For Grandpa

James has been enjoying a few very low keys days at home enjoying his new toys. He has been busy building lots of towers.....

Knocking them down.....

And taking a lot of milk breaks.....

He is also enjoying his new craft area compliments of Ama and Grandpa....

We've been pretty boring around here which is nice after the busy few weeks we had for the holidays. We un-decorated today, which James took better than expected (he keeps asking where Tina the Elf is though) and are headed up to the mountains on Thursday for a nice relaxing New Year with friends.

Christmas

Our tree on Christmas morning with the easel and table and chairs James got from my parents.

James coming out to see what Santa brought.  His initial reaction was exclaiming, "Hooray for Santa!"

I think James was most excited about getting a candy cane in his stocking. On Christmas Eve he had asked, "Maybe Santa can bring another candy cane?" He had had gotten one from Santa Joe and it had made quite the impression.  At our house, Santa fills the stockings and brings one toy which is unwrapped by the stockings. This year Santa brought a dump truck full of wooden blocks.  James stocking was full of little "guys" that he likes to build castles for.

In his CU football gear he got from us.  He spend a large chunk of his day in his helmet.

We took our time opening presents and making our traditional Christmas Morning Muffins before heading up to Ft Collins where we had brunch and opened even more presents. James and Taylor were very good at handing out the gifts and helping everyone unwrap them.

We had a wonderful day just hanging out eating food, watching Christmas movies and playing games. The only thing that would have made it better was if my parents and Jenny, Ian and Z were there with us! We had such a great Christmas season full of so many special things that I think it might be a little bit of a let down when James realizes Christmas is really over. Last night when I asked if he had a good Christmas he said, "It was just perfect, do it again!" 

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve in Ft Collins where James got to play with Taylor all day long, so he was in heaven. They went sledding, built his first snowman and baked cookies for Santa.

Unfortunately Papa and Uncle Steve had to work all day so we didn't get to church until the 6:30 mass which was not the ideal time for James. He lasted for about 5 minutes before I had to go wait out in the lobby with him so he could run around and be excited. One of my favorite things about Christmas Eve was while the two of us were in the church's lobby, James kept running to the door and pressing his little face against the windows and say, "I'm looking for Santa Claus Mama!" Here we are all dressed up for church.

After church we came back to the house and listened to Papa read, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." We also got to open our Christmas bell!

James and Taylor dancing in front of the tree.  They were both so excited for Santa to come.

Leaving out cookies and milk for Santa and reindeer food for Rudolph.  Unfortunately Jax got to it before Santa did....don't tell James.

We read James some Christmas books, put him to bed and had so much fun setting everything out for the morning.  Having a kid around makes Christmas feel so magical again, I haven't had this much fun on Christmas since I was a kid!

White Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve Everyone!

Some More Holiday Flair

Today we had a wonderful day spending time with good friends since Tim had the day off.  I am so thankful that Tim's work schedule allows him to be at home with us so much. James' holiday flair for the day:

And James got an extra special surprise tonight; a special video message from Santa! Here is a link to it that should work:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/43a98bf871e62923e23996d6ad7d51b5

If you would like to make your own for your own kiddo go to:

http://portablenorthpole.tv/home

Holiday Flair

What good are holiday inspired outfits if they are not well documented? Today's outfit (although it did at some point include pants and festive red shoes):

And tonight's holiday jams:

PS-some random James updates: his two new favorite words are perfect and gorgeous. A typical exchange:

Me: James, what do you want for breakfast?

James: Oatmeal and blueberries would be just perfect.

Me: James, did you like Taylor's dance recital?

James: Oh yes, it was just gorgeous.

PPS- click here for James' modeling debut. Hilarious.

Santa Baby!

Yesterday we went to the 2nd annual Nelson Santa Baby Party.  4 visits to Santa might seem excessive for one year, but James' experience and love for the big guy shined through when Santa walked into the party and every other child there burst into tears and James went running up to him and jumped up into his arms. This kid knows where the presents come from I guess.

High Fiving Santa-seriously, does he look happy or what? 

Asking Santa if he could bring him a blue truck.

After some initial tears, Alec decided to be brave and attempt to sit on Santa's lap if he could do it with James. This is what resulted: Alec trying to escape and James picking his nose. Awesome.

A much more successful attempt at a picture of the cousins with Santa than last weekend.

Hugging Santa good-bye.

Look at these cute buddies!

What a fun party-thanks Holland, Kris and Riley! Maybe next year more of the kids will follow James' lead and like Santa!

Crafty

We have been keeping busy this week doing some serious holiday crafting.  Don't get too impressed because I got all of the ideas off of the internet.  Alec and Erin joined us last night for a craft extravaganza including footprint/handprint reindeer which ended up looking a little more like a moose:

And a handprint snowman ornament-seriously adorable.  And there is even a poem that goes with it that might make you a little teary-eyed. 

Alec and James with their reindeer graham crackers-their favorite craft.

Today we had craft time at a local pottery place with our Longmont friends, John and Gus.  I didn't take pictures of that because it basically involved me chasing James around a room filled with fragile and breakable items and finally bribing him with a juice box to sit down next to me. But the boys got to make the reindeer graham crackers again after lunch-still a hit with James.

Post-crafting.

Santa Breakfast Take 2

This weekend has been a marathon of holiday events and we have had so much fun! Today we went up and had brunch at Ptarmigan Country Club with the whole Nichols family.  I was just excited to have another excuse for James to wear his holiday outfit.

All the Nichols grandbabies!

After yesterday's awesome Santa experience, James was an old pro today.  Chloe on the other hand...

Taylor told Santa she wanted a pink truck, and after hearing that James told Santa he wanted a blue truck. 

Checking out the ornaments on Mimi and Papa's tree.  Feel free to keel over and die over the cuteness of James' outfit, I did.

And of course we had to do twinsy/triplet cousin Christmas jammies pictures! (thanks for the loaners Erin!)

Candy canes may or may not have been used as a bribe to get Tay and James to cooperate.