THE GROWING GENTRYS: Our first family Christmas

Merry Christmas! Christmas morning Ada and Will woke to the Christmas tree on the ground (previously was elevated on the entertainment system to avoid their destruction!) surrounded by presents. We had fun luring them away from the ever-enticing tree with their presents, wrapped full of colorful tissue paper, in big boxes, that could be shaken and climbed on. It mostly worked. In the end though, James and I opened most of the presents ourselves and the Christmas tree was sprawled all over the floor! As for the boxes, wrappers, ribbons, etcetcetc....

We then spent the afternoon at Grandma Cindy's with Chip, Aunt Carolyn, and family friends Elaine and Ed. James barbecued salmon, and Cindy prepared the best of local sides--greens, broccoli, purple potatoes, and corn bread. Kids, and parents, loved a memorable Christmas dinner with friends.

Will in tree, Ada eyeing it up. James opening awesome baby present, all alone :)

Christmas morning shot. Ada and Will in their Elf PJ's. Ada working on the exercise ball. Will on a walk with a present.

Nana Carrie and Papa Al sent Ada and Will matching walkers, which has been helping them find their legs. Not before, of course, Will pushed his wrapped box around the house for a while (above). Once he figured out what was inside however, he instantly took to pushing his "Cadillac" everywhere. What impressed us is how he knew to direct it where he wanted to go; he'd hit a dead end and turn it to the open road to keep on moving. Ada will walk with her walker until she gets to the dead end, where her journey ends usually with a frustrated yelp. She has appreciated details of her walker that I do not think Will even notices however. Ill catch her sitting next to it (below), turning the wheels, opening the "trunk", turning the knobs.

Weeeee!

Ada in a Ladybug Girl cap from her godfather, "uncle" Jake. Ornament remains all over face.

Family Christmas shot.

I wish Ada's Christmas dress could grow up with her. It is like it was made for her.

"A" is for Ada, playing with her new blocks.

Elaine gave us her old teacher plastic bins for Ada and Will's growing toy stock. Will may have thought this was the best Christmas gift of all, pushing it round and round and round Grandma Cindy's house. Will went through a fussy stint during dinner until Elaine realized that I was sitting on his blue bin at the dinner table. I got up, Will came straight to his bin, and went back to happily doing his laps, fuss-free.

Speaking of laps, some Will's best walking companions...

"Uncle" AJ got Ada and Will twin-sie track suits for Christmas--oh so cute! This picture of Rach attempting a photo op with Will, Ada, and AJ in their new threads is priceless. Kids, dogs, hilarity. The usual.

Speaking of dogs, Miles has been bunking with us for the nearly two weeks Rachel and AJ have been in Pittsburgh. Miles is just about the same age as Will and Ada and are great friends, as Miles comes with Rachel to co-nanny twice a week. The kids have learned to play catch with Miles, which they all love.