Friday, December 30, 2011

the gang's all here

We had another day of gift giving and celebrating once the rest of the family showed up.
The cousins were all happy to be together - and ready to play!!!

Even with all those beautiful packages under the tree, they were amazingly patient... the grown ups made them line up and take turns opening presents.
(I know, we're so malicious! But they did it!!)
The best part was how excited they got for each other... it was so fun to watch!



The kids all got a great gift from Yaya & Papa - a playhouse that you can color yourself! 
It went up on Monday and as far as I know is still there...






Hamp's sweet contribution to the playhouse!

The rest of the days were spent playing games...





... but we did manage to get out of the house one day to go see the trains at UT! They were amazing, and the kids spent the better part of an hour enjoying the whole experience.

We made it to Five Guys for lunch - then it was back to games and foosball and playhouse and family time before the trip came to an end. 
It could not have been a better visit with the family!
We are so grateful for everyone who made it such a great trip, such a memorable holiday and such fun times for all. We hope to all get together again soon!!!
traditional "Hightower men + Grace" family picture

Christmas

So fun to be in Tennessee for Christmas... the boys were excited to see their Yaya & Papa, and great-Grammy, of course!


They also love to play at Yaya's house... there are always so many fun things to do!


There are many toys, games, books and plush animals that the boys remember and look forward to playing with, a foosball table that hosts many championship games while we're there, the golf cart that takes us to the park and a backyard that supports many great adventures!

But sometimes they like to just hole up in Yaya's bathroom with the rubber ducks and lego trucks and make their own imaginative adventures!!!

We spent an afternoon decorating Christmas cookies...

... then spiffed up a bit to attend Christmas Eve service!

The boys were no doubt excited that Santa was on his way.
And I can vouch for Santa's list accuracy in that Hamp & Sam were in fact very good this year, and Santa came through with some very specific requests!
ready for Santa and Rudolph!

Yes... the Marble Run and the new football & tee made these guys very, very happy!



The Marble Run was the coolest toy - the boys (and the parents!) spent all day setting up great tracks, watching the marbles run and run and being a little hypnotized by the all the spinning, swirling and rolling!

the family on Christmas day - we finally made it out of pajamas, put the marbles away and sat down to a wonderful dinner!
The only thing that would make it better?
COUSINS!!!!

the best gifts...

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:
the presence of a family all wrapped up in each other."
~ William Vaughan


I stole that quote from my dear friend's blog ~ it just perfectly describes our holiday trip!
The gifts were thoughtful, the tree was beautiful (wasn't it?!), Santa was generous and the food was abundant. However, all of that was secondary to the fact that we were all together... cousins, brothers, grandparents and great-grandmothers!
More to come...

Monday, December 19, 2011

naughty or nice?

This Christmas season has been so full already - parties, friends, gifts, treats, songs, shows, hayrides, skiing, and every now and then all being home together as a family!

In anticipation of the holiday, the boys have been absolutely wired with thoughts of gift exchanging and elf spotting! And they have been very, very (mostly!) NICE!

Their good behavior might have just a little something to do with our December visitor.... Zack!
Our "spy" elf has for the past 3 years been merely a watchful presence, finding a neat little spot every morning to sit and wait to be discovered by the boys!

This year though, he seems to have grown a little more comfortable in our house... and I'm sure it's because when he visits with all his friends every night at the North Pole and hears all their stories about what kind of mischief they make at their houses he realizes finally that he can interact a little more and show off his personal side just a bit!

Turns out Zack is a good-natured elf. I have fortunately not had to consider nominating him for the inappropriate elf contest. He is thoughtful and kind and interested in the arts and education... we're pretty lucky to have  him around!

listening to some Christmas tunes on my ipod
reading Frosty the Snowman

He brought us a new ornament for our tree... with a picture of Gabe!
doodling with Hamp's new crayons
hanging out in Sam's makeshift stocking!




encouraging Hamp to practice his spelling words!
Sam left his superhero friends out one night, so Zack called them all together for a game!
His most mischievous act? Giving the boys a new Christmas puzzle... but holding back one piece!
So we're leaving our snow-less Colorado home for the next 10 days to spend Christmas with family in Tennessee! We're so excited... but sad that Zack has probably made his final appearance for the year! Hamp has already written Santa a note explaining our whereabouts and asked Zack to take it up to the North Pole with him tonight. I'm sure Zack will take care of it!

In the mean time, we're sad that our favorite little "presents" under the tree will have to stay here with friends while we're away...
sweet Gabe
Minou & Kitten
Looking forward to a wonderful week with family... 
and wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!!