Christmas 2011

What a great Christmas celebration of gifts, family and smiles!

Christmas Eve started with the Leavitt side of the family, where Santa stopped early at Nana Ne's and Papa T's!

Emma Rose LOVED all the pretty presents.

She finally has some of her own toys that Porter actually will let her play with now!

And Porter had a blast playing with all of his new finds!

You'd have never guessed that Porter went his first day without a nap!

He was SO excited for Santa to come to his house Christmas morning.

And the proof was when he found the half-eaten cookie left.

I don't know if he was more excited that Santa came, or that he got half a cookie for breakfast!

Emma Rose was more excited about packages than anything, and enjoyed the entire day.

Grandma Sherry & Grandpa Jerry came over to celebrate as well.

Emma Rose chewed every new toy she could get her mouth on.

That night we went to Bryn & Tim's, where Holden & Porter had so much fun playing together.

The next morning was a ski day!

Porter had an absolute blast.

The whole time, he said, "WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!"

The next day the kids got to get together with the Roulier-Leavitt cousins again.

Charlie, 5 weeks Emma Rose's senior, gave her a run for her money up the stairs.

Alec - 4, & Ansley - 5, took charge while Porter tried to keep up and Avery - 7, played referee.

They had a blast riding the bed down the stairs.

Emma Rose would say that it the best Christmas she's ever had.

Let it Snow

It's been so fun to watch Emma Rose's personality - social, happy, and sure of what she wants - flourish.

And Porter, though desperately protective of some of his toys, is getting sweeter and sweeter with her. Lately he's been telling us that "Mommy, and Daddy and Emma and Axl" are his best friends.

and

Porter is all boy, and loves to run jump, roll in the snow...

and ride his bike in it, too.

This is how I found Emma Rose when she discovered we had over a foot of new snow.

Looks like she's gonna love it!

But she hates it!

Naughty or Nice?

As the kids approach 8 months and 2 1/2 years, we got some family pictures taken.

Porter expressed his extreme shyness with "strangers" by avoiding looking at the camera at all costs, just one sign of being 2!

...Though as it is clear to see, he is often mistaken for a 5-year-old!

Both kids are growing so fast, I can hardly believe it!

Porter is finally big enough to play with his manger scene.

(He is fascinated with the cow's trough, and insisted that the animals eat from it, rather than baby Jesus lay in it.)

Emma Rose is pulling herself up and walking around everything,

...proud smiles and screeches the whole time.

We took the kids to see the zoo lights, and they both loved it.

Porter was sure to ask Santa for trains when we met him at the zoo, but he was unsure about this stranger with a beard and red hat.

Emma Rose was just glad to be inside on a warm lap!

We've begun telling Porter, just as my mom told me, that Elves are watching him, and that if he's nice, Santa will bring him something special, but naughty behavior (aka, being a maniac, being "all-boy", or being just plain TWO) might discourage Santa from providing the cooler presents. I don't think it effects him much.

"Bring it, Santa Claus! Oh, and I just yuv you."

It's the holiday season!

Another holiday season is upon us and I just can't believe how quickly the kids are growing up. Emma Rose was absolutely fascinated with her big cousin, Caroline this Thanksgiving.

...And of course, Porter adores all of his cousins, but is particularly partial to Ansley, regardless of how much she tortures and teases him. (This year at Thanksgiving, she shut him in Nana Ne's basement prior to telling him about the wolf down there - he was terrified to tears, and still occasionally talks about the wolf in Nana's basement.)

The day after Thanksgiving, we bundled the kids up to see the lighting of Downtown Littleton.

And as always, Emma Rose sported her adventurous spirit and didn't make a peep through the freezing, cold wind and commotion.

It was so fun to see the look on all the kids' faces when Santa Clause approached.

(Caroline & Uncle Chad)

(Ansley, Uncle Zach & Porter)

(Porter was very interested in Santa's truck, but less interested in the man.)

The kids had so much fun.

Needless to say, they're growing up too fast. Here's a little video of the kids playing together in the bathtub. I was frightened for Emma's sake at first, but the kid is fearless, and she thinks that Porter is hilarious.

I think they're both pretty ready for Christmas. Porter has been thrilled to help with the Christmas decorations.

And Emma Rose might just finally get a toy that isn't on 4 wheels!

Christmas 2011, here we come!