I know I already posted this picture under Gage's 9 month update, but this is how I want to remember Christmas 2010.

It was a long month of December getting ready for Christmas, decorating, shopping, planning, and wrapping. But it was well worth it. Christmas Eve our family went to the Candlelight service at church and then gathered at our house with Mark's mom, dad, and grandfather. We enjoyed a delicious dinner and then the kids opened a couple of gifts. They had been dying to open something.
Keaton picked this present knowing it was a binder for something. He was so happy when he opened it that he now had a binder to organize all of his Pokemon cards. He spent the rest of the night filling his binder. He is such the organizer.

And he got Lego Atlantis

Cort got a
SpongeBob puzzle

And a Hero Factory Lego set

Nana and Papa gave Gage a Buzz
Lightyear scooter.

He had so much fun playing with it that night.


Cort couldn't wait to build his Hero Factory.

Keaton organizing his Pokemon

We awoke Christmas morning to find Santa had been good to us!!!

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to see what he gave them.

Gage ready to check out the loot.

Trying to take it all in. I think they were still half asleep.
Keaton got a new bike and a Tony Hawk
helmet.
Cort got a Pogo Stick and Lego City set.

K & C helping Gage check out his new toys from Santa.
Papa, Grandfather, Nana and Aunt Kerrie joined us for brunch.

But first we opened presents.

Aunt Kerrie taking Gage for a ride.

Too much
excitement for Gage. He fell asleep during brunch in his high chair.

Keaton and Cort couldn't wait to take their bike and pogo stick outside.

Cort had no problems figuring out his pogo stick. He was a natural.




The day after Christmas we spent at Mark's mom's house with Grandfather, Adam, Julie, Kayla and Ryan.

Cort got more
Legos! And he loves them!

Nana gave Keaton a picture frame for all his sports pictures.

Gage took a nap with Aunt Julie.

Two days before Christmas, Mark's grandmother passed away at the age of 93. This Christmas was filled with many memories of a great lady. On December 29, 2010 we celebrated her life at a memorial service. This is a picture of Grandfather, also 93, with 5 of his 6 great-grandchildren. Ryan, Kayla, Keaton, Cort and Timothy on his lap. We did not bring Gage to the service.

My parents visited the weekend of New Years and we celebrated Christmas all over.

Keaton and Cort both got a new blanket for their beds from Gee and Papa Dan. It is just like my blanket, but a twin. Now maybe my 'soft blanket', as they call it, can stay on my bed. They were always taking it off and curling up on the couch with it or making a pallet with it. They loved the 'soft blanket'.

Cort got a penguin pillow pet. He told me last night he named it Winter.

Gee and Papa Dan offered to babysit so Mark and I hit the town for New Year's Eve. We rang in 2011 with Melinda, John, Dan and Nicki at La
Parmigiana with a delicious Italian meal then rocked it out at the Taylor's playing Rock Band. Yes, we are still cool!

New Year's Day we finally got around to opening Gage's Christmas from Gee and Papa Dan. Gage was taking a nap the day before. Keaton and Cort had been waiting a week for Papa Dan and Gee to arrive so I couldn't make them wait one more day.
I think Gage is saying to Cort,
"Want to help me open it?"

Hope you had a Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.
2011 is already full of changes. This time last year I was pregnant and I ended the year still weaning Gage from breastfeeding at 9 months.
I think 2011 will be a year filled with many decisions to be made. We have already decided to pull Keaton and Cort out of afterschool daycare. Mark will pick them up from school and they will stay at home with him. Since he works out of the house, they will easily entertain themselves, work on homework, watch TV, play Wii or catch up on some rest. Gage will remain in full time daycare. I am really praying this change will overall be better for the kids and our family this year.