Visiting "Bobo" and Celebrating the 1st Christmas of the Year

What a fun weekend!

We started on Friday by visiting COSI and going to Sesame Street's "The Body". It was so fun! Eric loved it of course, and loved seeing Elmo (Bobo). We played and until we dropped - almost literally. And it was great being back at COSI - I (Marisa) miss it so much!


Then Saturday Tim and I celebrated 'our' Christmas with Eric. We figured with two other Christmases coming up at the grandparents' houses, it might do good to spread the wealth around and not get Eric overwhelmed. It worked perfectly. We opened our stockings, had a giant breakfast and opened presents, just like we would on Christmas day. It was really great and I'm glad we did - Eric wanted to play with everything he got and didn't want to stop to open another gift. So...it took a while! Looks like Thursday will be a long day but we can't wait! Here are some of the pictures I took:

As we started down Sesame Street, Eric was a little afraid that

Oscar might pop out of the trash can

He soon got his smile back when he saw Elmo's World!

He then danced and clapped with Grover

In Mr. Hooper's Store he thought the scanner was a telephone. Hello?

Christmas morning (#1)! Eric loved the choo choo going around the tree - almost enough not to open the presents!

By the end of it all, we were all pooped - especially Bailey

Later that afternoon, Eric helped us make christmas cookies.

He did the decorating.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

This is by far my favorite time of the year. Seriously! I listen to Christmas music as soon as it starts (which was before Thanksgiving this year). I love the smells of Christmas - pine trees, snow in the air, all the goodies baking. And despite all the cynicism of years past, I truly believe that everyone is a little happier in December. Who wouldn't be when a big jolly guy is about to drop presents off to you?? There are the Christmas parties where you get to see all of your old friends, catch up and do a lot of laughing. And of course at church you really get to think about the holiday season, listen to beautiful music and watch the kids perform a Christmas play. Yeah, this is the best time of the year - hope it is for you too!

Our dapper young man saying Merry Christmas!

This is one of Eric's very favorite things to do - play with the Russian nesting dolls that I got out for Christmas. He'll stack them, unstack them, move them, line them up....

We've been to a lot of holiday parties so far, and here are some of our favorite moments. This first is from the 'COSI girls' party. You can see that we were missing two of our girls, Ann & Jess!
Here are Eric and his buddy, Jacob Dean, posing for a picture in front of the Dean's tree. Apparently E wanted to show you where his ear is. The second one I stole from the Dean's website because it's just too cute. Yes, I need a new camera! (see The Dean Family to the right for more on baby Jake)

Last night we had our playgroup Christmas party and the kids all wore their holiday best. You can't really see Elyn in this picture, but you get the idea. They wouldn't all sit still long enough for me to get a picture. They were all cute as buttons and wore themselves out by the end of the evening!

Thanksgiving and Then Some

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Marisa & Eric got to go stay with the Ellis' for the whole week. It was a much needed week off and we can't wait to get back for Christmas to see the whole family again!

Eric gets ready for Thanksgiving wearing his Indian feathers Aunt Heather teaches Eric his first official piano lesson He was actually really good! Sign us up!

Then he found Papa Bill's hat - at least we know what he'll look
like as an older man
Marisa's wonderful friend Megan got to visit and meet Eric

On Thanksgiving Day, Eric and Ashton "posed" for this picture
We then tried to get Mama Jean with the great-grandkids,
but this was as close as we got!

Eric takes a break to read a book in his rocking chair

Saturday night, we headed up to Morgantown to celebrate the marriage

of our good friends, Renee and Todd (congrats guys!)

The reception location ranks high on the list as one of the coolest we've

been to - overlooking Mountaineer Field. Go 'eers!

Finally, when we got home, Eric had to try on his new Ugg boots from New Zealand.

Thanks Nana & Papa!