Christmas in St. Louis

We had a great Christmas in St. Louis. We stayed in a rental home in Innsbrook and it backed up to a small lake. It was really beautiful, especially when it snowed Christmas day! We did a lot of relaxing, playing, eating/snacking, and watching tv. We also celebrated Mimi's birthday on the 29th! Tommy loved playing with Maggie and Maggie loved taking care of Tommy and Baby Dylan. I didn't get any pictures of it, but almost ever night Tommy and Maggie had bath time together. Tommy will definitely miss Maggie!

Just hanging out...

This magazine rack was the first thing Tommy found to play with. He immediately began pushing it and used it as a walker.

-Tommy's first look at baby Dylan. He wanted to grab him so bad but I don't think he would know what to do with him if he got him! Such a cute little man that Dylan!

Aunt Lori ( a Fabulous Aunt) was either playing with Maggie and Tommy or holding Dylan.

The first morning there, Matt, Autrey and I went to the exercise room a couple miles away and this is how Tommy fell asleep while we were gone...Thanks Papa!

Autrey and Shilo brought their Christmas decorations and here Tommy is watching Maggie help decorate the tree. It really helped to feel like Christmas.

Maggie and Tommy played ball quite a bit. Tommy is pretty good with rolling/throwing a ball now. Well, I guess I should say he's good at getting rid of the ball when it's in his hands. We never know where the ball will go!

Maggie does really well with sharing, especially being under 2 1/2 years old and having Tommy grab at everything she had.

My beautiful blue eyed boy

I loved holding Dylan. He is so precious...and light! ;)

Hanging with Papa and reading stories

Notice the beautiful background of trees and water. The living room had large windows that viewed the backyard.

Binky buddies holding hands in the car-love this pic!

Maggie loved the old Christmas movies. Tommy liked them also, but I think he liked that the tv was his height even more.

This was too funny. Autrey was making "Roar" sounds through this wrapping paper roll and Maggie was roaring back while Tommy was trying to figure out what in the world was going on.

Playing pool with Dad.

Christmas Eve night

Watching Dad play with his new remote control helicopter. He couldn't quite get it to work and ended up taking it back though...

Mimi and Papa surprised the grandkids with 'Shoshies" (Maggie's word for Horse). They loved them! Tommy would even make "weeee " sounds and push the head just like Maggie.

We found Jenga blocks and Tommy loved to knock down any tower we built.

We went out to eat to celebrate Mimi's birthday and Tommy grabbed a lemon. You can imagine his face....

Christmas at Home

Friday night was our own little Christmas Eve. We left for St. Louis Sunday morning so we opened our family gifts Saturday morning.

Here is Friday night, before going to two of our neighbors and giving them small gifts.

We came home and opened ONE present (our compromise of our family traditions) and they just happened to be pajamas! ( a new family tradition we started) Tommy loved to pull tissue paper out of the bag.

I don't remember why he has this look on his face but it sure is funny!

Grandma gave Tommy bath toys and he liked almost all of them....

Below is a Pooh faucet cover and Tommy did not like it one bit! He screamed when we put it on, and continued until after taking it off and getting out of the tub!

This was the best pic we could get with us in our new jammies. Tommy was done...

Then we read the Savior's birth and Tommy had one more present for Dad to open. He gave him a DVD full of music and pictures of Tommy from birth to now. Daddy loved it!

"Christmas morning" Tommy found the baseball toy from his aunt Crystal (that he opened a few days ago before we caught him!)

Checkin' out his stocking.

He got a basketball, football, and woofle balls!

Yum!

His cute sweaters that he didn't care about opening...

Matt's new work out clothes...he has some resolutions!

My food processor....can't wait to try it out!

Tommy really liked his xylophone. I knew he would because he loves pianos!


He also got a seahorse gloworm from his Aunt Jeanne.

And this is bright and early Sunday morning, ready to fly to Missouri and see his newest cousin Dylan, (4 weeks old) and his favorite playmate Maggie! Merry Christmas!!