Merry Christmas to all! As you can see, we had a great Christmas here at the Alan Family digs. Our first Christmas in Idaho was indeed, a White Christmas. We had snow several days before Christmas, but it has been cold enough that some of it (enough to build a very anemic snowman anyways) was still on the ground when Christmas rolled around. The boys both got sleds from their Aunite Sue so we are waiting for the next snowfall to try them out as everything has melted at this point.
Cori came in last week and has been enjoying Boise and helping with the final Christmas set up, and Kim, Bill, Aidan and Abby came in last Saturday...so we have a houseful of family and kids! Christmas was very exciting as Jake gets more and more into it as he gets a little older, so it was fun to watch him get excited this year. He counted down the days on his advent calendar and got more and more excited as the days got closer and closer. Tanner is just pretty much always in a great mood, regardless of the season, so he was his normal cheerful self. Both Jake and Tanner have loved having their proxy other selves here (in Aidan and Abby) and they have been having a great time playing together. Adian seems to really enjoy watching Tanner, but I think his favorite relative has to be Milo, he sits and stares at him, and if he's sitting close enough, reaches out to pet him.
The boys loved all their toys and clothes, Jake was exclaiming, "Oh, this is just what I wanted!" all morning as the loot plie kept growing and growing. With the kids still being little, and of short attention span, we took a few breaks in the present opening for; breakfast, morning naps, lunch, afternoon naps...we finished up a little before 4:00. Kim and Bill are leaving tomorrow and Cori, Marisa and the kids leave on Friday for a week in CA. Me?.... I'm painting the boys bedroom so Jake and Tanner can become roomies when they get home so we can get KC's room ready for her in two short months. You know how it is with us, time never slows down, it's always something!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Love,
The Alans
The blog is one year old today! This has been such great way for us to chronicle our lives, especially in Tanners first year, the move to Boise, gettting ready for KC, there has been a lot going on. We have a whole year of stories to look back on, and, the major benefit, no need to do a Christmas letter!
Here is to another great year ahead - and a whole buch more stories from the Alan Family. Happy Blogirthday!
Brian and I attended our first ever preschool holiday performance last weekend. The kids performed two holiday classics- Rudolph and Jingle Bells (second picture)- as well as reciting several poems (first picture). Jake loved being dressed up and on stage. He had been giving us little sneak previews all week (let's just say if I never hear Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer again it will be too soon!). In his typical manner, he took his role quite seriously and we played the part of proud parents (sans video camera) very well. It was quite a party that followed. There was a full holiday feast and Santa arrived with presents for every child. Jake loved him; Tanner screamed. I finished my last day of work on Friday and am now in the midst of a three week vacation. It couldn't have come any sooner for my taste. I was ready for a break. My mom arrived on Saturday and we have been going, going, going ever since. Catching up on Dr/Dentist appointments for me and the boys, as well as shopping, eating well, and just generally hanging out. Kim and her family arrive on Saturday morning. Let the craziness begin!!!Love to everyone and Happiest of Holidays to all :)
Two drastically different reactions, as you can see. Tanner was so traumatized he went home and promptly took a three hour nap. Jake was thrilled- and so amazed that Santa had read his letter and gotten him the ball that he had wanted from the mall. Innocence at Christmas is a wonderful thing :) We got our tree and decorated the house on Sunday night. Brian took his customary stance of unwrapping each ornament and handing it to a family member. Jake hung the lightweight ornaments on branches he could reach, I hung the heavy ones (and rehung the ones of Jake's that fell off), and Gooeys (that's Tanner for those of you not clued into his nickname) spent the evening taking the ornaments that Jake had hung on low branches off the tree and throwing them on the ground in pure delight. We had our traditional (tradition from my family) "snacky" dinner which consisted of salami, several types of cheese, crackers, and (a new addition from the Alan family)- pigs in a blanket. Yes, I am craving those with this pregnancy, too!With the holidays upon us life is hectic, but(not to sound too trite) so full of joy. We are so excited to have Kim's family and my mom join us for our first Christmas in Boise- the first time we've had a big enough house to host the celebration! We just wish more people could join us. Love to everyone, near and far.
