Christmas in Richmond

The Leaning TreeGrandma and Grandpa Sutera had not set up their Xmas tree in years. After we got it out and decorated it, we soon found out the base was too small for the tree.

After a challenge was delivered by Uncle Nick, we decided to have a gingerbread house decorating contest. The first part of the challenge was figuring out how to construct these things. The excess use of frosting was the first sign of early distress!

When it was all over, there could be only one victor...(we'll say it was Braxton!)

Christmas Eve

We opened our one present on Christmas Eve, and what do you know...PJs. The best part of this gift was that they were all a little big, except for Uncle Nick's, they were very big!

Daddy explained to the boys that it is tradition to set out cookies and milk for Santa.

Christmas Day

Braxton ran down the stairs on Christmas morning to inspect the cookie plate. He was so excited to see that the cookies had been eaten.

Then, the boys started loading presents out to the other room for opening.




Here they are opening anything and everything that was gift wrapped. It didn't matter whose it was, we would sort that out later. Braxton was opening so quickly, he hadn't noticed the gift wrap was fighting back.


After presents, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Sutera's friends' house for breakfast. As you can see from this picture, the boys have completely different interests. Braxton would love to head off to the wilderness for some outdoor activity, and Carmine would love to head off to the nearest internet cafe for some web surfing.
By the way, when you want a great breakfast, head to the country!!!

After breakfast, we hung out with Grandma and Grandpa for a little while before we drove back home. The boys indulged in what could be the largest Gummy Bears in the world.

After a great stay in Richmond, we headed back home to celebrate Christmas Round 2. Afterall, Santa showed up to our house as well. The boys also opened up gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Buhler and Grandma and Grandpa Rudd.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Rudd!!!

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Buhler!!!

Here's the next Daniel Boone!

The boys got a tent and sleeping bags from Santa, and have been camping out in the living room all weekend.

Dumb camera!

I was attempting to take a cute picture in hopes of making it our Christmas card. The boys were good but the camera, not so much!

It didn't focus on in on the tree.

Here is Braxton analyzing one of the presents I put out for a prop. Don't touch it Braxton!

I blame the camera that the picture didn't turn out, but I am sure I just didn't have it on the right setting. Oh well maybe next year it will be a good one that I can actually send out.

Cookie lollipops and SNOW

This was another one of our Christmas card picture attempts. Still we never did anything with it.

I made these cute lollipop cookies for a friend for a little Christmas gift. I thought they turned out so cute and wanted to share in case any of you needed an idea.

Sorry, I know this post in a bunch of random pictures.

This is a picture of our first BIG snow of the year. It's about 6-8 inches. We are planing on taking the boys out to play in it tomorrow. They are very excited!

A Day at Union Station

I thought my Grandpa Clement would appreciate these pictures of the boys.

This is one of the Christmas trees at Union Station.

They had a train exhibit that was fun to watch. The boys could have stayed there all day. Some nice lady asked if we wanted a picture. That was nice of her.

National Christmas Tree

Last night we took the boys to see Santa and the National Christmas Tree. It was soooo cold last night! But well worth it. We got a classic Santa picture with Braxton crying in the picture holding on to me for dear life. It's funny! Now if I could only download the picture then you could see it. Soon to come!

The boys all bundled up; they had on thermals under their pants, 2 shirts and a coat, gloves, hat's, and blankets and they still said they were cold!

Braxton looking at Santa's workshop.

This is Obama's backyard. If you saw the front of the White House, you'd think this was the front, because the front is kind of plain looking. I always get it confused.

Oh ya, Obama told me to tell everyone "HI"

Family Pictures

When my sister Crystal was here back in October she took our family pictures. I thought I would finally post them.

Family pics. 2

I'm sure Carmine is saying something about the Wii in this picture.

Family Pics. 3

Family pics. 4

I love pictures of kids holding their daddy's hand. I think it's so sweet!

Good thing Carmine's head is to big to fit through anything!

Braxton waiting patiently for Carmine to get in the mood for picture time.

MY MOM IS DOING IT AGAIN!

She is an amazing clothes designer. She had a store called Beets N' Snips a couple years ago and closed it because it was too much to handle. Lucky for you, she has started a way CUTE new line of girls skirts. Here are a few pictures but you can see more on her web site:

www.beetsnparsnips.com

Tell everyone you know!