Christmas 2018

This is the boys' third Christmas, but since they were only four months old for their first and just a bit past one year old for their second, this is really the first Christmas they were excited about and had some understanding of what was happening. Since Steve and I were the exhausted, stressed-out parents of twin babies for those Christmases, we didn't put up a tree. But now, as the exhausted stressed-out parents of twin toddlers, we were (sorta) ready.

Boys' First Christmas Tree

We went to a local tree lot to pick out our petite evergreen. I wanted one small enough that the boys could help decorate it without being tempted to climb it or pull it over. 

The boys show off the acquisition (Henry in red, Jack in plaid): 

Jack seems pleased with the results of light-stringing:

Silly little dude.

Henry can barely contain himself:

The joy... it's infectious.

Jack quickly decides to see how the lights work by attempting to dismantle them:

Henry was an enthusiastic decorator. Hanging ornaments:

Jack running the lights (if I can't pull them all out of their sockets, at least I can turn them off with this switch):

Henry, playing hide-and-seek:

Nighttime glamour shot:

A SLO Christmas
We spent Christmas at my brother's house in San Luis Obispo, so the boys got to spend time with Uncle James, Aunt Brooke and my folks.

Aunt Brooke provided a cookie decorating activity for the boys. Grandma assists Henry:

Henry, taking the frosting process very seriously (he's an avid crafter):

Cookie Master Henry, displaying his creations: 

Jack, being harassed by Mom selfies:

Jack, delicately raining sprinkles down on his creations:

Jack, tasting the fruits of his labor: 

Park break!

There's a really neat park not far from my brother's house. Jack demonstrates his climbing skills with Mom and Grandma spotting:

Little monkey Henry:

Reading Construction Site on Christmas Night with Grandma (Henry left, Jack right):

Jack returning Henry's lost pacifier:

Henry, with Grandma, riveted by the Great British Baking Show:

Christmas Day

The boys open their stockings with Mom and Dad (Jack left, Henry right):

Jingle bells!

Our own tape measures! The boys contemplate what to measure first:

Jack helping Daddy open his Star Wars Lego:

Henry following in the footsteps of walking Christmas Snoopy:

Henry and Aunt Brooke help Uncle James open his Christmas ladder:

Aunt Brooke and Grandpa help Henry open his grey fox from Grandma and Grandpa:

Henry and Aunt Brooke are very excited for Steve's Christmas lopper:

Jack helps Grandma open her gift:

Story time with Aunt Brooke:

Boys reading the Sesame Street books Grandma saved from Mom's childhood, Jack accompanied by his new Jackrabbit friend from Grandma and Grandpa:

And, finally, the BIG gift. Grandpa is clearly having way too much fun finding cool things for his grandkids. He modified a power-wheels-style Jeep to have dual steering wheels and a second battery for added range. It's currently driven by remote control, but can be converted back to kid-drive when the boys are ready (or, more accurately, when their parents are ready).

Jack is super excited:

Henry and Daddy inspect the new ride, Jack climbs right on in:

Henry checks out the controls with Daddy, Jack gets buckled in by Grandpa:

On the road, figuring out how it all works:

Cruisin' (Henry in green, Jack in red):

Two very loved (and very spoiled) little boys cruising off into 2019...