Christmas Morning

'twas the night before Christmas...



Auntie 'Chelle and her kids Lance and Renee gave Kevin and Alan a new plate and cookies to leave out for Santa. Now that Lance and Renee were getting so big, it was time for them to pass the plate (figuratively speaking) on to our little munchkins.



The next morning, it was time to open presents!



Kevin unzipped the door to all the presents and started pulling them out.



Kevin had fun ripping off the wrapping paper, and even more fun putting all the little pieces into the garbage can. Just like his daddy!



Alan wanted to play with his toys as soon as he got a glimpse of them. Mommy can do the rest of the unwrapping!



Alan has a snack. Playing with toys is hard work!



Playing with boxes is fun too!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve at SeaWorld

Merry Christmas from Kevin, Alan, Mommy and Daddy!

Our 2008 Christmas letter is here.

Christmas Eve at SeaWorld

In the middle of a week of almost freezing cold weather, we took advantage of a beautiful, warm, clear day to make one more trip to SeaWorld before the end of the year.

We checked out the Penguin Encounter and had a family picture taken.



At Shamu's Happy Harbor, Kevin and Daddy went climbing on the net maze while Alan and Mommy went to the foam pit.





Alan, new to walking, was a little apprehensive at first. He kept pretty close to Mommy, but when Daddy and Kevin joined them, he decided he wanted to go keep up with his big brother.





For a novice walker, Alan did pretty good!



We finished off the day at the Coral Reef Aquarium.

Air Life Santa 2008

Today was the family's 4th annual visit to the Air Life Santa at the hospital where the boys were born - Kevin's 4th visit and Alan's 2nd. The event gets bigger every year!

While we were waiting for our turn to visit Santa, Kevin saw Suzy Bee for a balloon airplane.



In the line-up, Alan did upside-downs to make Kevin laugh.





Kevin enjoyed rubbing Santa's beard, and for a while, we didn't think we would get a shot with Alan looking at the camera because he was so fascinated with Mrs. Claus.

Rudolph's Apprentice

Last week, Kevin made a reindeer t-shirt in school, and today he came home wearing the shirt and a little red nose action. His teacher Ms. Anna told us he was entranced by the choir recital, loves the gingerbread man and that he likes to say "Ho ho ho"!

Elf Yourself!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Cutie

Alan was all dressed up for the Kevin's playgroup Christmas party today. He got to wear the red velvet vest that Kevin wore his first Christmas, without the tie or black velvet pants. What a little charmer!

What a big help!

Kevin is fascinated with the new washer, so much that he's helping Mommy empty the dryer!

A Hill Country Christmas

Thanks to Mommy's volunteer work with the Elf Louise Christmas Project, we got to go to a special preview of the Hill Country Christmas at Schlitterbahn.

The waterpark has been converted into a Winter Wonderland, complete with a skating rink, sledding and snow!



Alan was excited by all the beautiful holiday lights...



... and was amazed to see Schatze, Shlitterbahn's resident pup.



Kevin loved the falling "snow" and had a great time dancing around. We all got covered, even Alan in the stroller.

Giving Thanks for SeaWorld

Kevin had the week of school for Thanksgiving, so Mommy and the boys went to SeaWorld thanks to an early Christmas present from Grandma (and SeaWorld for letting us use the 2009 passes for the rest of the fall)!

This was Alan's first time in the foam pit at Shamu's Happy Harbor. At first, he just lay there checking out the new surroundings. Then he noticed Mommy had the camera out.


Extreme baby close-up!

There were bigger kids there running around, and that soon distracted Alan away from Mommy's camera.


"Oooh, big kids are fun!"

Alan had a great time while big brother Kevin was climbing the net maze.



It was even more fun when Kevin joined him!





At the coral sea aquarium, we saw Santa going for a dive!

Choo choo!

Mommy and Kevin went to little friend Austin's birthday party at the Texas Transportation Museum.

There were trains - small, medium and large - and cars and carriages oh my!



Kevin loved the garden train with Thomas.

Uncle Peter Visits

Uncle Peter couldn't make it out in time for Alan's birthday, but he got the boys all to himself on his visit. Uncle Peter joined Kevin at playgroup, and we all went out for ribs. Yum!

Birthday Balloon

Alan had a great birthday party, and on his birthday today, he's still having fun with his birthday balloons!



Update - one month later and the balloon is still floating! and Alan still loves it!

Alan's First Birthday Party

Today was Alan's first birthday party, at our family's favourite place, Dynamoze!



Grandma's feeding the birthday boy. Cupcakes soon!



Auntie Glo came for his birthday party too!



Our birthday boy loves frosting!



Sleepy boy - it was a fun party!

Alan Stands!

While visiting Auntie Karen G., Alan decides to show off.



Every time he stood up, Alan would throw his arms up in the air - "Ta da!"

Air Show!

Today we went to Alan's first air show. The boys were not happy with the noisy demonstrations - next year we'll have the nifty ear muffs that Auntie Jenn found for Mackenzie. Once they were over though, Kevin had a nap and Alan had a food fest/fight with Mackenzie, tossing Pirate Booty and baby cheetos back and forth.


Sometimes we're amazed where this boy will sleep.


"I need more ammo!"

We then got to tour Uncle Marc's plane - a C-135 configured to carry important passengers.


Alan wants to play with Uncle Marc's sunglasses.


Alan checks out the seat reserved for four-star generals.


Mommy is easily amused by a trip up and down the ladder to the cockpit.


Daddy had fun taking pictures of planes in the air and on the ground. Yesterday, he flew in the composite flyby. Today, he's taking pictures of it.