Holidays 2009

Happy New Year to everyone! Another year, another decade, passed and our lives continue to be enriched by our beautiful boys! The holidays were pretty mellow this year - Auntie Amy came from California and we spent our days lounging around, watching Glee on TV and playing with Jack and Sam. They adore her. And it's a good thing she likes spending time with them because, wow, did we EVER need her help this year! Santa brought the Theron household a very nasty stomach bug that left Jack throwing up Christmas Eve, day and the next. It then hit me for a few days, then Gerald and even Amy (poor thing - she got sick as she was leaving, so her trip home - also getting stuck for a night in Utah - was far from pleasant). Aside from the illness, we thoroughly enjoyed our time. Gerald even had Christmas day off from work! Whoa! We just wish that all of our families could be together more...

Here are a whole bunch of holiday photos. Enjoy!

Sam and the tree. He was surprisingly not that interested in it.



Very excited about the lights, though!



Auntie Amy gave Jack Baa-Baa two Christmas' ago. He's still a HUGE hit.



The boys' stockings. Great Grampa Willy, who we thought of so often over the holidays, gave Sam his stocking. We will always think of Great Grampa when we stuff Sam's stocking.



This is Santa's "Little Santa". He sits on our mantle and watches over the boys and reports back to the big guy. Better be good, boys - he sees EVERYTHING! I got this idea from Jess McNulty (thank you!) when she used her Ho Ho Maker. It seems to work!



Our beautiful tree. We almost weren't able to get one this year! Even a fake one! I wanted to wait until Amy arrived to get the tree and decorate it. We waited so long that every market, nursery and store was out. Even Target and Walmart were out of fake ones. Then, thankfully, we found a guy selling his trees from his tree farm in Redstone in the Rite Aid parking lot. It really was wonderful - the prettiest we've had yet. Here is it, in all it's glory, along with some of my favorite ornaments. Dad, you're right, it does need an angel on the top. Next year.










Jack coming down the stairs Christmas morning in his holiday PJs.



Peering through the stairs at the tree and all of Santa's presents under it.



Hmmmm, where to begin?



Wee Sam.



Tearing into the first present. Big Brother Jack shows Sam how it's done.





Me and my boys.





Best. Sister. Ever.



Our Little Elf.



Checking out the loot in the stockings.




Jack on the floor. He got sick about 2 minutes after this photo was taken.



Family photo.



Auntie Amy went above and beyond with gifts. She always puts so much thought into them and chooses the best toys. Here, Jack is playing with his sticker activity book.



What is it, Mama? It's an Etch-a-Sketch!



Hurry up and open it! Seriously, it takes forever to get kids' toys out of their boxes these days. You need a tool kit to free the toy!



The artist.



The musician.



Photo shoot with Auntie Amy. She always gets a giggle out of Sam!





Christmas bath time. The boys love to take baths together in the tub. It's especially fun for Sam, since it's such a new experience. They love to play with the letter, balls and especially the boat that Mimi and Grampa G. gave them!




Best. Auntie. Ever.



Thank you, everyone, for all of the wonderful toys. The boys are having a fabulous time with them. Thank you, SOOOOO much, too, Auntie Amy for ALL of your help. I can honestly say that I never could have made it through the holidays without you.