Stevens Family Christmas Celebration

Saturday was a busy day. But a great day, for sure! We went to Grandma & Grandpa's house in Ottawa for our Stevens Family Christmas. Grandma made so much wonderful food. I have the rest of the braandy buttah. I allow myself a spoonful each night. I can't sit with the bowl and a spoon or I'll eat it all. It is that good! Mike and Penny are off to England for Christmas with Grandma Martina. They won't be back in the states until February. We miss you guys already! :(

Here are some pictures of our lovely day!

Paper crowns from the traditional English crackers.

Ben & Caleb

I don't love this picture of myself but I do love seeing Talon in the bottom corner. I didn't notice it until I uploaded it to my computer. He is such a scavenger! Whatever he can reach, he'll eat or drink! He was eating off of people's plates all day. And at the end of the day as he was eating some more chips Nicole (or Auntie Cole, how cute is that?!) said to me, "He has been eating all day!" And literally, he was!

Talon seeks out Mike throughout the day and gives him his hand for "Round and Round the Garden".

Zac was carrying Ben around the house saying "Who wants to buy Ben?!!" Ben had a blast!!!

Present Time!!!

Waiting patiently...

and not so patiently.

Susie had just told Ben that he wasn't going to open his present or something like that. He put on his "mad pace" and said, "Yes I am!"

This was his first present of the day. He ripped the corner off and peeked in. Then tore into it!

2 big construction trucks! Thanks Auntie Sue!!!

Talon enjoyed opening his presents too. He's a wanderer too so he opened his presents with whoever he was with when it was his turn.

Simon got this aweome remote control truck. He wanted to play with it right away but of course it had to be charged. We charged it for him when we got home that night so it was all ready for him in the morning. He has had so much fun with it. Thank you Uncle Sam and Auntie Heidi!

Ben has been wanting this vacuum cleaner for months! When asked what he wants for Christmas he says "I want a mini vacuum cleaner and a yo yo ball".

Yes, he is HUGGING his mini vacuum cleaner! Needless to say, he was so excited when he opened it and said "I've wanted this ALL DAY!" We strategically put it on the bottom of his stack or else he wouldn't have wanted to open anything else. Thanks Uncle Peter & Auntie Kathryn! Ben also got this really cool Viewmaster Projector that all 3 boys just love. Yesterday I took them to Target to get some reels for it. They're special ones with little inserts that have the sound clips on them. Ben came out holding it and said, "I just wuv dees movies!" So thanks to Auntie Nicole & Uncle Paul too! Ben has had a fabulous Christmas so far!

After presents all the kids went sledding - except Talon - with all the brothers, Susie & Grandpa. TaloHe stayed with his Grandma, Aunties, Raquelle and me. He really liked this pirate ship puzzle.

Uncle Sam.

Heidi was a little freaked out at the glimpse of her husband when he gets older. It was hilarious!

And here's what little Benny looked like after sledding. He started going down the hill alone FAST and Jon ran after him, lost his footing and accidentally kicked Ben in the face. Jon felt so horrible about it!These last 2 were from the next day. He was so out of it. I think his body was fighting off some sort of infection from it or something. After some meds and a nap he was much better. And it's just a yucky scab now. Good thing my Christmas cards are already done, right?

Thank you Mike & Penny for such a great day! It was so good to be with everyone and so relaxing. Thanks too for all of the wonderful presents. We love you!!!

8th Day of December...

On the 8th day of December my mommy gave to me...

Peppermint Candies!

Apparently, Ben doesn't like these and I thought he did. Didn't he love them last year Mommy? Oh well! Simon and Talon enjoyed them... Beb wasn't feeling too good yesterday though, maybe that was the problem...details to follow!

6th & 7th

On the 6th day of December my mommy gave to me...

Spiderman Cars!

Ben's actually has The Sandman from the Spiderman3 movie. He thanked Jesus for his "sandy car" tonight before dinner. He wanted me to take this picture. :)

I couldn't get him to stop (nor did I really want to since he was having so much fun!) racing his car for a picture. It was so cute. All 3 were running around making hot rod noises. Oh my boys.....

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On the 7th day of December my mommy gave to me...

Red & Green Rice Krispie Treats!

When Tal took his first bite he said "yum".

Yum! Ben wanted me to take these pictures (gasp!!!) of him taking huge bites. Then Simon joined in. And of course Talon.

Then they were off to get haircuts and baths. We had our Stevens Family Christmas yesterday so I'll post some pics of that tomorrow! It was a great day! We spent the whole day over at Grandma & Grandpa's. Braandy Buttah! Oh yeah baby! Happy Christmas everyone! :)

20 months ago I had a tiny baby...

Now I have this nearly 2 year old kid who says candy cane and Christmas tree numerous times a day. In his own little way of course. And says "cheese" every time he sees a camera. You can hear him when the video first starts. :) I'm glad I finally got it on video. I just did it with my camera because it was right there...and I can't figure out how to upload from our video camera anyway. I really need to do that.




I took these pictures tonight. I was doing my daily Christmas tree needle vacuum (man, does our tree lose the needles this year! :( 2 and a half more weeks!!!) and Talon was "helping" me. When we were done I put him under the tree so he could look up at all the lights. He didn't want his pajamas on yet (could my boys be any more different???) so here he is looking like a fat baby under the tree. :) He just looks so young to me...

until I see these, that is! :)

Then reality hits that he is no longer a tiny baby.

Didya quit? Nope, just takin' a short pause!

What movie? 100 points to whoever gets it right! :) I was going to say 100 bucks but my sister got one right the other day so technically, I owe her 100 bucks already! I hope she never collects. But I was really proud of her for remembering!

I know you've all been on the edge of your seat waiting to see what was in the advent calendar on the 3rd, 4th & 5th! Heheee! So, here you go! I'll try to do better!

On the 3rd day of December my mommy gave to me...

Tiny Nutcracker Ornaments.

As you can see, and as we all know...Ben did not want his picture taken. Oh, what fun!

Talon and Simon's ornaments are nicely hanging from a lovely branch on our tree. Bennett's got lost very soon after trying to take pictures. I think he threw it! Still can't find it.

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On the 4th day of December my mommy gave to me...

It's too big to fit in the actual calendar...wonder what it is?

Baby Bottle Pops!

The picture taking saga continues with my dear little Bennett... Got them all organized and took this picture, then realized he didn't have a shirt on! Seriously, did I just say that? Did I really not realize he didn't have a shirt on? YES! The answer is yes!

Better! And he's smiling!!! Gotta love that!

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On the 5th day of December my mommy gave to me...

Chocolate Golden Coins!

Pajama boy strikes again...refusing to look at the camera. Talon is putting his wrapper on Ben's head. That's what you get Benny!!! :)

It's the 2nd!

On the 2nd day of December, my mommy gave to me...
Yummy, candy necklaces!

Boys don't wear necklaces!!!

Not properly anyway. :)
Just so you all know that Ben does not live in his pajamas! We all know that he actually loves to be dressed in anything but clothes...wearing silly shoes or hats, even gloves. But he LOVES his pajamas - all of them. So he changes into them daily, usually before dinner. Then takes them off before bed. That is why he has the same ones on in yesterdays pictures, because he wears them in the morning when he wakes up before he gets dressed for the day, then decides it's time to go back to the p.j.'s for a bit in the evening. Funny boy! :)

The 25 Days of December...the 1st!

I realize that the song is only set for 12 days, but my very special advent calendar is for all 25 days of December! I wanted this advent calendar so bad last year but couldn't pay full price so I waited until it went on clearance after Christmas. Yeah, they were all gone. :( So when I saw the exact same one this year I called Jon from Target and asked him if I could get it. He knew how much I wanted it last year so of course his answer was yes! I could not wait for December 1st! Neither could Simon. He woke up at 6:14 a.m. ready to see what was behind the little #1 door. We were able to hold him off until 8:04 though.On the 1st day of December , my mommy gave to me...
A bouncy Cars Movie ball!

We decided after this morning that we would open the little door after dinner each night, so Simon doesn't feel the need to wake up at the crack of dawn!

Happy December!