended up getting the stomach bug and life was difficult feeding Noah while Nick held the garbage can for me.  I feel like the whole holiday was spent taking care of someone and cleaning up to avoid spreading the germs...which didn't work because Jack ended up getting sick too.  Good thing Noah was spared the stomach funk of Christmas 2010.  It was overall a nice holiday and was great having Noah in the Clan to celebrate, but hoping that next year has no illness, a better car ride, and just as much fun as this year.  Merry Christmas in April.