Happy New Year!! We hope everyone had a great holiday season. We sure did. It was definitely loaded and busy, but filled with fun moments and memories. This holiday season was especially enjoyable with the twins. They both seemed to 'connect' with the spirit of the season (of course this might all change now that they have been through a round or two of 'presents'!). They enjoyed the decorations (trees, ornaments, lights, stockings, etc) in our house and around the city. They enjoyed singing and dancing to holiday music ('Jingle Bell(s) Rock' was a favorite...Clare still asks for it to be played almost every day!). Papa's dream for the twins to love Christmas as much as he does is very much on track (Clare continues to ask to wear her green and red Santa Christmas socks). All in all, it was a fun month watching happy twins enjoy the Christmas season.
Our holiday season officially kicked off the day after Thanksgiving (those who know Chris know how much work I have done to keep it from starting the day after Halloween!), when we set out to find the perfect Christmas tree!
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| All bundled up and headed for the tree lot! |
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| The adjacent playground proved to be more exciting, but we found our tree! |
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| 24 hours later, the twins and their papa admire the new living thing joining in our household (which, incidentally, was gone by MLK Day, though Papa would have preferred a Valentine's Day take down) |
Next on the list of Christmas to-do's was a visit with Santa. This year, Santa became an often talked about character in our household, mostly because of the 'farting Santa' stuffed toy we have (that is no longer...Trig must not have thought it was so funny), but also because he 'brings presents'.
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| Waiting for the big guy in the red suit...someone looks intimidated, someone else looks excited |
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| Clare took Santa's lap first...roller coaster style...thanks for playing along, Santa! |
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| And, yep, this year's Santa photo.. |
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| ...was nearly identical to last year! |
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| Thanks to the Swedish Fish (we visited Santa at Andersonville's Swedish American Museum), we were able to distract Luke long enough to get a decent family shot with Santa. |
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| The twins celebrated the 'successful' Santa visit with ice cream at Lady Gregory's! |
As the weeks before Christmas rolled by, box after box showed up at our house.
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| Much to the twins delight! |
The twins attended some holiday events where they dressed to impress.
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| Our Little Drummer Boy....and Girl! |
Then, came the presents! The first round were opened during a visit from Grandma Steffie and Grandpa Dan.
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| Let the unwrapping begin! |
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| Hey, we can get used to this! |
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| Clare looking casual during her first showering of presents |
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| Clare enjoying her new doll...Luke helping Papa open his gift |
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| Papa learning how much 'fun' un-packaging the packaging can be |
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| Helping Daddy pry open his 'Man Crate' |
Next, it was off to Kansas to celebrate Christmas with the Knapp side of the family.
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| With this many days left til Christmas, we headed out for a long 10+ hour overnight drive! |
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| The twins loved the 'new tradition' we established of opening 1 gift on Christmas Eve |
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| Twas the Night Before Christmas...(with their cousin Keira) |
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| We didn't see him ourselves, but Santa put together a nice, little display for the twins for Christmas morning...trains, of course, for Luke, and Peppa Pig's house for Clare! |
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| Presents, presents, and more presents! |
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| As they get BIGger, this gift will be more and more fun |
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| Clare and her reindeer, Clarice |
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| Trains, trains, trains |
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| Grandma and Grandpa Knapp got us cars!! |
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| Time to feed her new baby |
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| Where there were cars or trains, there was Luke |
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| Thanks for a great Christmas, Grandpa! |
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| Ahhhhhhhhh, two dads survived another Christmas! |
Best wishes to all for a great 2017!
