Christmas/New Years!

December 31, 2009
Dear Boys,
It has been so crazy over the last week. I’m sorry I didn’t get to write you a Christmas letter like I wanted to. I’ll just have to write you a Christmas/New Years letter. On Christmas Eve Mommy had to go to the hospital because her blood pressure was high. They kept me over night and we didn’t get to come home until about 3pm Christmas Day. So Christmas became Christmas Eve and we celebrated Christmas on Saturday. I have to say I was pretty bummed when I was sitting in the hospital, but once I got home it didn’t matter that Christmas was a day late.
Christmas Eve we spent at Grammy’s house. We had a really yummy dinner and we opened a few presents. You opened your doodle pro’s, which were a HUGE hit. You also opened your Christmas Eve Pajamas, not quite as popular as the doodle pro.

Connor and Hunter playing in the wrapping paper at Grammy's house on Christmas Eve (celebrated on Christmas Day!)

Christmas morning you woke up bright and early. We had to stall and play games with you for over an hour while we waited for Grammy and Grandpa Steve to come over. It’s always been tradition to open our stockings with Grammy. She sews our stockings. They are so beautiful. Anyway, you were fully aware that there were treats in your stocking and you kept trying to open them without her. When she did get here you weren’t interested in the stockings anymore. We had to help you open them and once you got to a piece of candy it was all over. You only wanted to eat the candy. That was Mommy’s fault. She should have put the candy at the bottom of the stocking!

Hunter and Connor opening their stockings.

Still opening stockings...

Then about an hour later Grandma and Grandpa Allen, Great Grandma and Grandpa Allen, Grandma and Grandpa Youngs, and Uncle Wade came over to open presents. It was crazy! We had a lot of fun though. I have to say the best part of the morning was the very last present, Spike the dinosaur. Spike came to the Tri Cities Target and Toys R Us around Halloween. You both loved him instantly. You would push the display button and Spike would come to life roaring and standing on his back legs. He walks, He chases balls, and chews on bones, and he has a wonderful background song that follows his every move. Now I think it is important to tell you that Spike was behind a glass window in the stores. A detail I didn’t think was important. I guess that is something a Mommy learns the hard way. On Black Friday I finished all my Christmas shopping, but I didn’t buy spike. I just couldn’t decide if he was worth the money and if you would truly love him. Three days before Christmas I just knew we had to have him and I made Daddy take me to the store to get him. On Christmas Morning when it was time for the last present we had you two open the remote control together. You were looking at it funny and then you both started pushing buttons. When you pushed the buttons Daddy came around the corner with Spike. Spike was roaring and stomping like crazy. Instantly, you both ran to your grandma’s and began screaming in fear. Connor told us to put the dinosaur “nigh night.” We turned him off and then we laid him on his side. When Connor was sure he was asleep he walked over to him and covered him up with a blanket. We were all laughing pretty hard. The rest of the day was just as fun. We played with our toys, you took a nap, and then we spent the evening at Grandma and Grandpa Allen’s house. Aunt Chelsea gave you each a small stuffed dinosaur for Christmas. When Connor opened his he threw it across the room as quickly as he could and screamed, “nigh night, nigh, night!!” It was a late night and you both fell asleep on the way home. It was a very merry Christmas. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways. The doctor’s gave Daddy and I a good scare on Christmas Eve and so we were very thankful all day of the blessings we have been given. Here’s how the last few days have played out….

Aunt Chelsea and Gradma Karen helping Connor open Mr. Potato Head!

Great Grandma Allen helping Hunter open his Little People Fire Station

Connor and Hunter opening one of the trucks that Grandpa and Grandma Youngs bought them. They LOVE playing with them. They are true little boys to the core.

Connor,
You have been hilarious with Spike. Every morning you run to check on him and make sure that he is still sleeping. One day you were extra scared and demanded that we put him in the closet to sleep, although every hour you went and opened the closet door to check on him and give him a kiss. He’s been in the closet for two days and finally today you drug him out and let him sleep in the living room. You made sure he was comfortable with a blanket over the top of him and a pillow under his head! Mommy was quick enough to get a picture of him with his blanket, but not of the pillow. You tell me at least five times a day that “ike is nigh night.” You’re talking so much these days! I just love it. Aunt Diane bought you and Hunter a towel robe for Christmas. They have hoods and there is a duck and a frog. Your favorite thing to do lately is to take a “bubble….ath” and then dress up like a duck. You walk around and we tell you how cute you are as a little duck. You love eggs. I can’t feed you enough eggs. You love tackling Daddy and getting a snack out of his lunch box when he comes home from work. You love to give kisses lately. You also love to be naked. You run around the house in your diaper all the time. You asked me to take your pajamas off the other day and I said it would cost you a kiss. As soon as the last leg was off you stood up and gave me a big kiss. You are such a sweet little boy. I love you so much!

"ike...nigh night!"

Connor after a bath and dressing up like a frog. He's very proud of how cute he is.

Hunter,
You are talking up a storm. You repeat everything we say. You rarely find yourself in a situation where you can’t tell us what you want. Sometimes when we play I tell you “no way Jose!” That has become your favorite saying. You tell me “No WAY!” all the time! You still like juice. You don’t want to eat, or drink water… you only want juice. However, we have found that you like chocolate ice cream. After dinner we’ve been having small bowls and you always finish first and then say “MOOORE.” You never get more, but you never stop trying! You loved the movie Elf this month. We must have watched it a thousand times. Connor really enjoyed it too, but you were the ring leader in asking for it. You would always say, “Eff.” There were a few parts in the movie that you really enjoyed. When Buddy was decorating the north pole at Kimbell’s and it showed a stack of Elmo dolls you would scream “ELMO!” Then there was the part where Buddy was singing in the bathroom with Jovie and Jovie screamed at him to get out. When Buddy ran into the bathroom door and fell down you would scream, “OUCH! DOOR!” And your favorite part was when Santa’s sleigh broke down in Central Park you would scream, “SANTA!!” I could be in the other room and I would know exactly which part of the movie you were on because you would scream at those exact parts every time! You are so fun! I love you and love you!

Hunter as a duck after his bath. Look at what a happy duck he makes!

Hunter still LOVES to read. He really enjoyed reading the story of baby Jesus over the last month. It's only a book he can read on Mommy's lap though, because the pages just call out to him to be ripped out! =0)

Well boys, tomorrow will bring in a new year. I can’t wait to see what you two do next. I can’t wait for you to meet your baby sister. This has truly been the best two years of my life. Thank You for bringing us so much joy. You are a blessing from God.

I love you and love you,
Mommy