Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 was a joy in our household. I can hardly believe this was our third Christmas with M&E!

Here we are before heading out to church for the Christmas Eve service:

Attending a church service with two two-year-olds in tow was sure to be an adventure and M&E did not disappoint. Madeline began the service by loudly announcing that "I wanna go eat!". I told her that we were going to sing some and then we would go home to eat. As soon as the music started she broke into dance. During one of the songs, a girl performed a dance up front and Madeline watched the entire thing without moving a muscle with a look of awe on her face. (Could there be dance lessons in her future?) Eventually Eli became a bit too fidgety and Brandon had to take him outside for a minute. Madeline then asked (very loudly), "Where E-I go? E-I go poo-poo? I go poo-poo too!" And so, Miss Madeline also was escorted outside. Both kiddos had a trip to the potty and we all returned to our seats for the remainder of the service. At the very end, right as "Silent Night" finished and the entire sanctuary was silent, Eli let out a resounding "AMEN!"

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Amen, indeed!

After church, we enjoyed a hearty meal and discovered that M&E are Honeybaked Ham enthusiasts. I think they probably ate 3/4 of the ham we had. We concluded the meal with a birthday cake for Jesus.

Sometime in the night, Santa visited. I awoke at 5:00 am to the sound of someone playing in the living room. I went in to find Madeline sitting on the floor under the tree playing so sweetly and quietly with a new babydoll. I said, "Madeline, what are you doing?" and she replied, "Santa Claus bring me this. Santa Claus bring me this babydoll!" So precious.

Santa also brought a "trash truck" for Eli.

He also received a remote control tractor from Mama Kaye.

This is how he likes to play with that tractor. It's just safer that way - no way to run over himself.

Mama Kaye gave Madeline Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls. I must have taken this picture right as she opened the box because she promptly tossed Andy to Eli and said, "Here, E-I. Dis your baby." I'm still working to convince her that both the girl doll and the boy doll are hers.

Once again, Madeline and Eli were our greatest gifts of the year. They continue to provide Brandon and me with plenty of entertainment, challenges, love and exercise.