Merry (Almost!) Christmas

Well, guess we haven't kept up very well with the blog lately. Last month we were gone for a few weeks to see family and we just didn't back on our blog. As soon as we got back it was all about decorating for Christmas, shopping for gifts, and getting back into our routine. We finally got the cards out earlier this week. Hope they make it to everyone before Christmas! We did squeeze in some time for Nicholas to visit Santa last week (right before his swimming lesson). Speaking of swimming lessons...Nicholas just graduated from Level 1!!! This means he can go under the water, jump in from the side, kick on a noodle, blow bubbles under the water, and bob up and down. In two weeks he will start Level 2 where he will start kicking on a kickboard! He is really enjoying it and his teachers have been great with him. So anyway, back to Santa... Nicholas got to meet Santa and tell him what he wants for Christmas- dinosaurs.  Christmas morning is going to be so much fun.  

Yesterday we finished the shopping.  Last night Shawn and I got all the presents wrapped.  Today we are starting the cooking.  Tomorrow night we are having appetizers with our friends for dinner.  That is one of our little traditions we have started- appetizers on Christmas Eve.  We may have started another one this year- new "Christmas PJs" for everyone!  We just got a new Old Navy and so we went to check it out.  They had just about everything 50% off.  So last night we bought festive pajamas for the whole family.  As long as Old Navy has the same sale next year we can do this again next Christmas.  We still don't know if we are going to make it to mass tomorrow evening.  It starts at 6pm.  I am pretty sure it was at 5pm the past two years.  This year's time will be a challenge for us to do.  We will have to leave home by 5:20 (clean faces and dressed up) and we won't get done with mass until likely 7:30.  I just haven't figured out when the kids will eat dinner.  We normally eat at 5:30 and then Stella gets her bottle at 6:30.  I hesitate to mess up her schedule, too, since she has finally been sleeping through the night.  Shawn and I might go to mass downtown.  We need to decide.  I am very frustrated about it though.  As for Christmas day, we will stay home and be with each other.  I can't wait!!!!!  We are going up the street for a big dinner that night.  It will be nice to only have to make a couple of things but enjoy a big dinner.  

Here are some new pictures of the kids.  I know, that is what everyone comes to this blog to see.  You don't care about our pajamas!!!   Stella's hair is getting so long.  So I dug out this headband to keep her hair out of her eyes.  I normally do not like those headbows, but this style might work for us ; )    

Here is Stella and Nick grooving to Christmas music.  Stella's headband looks more like a sweatband from the early 80s!!  And Nick's dancing is really just running back and forth across his room.  

Oh, by the way, there are a couple more videos posted. See link on top right of this page!