Christmas 2010

It was a wonderful Christmas! Back to work tomorrow, so here are some long overdue pictures...
"Daddy, can't I please try to sit next to the fire?"
Not sure who is more engaged- if you look closely, you can see little Paul crunched up investigating something in Kaitlyn's new play house!The gang on Christmas Eve....At least for now I can play with it by myself....Paul opening up the introduction to his new bike- a new helmet!How nice of Gram and BB to have a huge basement for me to test out my bike in the winter!Kaitlyn wasn't far behind!Gram and BB opening up their "Moose Lodge" moose glasses... lots of fun.Paul and I opening our gifts from the kids which they picked out at the Gettysburg craft fair.Kaitlyn and Uncle Ryan playing with one of her favorite gifts- a teapot from Uncle Ry! There ha been lots of coffee and tea made, and served, in our house this week.Paul and Uncle Ry playing Candy Land. We're still not sure if they really followed the rules....Bring on Play Doh! Making ice cream cones with Uncle Chris.Opening Kaitlyn's first Cabage Patch baby from Aunt Megan and Uncle Chris (which she is constantly checking to see if it has a 'poopy diaper' so it's often naked!)
Another of Kaitlyn's favorite toys- a shopping cart! She filled it up for several days (especially on Christmas day) with anything she could find... somehow it was empty at this moment.Please note a few things in the following picture... Paul is in his 2nd set of PJ's on Christmas morning (Spider Man PJ's- which he put on in the living room immediately after opening them... yes, he got naked at 11am and changed without a blink of an eye in front of all of us!) as well as the scarf to their snowman decorating kit ... Kaitlyn is wearing a pair of plaid pants and a polka-dot jacket which were also gifts (from Uncle Ryan and Santa)- most gifts had to be put on immediately!Paul's newest Eli Manning Jersey from his Uncles!
Uncle Ryan and Daddy need to go to Lego school- it took a LONG time to put together the Toy Story car!

This is on Christmas Eve- Paul set out cookies for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer. He told us that Rudolph was allowed into our house to keep Santa safe.
We also had a fun visit with Aunt Kerry- which resulted in a long game of Toy Story Memory (thanks, Aunt Katherine) and the building (and playing with) an awesome Lego fire truck.

Fun with Aunt Kerry

Also a part of the birthday fun was a visit from Aunt Kerry. Despite the sadness which ensued after her departure (from the kids as well as from me!), we had a great visit. She even tried to get Paul to practice his 'big arms' as we swam in our neighbors pool, but I think his big swimming debut will have to wait until next summer.
Showing off their serious play doh creation from the "hamburger builder":
There was a serious sleeping bag tent/fort/play area/nap area created yesterday morning in which we were all "going to bed" and playing.

A Weekend at the Aspers "Pool"

We decided this weekend to open our own pool club in our backyard- we upgraded from a one-ring inflatable pool to a three ring pool (which is already down to a 2-ring after a hole)- although to Paul, it was "BIG BIG BIG." Uncle Dave and Brian came to test out our membership options Saturday afternoon and Aunt Kerry visited as well.

The pool (and sand table and slide nearby) were a hit- as well as our hot dogs at lunch on the deck. Paul can polish off 1 1/2 without trying, so we're thinking of having him train for the hot dog eating contests when he gets older.
Kaitlyn even got into the pool Sunday afternoon (by then it was a grassy, warm, kind of gross mess) after watching us play in the monrning.
She stayed in for almost half an hour- she seemed to really like it and didn't mind at all when her brother would jump in nearby.


Uncle Ryan came by (and was quicky asked/demanded to borrow one of daddy's bathing suits) and afterwards joined us for a hamburger cake- which daddy and Paul have been eyeing up at the grocery store all summer (it's not quite yet snowman cake season).