Bonus day with cousins

No more Chuckie Cheese with cousins. They have moved on to big and better things...too bad I have to justify spending 35$ a kid for 2 hrs of fun! 

It was worth it and the fun lasted longer than 2 hrs because you guys ate the buffet before and after play! 

Iowa Christmas

We had a great Christmas morning. Jacob, you were the first one out of bed and you patiently waited for me and your sister to roll out of bed. You were pretty impressed with the present piles and you remembered we can only open one gift at a time. You had to do a couple double gifts because your sister had to open and play with everything. 

Watching you both take all the goodies out of the stockings was my favorite. Each item caused a new expression or words of excitement to pour out. Jacob, you even gave your dad a hug after getting the bottle of hair jelly unwrapped! 

Julia, you are a treasure! You have been eyeing those chocolate santas in every store we have been. It was only to be expected that you would unwrap yours and take a bite. Your excitement for each gift was so nice. You knew what to do with each and every gift, especially the additional animals that were added to your collection. For the record, we will not be adding another horse to your stash! I'm glad you seem to enjoy them. Even your brother sat down and played with you...just as I turned to your dad in the kitchen and said how nice it was to listen to you playing together, the moment was over!

The gift that brought the most laughter was the $30 race track! I've never seen you chuckle as much as you did when my car would fly off the track or your car crash into mine. Good stuff! 

December 26th and 55 degrees

Just another fun day at the park, which made it hard to believe we just celebrated ChristmAs the previous day? 

Nothing out of the ordinary. Jacob you were still working up enough courage to ask kids to play chase or hide n seek. Lucky for you, the two kids you ended up playing with knew your cousins and you were able to sit by them in church the following Sunday! 

STL Christmas

Even though this holiday is bombarded with gifts for you to open and be excited about, the thing you two love most is being around the people. 

Time with cousins was at the top of your of your wish list on a daily basis. 

It was hard to believe that you were so patient on Christmas morning to find out what was in your stocking...since it was hanging on the mantel with your name on it since the moment we arrived to STL. 

It could have been because you were trying to figure out the exact moment your cousins would be arriving! 

No you weren't in timeout...you thought someone might arrive sooner if you       looked out the window! 

Everyone was happy with the gifts, but even happier with company.

Our memorable moment from that day was a wrestling match you had with Caleb, Jacob. You needed it by using a trick or tease to get him off of you! "I'm gonna pee on you!" Gross,if you were serious. He exploded off of you like a firecracker. So, I guess it worked.  Louis, MO  63exploded off of you like a firecracker! 

Later on I asked you where you got that from and you said, "I just thought of it, and next time I'll say I have to poop!"

Santa's workshop on 18th street

Not too many 2 and 5 year olds can say they get to go over to their neighbors house for a day of fun with 20 other kids and no parents to keep things in order! Stephanie's house turns into a magical workshop that has candy, chips and dip, fruits and veggies, a bar filled with kid drinks and every square inch of her house supplied with the necessary supplies to make as many gifts as you want for those on your list. This year you managed to last the whole day...which made for an interesting Christmas Eve. 

I'll have to take a few shots of your final projects, in case they don't last for the next 30 years! 

Julia, you made Stephanie's day by requesting that you sit on her lap to wrap presents! 

Jacob, you showed everyone your opposite of being shy! Hopefully they didn't have too much time around you:) 

Both of you managed to walk out with a bag of creations...and full bellies complete with Chinese and cupcakes! 

Julia you were so tired when you got home that you had a meltdown when you found out your last two bites of egg roll didn't make it across the street and I offered your crab rangoons to dad:( sorry bout that one. It was a great day, but I don't think I have ever wrapped enough presents to go through three rolls of tape!