The last of Christmas Photos

Here wraps up the pictures from the day before the camera battery needed another charge. *THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL THE GREAT GIFTS!*

More Christmas

Elena was such a good big sister, she helped Ian open his presents and played with him and them a ton!

More from Christmas Day

It is very safe to say both kids had a blast on Christmas. They were all smiles. Ian looks so into the whole thing in the 4th picture as he looks through the gate kind of like he is picking which one he wants to open next...or like he is thinking: let me at them!

December 25

Here is a lot of Ian enjoying opening and playing with the loot. About 99 % of his stuff was new to him (they were Elena's old hand-me-downs)....and it's almost as though she knew they were her old toys as she still really wants to play with them more than her new big girl toys.

The Big Day

Here we have Christmas 2012, Ian's very first ever! Notice in several pictures he is standing not holding on to any supports! Any time now he will be moving on foot instead of knee. 

24th

Here is Elena frosting Santa's cookies. She did a very pretty job for the "man" and made him a very full plate and of course didn't forget his milk.

Dress Up Time

Here is Elena trying out her school present: a dress up kit.

School Performance

Elena's class did their first ever performance. It consisted of 15 songs in 10 minutes and lots of children to entertain with shouting and lifting of shirts and dresses..and thankfully mine was not one of the lifters or shouters this time around..ha ha. Santa came as well and the kids got to talk with him and get a photo on his lap. Fun for parents and kids alike.

More Visiting

Here are a couple more from our visit.

Recent Visit

Here are some photos from our recent visit from Oma and Opa. Lots of fun was to be had along with work (thanks Opa), lots of baking (thanks Oma and Elena for your help) and presents as well. Good times!

Ian

Here is a recent photo of Ian getting more and more confident wanting to walk. And the close up was one of Elena's more interesting photos she took of him.

More of the Making of the House

Ginger Bread House

Oma sent us a gingerbread house kit this year so we enjoyed this quite a bit. While Elena and Dad made the house Ian rearranged furniture and I helped finish it off at the end of decorating.