Boys will be boys!

I'm totally outnumbered at the Anthony household!!! Our little man is quite the curious boy. He gets into EVERYTHING with the cutest, most mischievous grin! While I was on the computer a couple and Mike was watching NC State play basketball, Aidan decided to entertain himself by pulling ALL of the tissues out of the box and shredding them on the carpet! Phew...do we have our hands full or what?!?

Let the Games Begin!

For the past few years my mom has made up a game that we all play on Christmas morning at her house. In true Shirley fashion she writes poems and clues on cards, and sends us off to find numbered hidden presents. This is one of our favorite parts of Christmas morning! We know how much time and effort she puts into this game (staying up to the wee hours of the morning) and want her to know how much we LOVE it! Thank you mom for making us all feel like kids again on Christmas morning!

This year my mom placed out 4 Santa hats (one for each of us: Mike, Anthony, Angela (Anth's girlfriend), and me). We each got to lift up one Santa hat. Whoever found the little Santa underneath got to start the game by reading Clue #1. Anthony was the one to find the little Santa, so he started us off.

We each had to read our first clue and head to the tree to find our ornament.

My clue: I'm very sleepy, my eyes look glossy. Go to the tree and find the word FROSTY.

Mike's clue: Your sign sparkles, it will make you tingle. Go to the tree and find the word JINGLE.

Attached to the ornaments we found on the tree was our next clue.

My clue: Find your box. Don't be a fool, snowmen rule!

Mike's clue: Find your box. Don't be a fool, reindeer rule!

After we all found our boxes we took turns opening them up. Inside our box was a small piece of wrapping paper. This was our clue as to what all our gifts would be wrapped in...it was the year for polka dot paper!

We then followed each of our clues one by one and opened the presents that came with the clue. They were hidden in the living room in trees, behind the piano bench, and even tucked away on the bookshelf. We had a BLAST and got some wonderful gifts!

Anthony, Mike, and I all had the same final clue: This final gift is very special, made with lots of love. It has been sent from a special angel who now lives up above. The fabrics it was made from each one of them I chose, so when you gaze upon your bear you'll recognize Nana's clothes!

My mom had taken my Nana's clothes and had them stitched together to make teddy bears! Aidan even got his very own little teddy bear. This special, heartfelt gift brought tears to all of our eyes as we gazed upon the clothes my Nana used to wear. It seems like yesterday that I saw her walking around in her fuzzy, teal robe or her ladybug sweatshirt. We will treasure these bears forever!!! Good luck topping this gift next year mom.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

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

We had an amazing Christmas celebrating the greatest gift ever given...the birth of our Savior! It was a day filled with all the wonder and awe this special holiday brings: breakfast casseroles, staying in cozy pajamas all day, surprise gifts, memories of Christmas pasts, and special time with loved ones. We are so thankful for the closeness of our families and that we got to celebrate with both of them again this year.

We started off our morning at our house opening presents and truly taking in all the special Christmas firsts with Aidan. It was priceless to see him "come down the stairs" and see his gifts sitting in our family room. He crawled right over to his ball pit and began playing. We then traveled to Mike's parents house, ate our first round of breakfast casserole, and opened gifts with them. Aidan was spoiled rotten by Santa Meme and Granddaddy!

It was then off to my parent's house for more breakfast casserole, more gifts, and more memories. Santa Nana, Papa Lou, and Uncle Nuch did their share to add to Aidan's goodies. I think we actually need to add a wing onto our house to fit ALL of Aidan's toys! We played the infamous Christmas game that my mom started a few years ago (I'll share pictures of that later) and had sweet family time together.

Thank you Lord for all the joys of Christmas, but most importantly...the birth of your precious Son!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

...and all through our house, our little Aidan was sick with a fever and a cough!

Aidan came down with an ear infection, horrible cough, runny nose, and high fever (103.2) a couple of days before his 1st Christmas! Our sweet little boy lost the sparkle in his eyes, cried a lot, and just wanted to be held. He was really sick! We pumped him full of antibiotics in hopes that he would feel a little better for Christmas. He was so sick that we couldn't even make it to church on Christmas Eve this year.

We did venture out later that night to Macaroni Grill to eat Christmas Eve dinner with both of our families. We left the restaurant early and headed home to tuck our sick, little man in bed. Aidan perked up just a little to set out cookies and milk for Santa. He cracked us both up as he tried to shove all 3 chocolate chip cookies in his mouth!

My mom (Nana) started a tradition with Anthony and I thirty years ago that she still does with us today. She always gives us new Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. She continued this special tradition with Aidan as she gave him his first Christmas Eve jammies to wear.

Aidan and Nana at dinner

Uncle Nuch and Aidan

"Drawing" with crayons at Macaroni Grill

Setting out Santa's cookies and milk

Stealing Santa's cookies

First Christmas pj's from Nana

Cookies, Cocoa, and Caroling

We had our 5th annual Cookies, Cocoa, and Caroling party last Saturday. We always have such a wonderful time celebrating the holiday season with family and friends at our party. We eat lots of cookies, go caroling around the neighborhood, and come back to drink yummy hot cocoa with candy cane stirrers. Mike sets up a "winter wonderland" in the garage complete with movie screen, tent, icicle lights, and the Polar Express for the kids to watch movies while eating yummy treats.

This year Aidan got to join in the festivities. He did GREAT! He was Mr. Social and let anyone who wanted to hold him. He never cried or got overwhelmed, but just enjoyed all the company at our house (especially his little friends Alyssa and Jack). We decorated Aidan's stroller with flashing Christmas light bulbs, bundled him up, and took him caroling. Each year we give a mug as a party favor. It is so fun to look back over the mugs from previous years and remember all the sweet memories. What a fun Christmas tradition that we hope carries on for a long time!

The Magic of Christmas

Mike and I have loved every minute of this holiday season as we have watched Aidan take in all of the new joys of Christmas for the first time. It really makes it magical to see Christmas through the eyes of a child. We can't wait till Christmas morning!

Playing with his first jingle bell

Seeing our tree with lights for the first time

Opening presents from The Hixson's and the Hyde's

"The children were nestled, all snug in their beds..."

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

It is so much fun to see Aidan coming into his own little personality. He is VERY social (I can already see the comments on his report cards) and loves to clap, "talk", imitate others, and dance! I caught some pictures of our little reindeer at his finest.