Christmas 2010

Now that things have settled down a little.....time for a Christmas update.  We had a wonderful holiday weekend.  Grandma and Grandpa came for a visit and so did Santa!!!

This year Jack and Ewan were more into Christmas and enjoyed it once the big event finally happened...they've been talking about it FOREVER!

We spent Christmas Eve at Oma and Opa's and had our traditional pizza dinner!  Some family traditions never die!!!  This Weitzel tradition is now a Dalrymple tradition as well....as is the mimosa Christmas brunch and several others.  Anyway the boys enjoyed entertaining everyone.  They especially loved playing with their new suitcases.  They were even asking to pack for a trip right away!!  Guess we'll have to go somewhere soon!

Then Christmas morning Jack and Ewan couldn't wait to open presents.  They started with their stockings and then dove into presents.  They did better than I expected, not too greedy or nasty!!   Jack's favorite present is probably his camera Mommy and Daddy got him....he's been talking about wanting one forever!  And Ewan is enjoying his laptop.    They also got spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa with outdoor toys AND a train table.  We're making room for everything!!!! 

Christmas Eve fun at Oma and Opa's house

I'm going to get you....

Sean's first Christmas!  Happy little guy!

Let me at Chloe!

Now it's a party for Ewan...

 and for Jack!!!

Opening stockings Christmas morning

 What's in here???

 Checking their stocking loot

Jack snapping pictures....we should check his camera for some Christmas photos!!

We were so busy all day either cooking, doing dishes or feeding kids that we didn't get anymore pictures after opening the presents!!!

Last chance....

for snow pictures at our home????  This should be our last winter in this house, so this may well be our last chance to see snow here, unless by some freak of nature we get it twice this winter.  Certainly is possible given that the odds of this snow were so slim anyway!!

So here are some pics of our family home in snow....

Winter Wonderland

We'll go out of order and post something from today, I'll do a Christmas post once I go through some of those pics later. 

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland in South Carolina!!!  Who would have thought??!!  Seems we made a record....as in most snow at Christmas since records were ever taken starting in the 1800s!!!  They were calling for some snow, but no accumulation so I was definitely surprised to see it on the ground this morning.  YEAH us!!  Extra snow playtime.

We all had a blast.  Went down the road to take Jack and Ewan sledding on their new alligator teeter totter...turned out to be a great sled!!!!  Jack had the most fun, Ewan liked it sometimes and Sean was happy until he was hungry, then he screamed.

Enjoy the pictures!

More Holiday Fun

Last night we took the big boys to see some Christmas lights and trains while Sean stayed with Oma and Opa.  Jack and Ewan had TONS OF FUN!!!!  They already saw a video on the internet of the place (Elgin Lights) and couldn't wait to go.  As we were pulling in Jack was already screaming, kicking his feet and waving his hands all over the place!!!  He is going to be very disappointed then the holidays are over (did I mention yet how much they LOVE eggnog?!)

Anyway we took a tractor ride through the light display and looked at all the model trains, John Deere tractors and lots of other collectibles.  They even sat with Santa and got a couple good pictures in.  I don't even bother getting all three boys together with Santa,  I know it's impossible.  I figure we may have one good picture of them together....between the years when one of them is afraid of Santa until the year one of them no longer believes!  Sometimes I wonder why people bother trying to get the perfect picture.

Unwanted Presents

Yesterday Sean received an unwanted present in time for the holidays....a diagnosis of RSV.  Strange he should get it too, seems to get preemies usually!  So now more poor sweet baby is under the weather.  And to top it off I've now got a cold too!  So between his breathing treatments and trying to keep Jack and Ewan busy, I'm trying to get myself healthy and get ready for Christmas.  Not at all an easy task!!

Needless to say the last minute shopping won't get done since we are mostly homebound.  Doubt we'll make it to the Zoo Lights before Christmas (luckily it goes until the New Year though) and I won't get any more cookies baked (not that we need them anyway). 

Today I did manage to get quite a bit done though....laundry, cleaning, touch-up painting.  More than I thought I'd get done when I woke up feeling lousy.  Of course I'm exhausted now and Josh will likely be late tonight.  I hope Jack and Ewan will be good for me.

Handsome Hunks

This one if for Emmie M3!!  As if you haven't drooled enough today and already smeared your makeup!!!

Catching Up

Today we have several posts.  It's been hectic here.  As if three boys didn't keep me busy enough, there is also the busy holiday season, birthdays, playdates, house hunting/selling....

So for the house update for those of you that haven't heard yet....Tuesday we pulled out of our contract.  Though we REALLY wanted the house and 20 acres of land everything started to fall apart beginning Friday.  To sum it up quickly, the house needs a new roof, new A/C, the heating oil tank (underground) has a leak AND apparently it is impossible to get a loan for a house on over 5 acres (especially one with a guest house AND three separate parcels of land). 

We'll regroup over the holidays and decide what to do next.  With a move not in the near future it's back to potty training.  I was going to wait until after the move, but now I'll start after the holidays.  Wish me luck!!  Somehow I'm not looking forward to this....going to be an adventure with three kids.  In the meantime we're surviving the cold front here.  Luckily it isn't as bad as other places, but it is definitely cold here!!

Enjoy the following posts with pictures (Saturday was a very busy day....new tree, farmer's market, train ride with Santa and office party for Josh and me).  I'll work on more....today the boys are handsome in the St. Nick gifts from Oma and Opa (adorable Christmas clothing).  Plus Sunday they have a playdate Christmas party at MyGym.

Train Ride With Santa

After admiring the tree and going to the farmer's market we went up to Winnsboro to ride the train with Santa.  Jack and Ewan enjoyed their first train ride, and even seeing Santa.  Ewan would not post with Santa though, just admire him from afar!

We had to get there early and rough the cold weather!!  We got our tickets and had to wait for the ride.  Jack and Ewan ate their chocolate brioche we got at the market and walked around to see the trains!

Can't go wrong with fresh chocolate brioche from the farmer's market!!

My three sons enjoying their first train ride.

Goofball Ewan!

Goofing around

Sean getting a catnap!

This is fun!

Admiring the view

Any colder and Ewan's tongue would have been frozen to the train!!

What's that out there?!

Now awake and ready to party!

This year Jack would sit with Santa and Ewan wouldn't (reverse of last year)!

Jack telling Santa he wants a toy camera.

Sean's first encounter with Santa!!

Christmas Tree

The fun all began Saturday morning discovering the tree.  Friday night we all went out to dinner and then got our tree.  Jack and Ewan were VERY EXCITED!!  They are getting very into Christmas.  Anytime they see decorations they say "I see Christmas"!!

Anyway, after we got home Josh put up the tree and put on the lights while I fed Sean.  Jack and Ewan enjoyed watching, but it was way past their betime.  So after they went to bed I finished and put up all the ornaments.

Saturday when Jack and Ewan came downstairs they were excited to see their tree, and now it had all the decorations on it!!  They kept pointing to certain ornaments and saying what they were...
"I see frog"
"I see penguin"
"I see snowman"
"I see Santa"...... needless to say they had a great time.