We Heart Santa and Cooper

I have never enjoyed the Christmas season more than I have this year. My two oldest are really getting into the spirit and it is contagious. One of their favorite games to play is "Santa". They take turns wearing the Santa hat and asking each other, Gavin, and me, what we would like Santa to bring us. Once the wish is spoken, "Santa" turns his back, moves his arms around quickly, and then returns with the wished for item--invisible in two sweet little hands extended for the recipient to take. Melts. My. Heart.

I have to say that watching Liam do it is the sweetest thing ever. I can't be sure if he really "gets" the Santa Clause thing, or if he is just watching Owen and doing what Owen does. Either way, his sweet smile and bright eyes exuding from underneath the Santa hat are adoreable.

The other day, Owen was Santa and it was my turn to make a wish. I wished that my sweet almost-four-year-old would be a baby again. "Santa" turned around, started working on my wish, and then returned to pronounce that it couldn't happen. Owen stated that he was big and couldn't make himself little again. I pouted. My sweet Santa snuggled up in my lap and said that even if he wasn't a baby, he was still quite small. Ah...the silver lining. I got a little teary as I held him.

In the pic of Owen, below, in the Santa hat, Liam keeps pointing to it and saying "That's you, Mom." Hum. I guess Owen does look a bit like me with that expression.

GG sent the boys a sweet bear named, Cooper, earlier this year. Liam has loved Cooper since he arrived; but, this month he has really, really, really become attached to Cooper. Cooper sleeps with him, comes down the stairs in the morning with him, comes in the car with us, and last week, Cooper even joined Liam and I are our lunch date.

Cooper is a special bear that responds to certain phrases by talking back. He came with books and when a specific phrase is read, he says something witty, cute, or just appropriate. It's fun to read those books with Liam and Cooper. The sweetest thing, though, is that when you say "Cooper, I love you." Cooper responds with a warm "I love you, too." The only snag is that Cooper doesn't usually pick up on the phrase unless spoken just right -- as in, my 3 year ol and 2 year old don't pronounce the words well enough for Cooper to get it. Driving in the car the other day, I heard Liam whispering "Cooper, I wuv you" and for the first time ever, Cooper picked up on the phrase spoken by my 2 year old and responded "I love you, too". Liam was so excited! He talked to me! He talked to me! Oh my. Momma shed a few more happy tears.

These two "bigger" boys are really making it feel Christmassy around here.

Holiday Fun

Since my last blog post, the boys have been keeping us very busy with holiday activities! They both participated in their preschool's annual Christmas Program. Owen's class wore Santa hats and sang a couple of songs. Liam's class rang bells and sang Jingle Bells. Owen walked into his room confidently. Liam was a tad shy; but, no tears were shed!

Owen entered the sanctuary with his hands in his pockets looking quite smug. He maintained that pose the entire performance. I don't think he sang a single word; but, he looked uber confident.

Liam lost a shoe on the way it -- not a good start for the little guy. He got on stage okay and was looking around. He spotted me and then burst into tears and cried for the rest of Jingle Bells. Boy, that song sure is long when you have a sad little guy on stage.

Somewhere in the mix, we remembered to take Gavin's one-year scale photo! So cute!!

Owen is having fun playing with the wigs I had bought for the "photo booth" at Gavin's party. Hilarious.

Owen has always been quite the jumper....

Now, Liam is, too. Liam is really enjoying being able to better keep up with his big bro.

I snapped the very first photo of all three boys STANDING. Love it. Love that they smiled, too. I'm a lucky mom!

The boys each had their Christmas parties at school. Liam's teachers made the cutest EVER t-shirts for them to wear. Each kiddo's hands and footprint became Rudolph with ornaments for all of the kids and the teachers. Such a great shirt!

Owen wanted to go to Liam's party with him. Liam wanted him there. So, I got Owen out of class so that he could join in. I cherish all of the moments when they are so sweet to one another. They help me get through the rough moments a little easier ;-)

The boys after the party. Look who had too much sugar. LOL

Serious sugar-high....

Hope your holidays have been as fun-filled as ours so far!

One Year Old in a Flash!

We celebrated Gavin's first birthday with a "one year old in a flash" party. Given my love of this baby and my love of taking pictures of him and his big brothers, I thought the theme was perfect! We had turquoise and lime and silver everything. Had a fun Polaroid and a scattering of disposable cameras for the bigger kiddos. And decorated with photos from Gavin's first year. It was fun!

With the four families that joined us, plus ours, we had 14 kids at the party! Is that crazy, or what??

Gavin's big brothers and their friends handled opening the gifts for the little guy.

Gavin was fine with that!

Gavin and Cole were looking at a toy with Emma. Guess Cole wanted a more comfortable perch--he sat in Gavin's lap. Hahaha!

A rare photo of me with one of my little guys.

Cake time! Always the favorite for me and my little family ;-) We love cake.

Gavin kept trying to touch the candle flame, so had to hold the cupcake while we sang. That made him a teensy bit mad.

Once he had the cake, he was oh so happy.

Emma K was so sweet. She stood by Gavin for a lot of the time he had his little cake. She plays with Gavin at her house a lot. Sweet little friend to him. Emma D had fun taking Polariods!

Gavin's crazy brothers taking a break from his toys to enjoy his cake.

Did I mention that this guy loved his cake. I do think it was the high point of the party for him.

Yum!

Hmmmm.

Cake is gone. Guess I'll eat big brother's cookie.

All three playing with the Dino that GG got Gavin. This was a HIT!

Happy first birthday to my baby, Gavin. I absolutely cannot believe he is one year old.

Happy 1st Birthday, Gavin Walter

This sweet, sweet boy is 1 today! About to celebrate with him. Pictures to come!!