Christmas Day

Christmas Day was very exciting for Brayden! He was so surprised to see all the toys under the tree and in his stocking. He was able to do things he never gets to do like eat candy in the morning and watch movies whenever he wanted! He was in heaven!

His 2 big presents from Santa were a kitchen set and a train table. He loves both of them, but his favorite by far has been a Lightning McQueen car figure from the movie Cars. He can't let it go and takes it everywhere with him!

It was such a nice day to relax, enjoy watching Brayden and be with family. Hope your Christmas was as nice as ours!

- Sue -

* So happy on Christmas Day!
* Exploring what Santa left
* Getting cozy with his new bear "Gravy"

* All dressed up with Grammy and Grandpa Robinson

* Santa left Brayden a kitchen

* and a train table

* Playing his new guitar from cousin Ben

* Giving mommy all she wants for Christmas!!!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a busy night in our house. It was cold outside so we didn’t get a chance to play outside, so that meant we needed to fill the day when fun Christmas activities inside.

One activity that he loved was feeding the reindeer for Santa. We did the usual chocolate chip cookies for Santa bit, but I decided to start a fun tradition with him about Santa’s reindeer too. I filled a bag of Cheerios with glitter and told Brayden that he had to sprinkle it on the lawn so that the reindeer would have something to eat while Santa was working. He loved it! He followed along and even got upset when Champ was trying to eat it off the grass. He would yell “reindeer mumm! No doggie!” (Mumm is Brayden for food!)

Another activity we did was tracking Santa’s path on the Internet. He got a kick out of this too. Plus with six adults hyping it up, he was really into it. Other than that we read Christmas books and talked a lot about what the morning would bring.

It was really exciting for Brett and I to watch and live Christmas through our son’s eyes. I know that each year is going to be more and more exciting!

- Sue -

* Daddy making cookies for Santa
* Feeding the reindeer for Santa

* Tracking Santa's path

* Getting excited about what the morning will bring!

* Hanging out with mommy

* Daddy got to see what the house looked like right after Santa left

Grandma and Grandpa Robinson Visit

Grandma and Grandpa Robinson flew in on the 20th for the holidays and it was nice to see Brayden interact with them and get to know them better.

Brett and I planned a few activates that we knew they would enjoy, one being a trip to the Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. I have taken Brayden there before with our friends, but Brett had never experienced it with him so this was treat for him as well. Everyone had a blast and we lasted until 3 pm at the museum without any meltdowns. That was the one big outing we did, other than that it was typical Brayden activities around the house; play doh, trains, painting, and another gingerbread house making treat!

I think they really enjoyed being with him since they don’t get to see him very often. Grandma Robinson wanted to be called “Grammy” but as a two year old it comes out more like “Peggy”. So now her official title is “Peggy”, but “Grandpa” strangely enough comes out “Begga”. Go figure!

- Sue –

Brayden and His Camera

Give a 2 year old a digital camera and here is what you get! He loves taking pictures and usually he doesn't get to touch our camera but we let him and he rolled with it. Two came out pretty great too!

- Sue -

* Daddy helped with this one a bit...but who's watching!

Evil or Cute?

Brayden is my son and the cutest thing I have ever seen, but sometimes he crosses the line between cute and a tad "Chucky". HA! Plus the sassy attitude that comes with this look doesn't help him.

You be the judge! HA!!!!

- Sue -

Gingerbread Houses

Everyone knows that I love to do arts and crafts with Brayden, but I was super adventurous this year when I decided to have Brayden and all of his buddies over to make their very own gingerbread houses.

We decided to make a party of it and have it in the late afternoon and order a bunch of pizzas for dinner and just hang out and enjoy the company.

I love having everyone over to our house and it is nice that Brett, Brayden and I have been able to make such nice friends in the two years that we have lived here. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I am not afraid of messes anymore and love watching the little artists come out while they are over here trashing the place.

Brayden had a blast making his house and they all LOVED eating the candy (big surprise)! After they had all completed their masterpieces, they proudly showed off while we took their picture. This is probably the best picture we have ever taken of all the kiddos together! So cute!

- Sue -

* Yeah! Gingerbread houses!!!

* Yummy candy...one for Brayden and one for the the house

* Can't you tell I didn't help
* Don't bother the artist while he is creating

* The completed gingerbread houses! Aren't they pretty!!!!