Christmas 2009

We had a good Christmas season this year. Before we headed home to celebrate, Alex and I took an afternoon and made a gingerbread house together. It was an interesting experience. Alex learned that he likes frosting, but that I'm not that good at getting the house to stay together. It fell apart and we had to wait until Kent got home to fix it. It was fun either way.

What is this white stuff??


Oh, I like it!


Yummy!


It fell apart


But Daddy fixed it....


Christmas Eve morning we opened our stockings. This was the first year that Alex kind of understood what was going on. He had a good time and kept saying, "And I got this, and I got this." It was fun!







After opening our stockings we headed home to my parent's house to celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas day. We went to church on Christmas eve and then did the traditional pictures, wonderful dinner, dad reading the Christmas story, lighting candles and saying what we're thankful for, singing Silent Night, then mom reading the Santa Christmas story. We had a good time, even though the kids were talkative. :)



Christmas morning Alex actually slept in (which never happens) and then we let him open the presents that we had gotten for Alex. He got some Arch books from us as well as a trampoline! Let's just say the trampoline is a perfect gift for Alex! He jumped all morning!








After nap, the rest of the family came and it was time to open presents. Claire and Alex passed out the gifts this year and then we took turns opening our gifts. The kids did a great job of waiting their turn. They had a good time together and loved their gifts. Alex's favorites were his "own treasure game" (which he plays with his speech therapist) and his Thomas train.



The day after Christmas we packed up the car and headed out early so we could drive to Toledo to spend the rest of the weekend with Kent's family. We were able to see a few of his Aunts and Uncles as well as his sister, brother-in-law and their three girls. It was good to spend time with family and catch up. Alex had a blast playing with the girls and kept calling them "his friends."

Overall it was a wonderful Christmas, spent with family and just enjoying that time that we have together.

In other news, Alex graduated from speech therapy on Tuesday!!!! YAY!!! We're excited that he is officially a "talker!" There are days that he wakes up and starts talking non-stop! It's fun to hear him talk. We were looking through older videos the other day and not even 6 months ago, he was still signing and had very few words! Praise God for the progress he has made. We'll miss Miss Emily, but are thankful for the work that she put in every Tuesday!