Merry Christmas!!

We arrived in Emmetsburg on Friday evening, December 21st. We were all together to celebrate April Corley's wedding and the boys partied like rockstars. They danced on the dance floor and Colton was completely mesmerized by the real live band that was playing all the music. He could not get enough of it! It was very cute and the guitar player even waved at him because Colton's intense gaze did not waiver from the lead singer/guitar player the entire night. There was also a 'Candy Table' for kids at this wedding which was a huge hit for both of the boys. Austin loved going up to the table and filling baskets with popcorn, candy and other goodies. Colton loved eating the baskets of goodies!

On Saturday afternoon the uncles and daddy took the little guys out to sled in the backyard at grandma and grandpa's house.  They even built up a ramp!  Colton really enjoyed building the ramp and then he just sat down so he could watch.  Austin on the other hand could not get his uncles to run fast enough!  He loved being pulled on the sled and jumping the ramp.

 

Saturday evening we opened gifts and the boys had a lot of great things to say.  Everything Austin opened was what he's always wanted!  So, watching him open gifts was a lot of fun.  Colton wanted to help open every gift . . . his or not!  Which worked out fine and kept him busy.  Austin did a pretty good job of waiting his turn, although he did get to help out mom and dad a couple times.  The boys had a wonderful time!

 Austin received these hulk gloves and coulen't wait to get them on and start pretending he was a real Avenger!  "Avengers Assemble!" and "Hulk Smash!" became two of his new sayings over the weekend.

We headed to Fort Dodge on Sunday evening and on Monday Nick took the boys outside to play in the snow.  Which led to Nick and Brian tying the sled up to Nick's dog Hunk!  Hunk pulled Colton on the sled and Colton fell out of the back so he was then done sledding.  Austin jumped on the sled and was flying all around the yard behind the dog!  It was so funny to watch and Austin had the best time!  I didn't get any pictures of it because it was freezing outside so I was watching from the windows but Brian did capture the moment on video.  I will have to watch that and try to send that out soon!!

Here is Colton opening a Team Umi Zoomi game! He was so excited . . . this was another gift he couldn't get out of the box fast enough. He calls it 'Colton's game' and he really enjoys having a game that is just his!

 On Christmas Eve Colton received hulk gloves and a hulk mask!!!  He put these on and left the mask on for about 2 seconds. . . just long enough for me to get a quick picture.  He liked seeing everyone else with the mask on but wasn't too sure about wearing it himself. . . I'm sure that will change very soon! 

 The boys also received cowboy dress up clothes from Jon and Clare.  From the picture below you can see that these dress up items were a big hit with the "big kids" too!  Nick, Brian, Dad, and Courtney played cards with these costumes on . . . although I think the two cowboys took it a little more serious than the Superheroes did! 

 On Christmas day we travelled to Remsen to see Grandma Sally and the some more of our family in NW Iowa!  It was a great trip and well worth it to get to watch Colton help Grandma open her gifts.  She was happy to have him help and he was VERY eager to be of assistance!  He wasn't as interested in these gifts once they were opened but he did enjoy showing her how to rip the paper off of them!

 

The below picture is as close as we could get to a family Christmas photo.  The boys were very interested in Rick's new puppy and didn't want to cooperate for the picture.  At least everyone's eyes are open!!  We had a wonderful holiday season and got to see so much family and some friends too!  It is hard to believe that it is over already and we have to take our tree down soon!! 

 Merry Christmas!