Jesus' & Andy's Birthday

This is probably going to be my longest post yet, but there were just so many happy moments over the past week!  Our official celebrations began the Saturday before Christmas.  (I say official although technically, I have been celebrating Christmas since Andy gave the green light for us to listen to Christmas music all the time.  We have yet to stop listening.)  On Saturday, we went to my cousins' house on my mom's side.  We did our traditional secret Santa exchange and Benj got to hangout with his favorite godparents-- Uncle Joe and Auntie Anna!  As you can see, he was loved on all night long.  I do not have a ton of pictures from this night, but fun was definitely had by all!

I had to go back to work for a day on Monday, but thankfully I had the yearly "Eve of the Eve" party to get me through the day!  It was hard to concentrate at work when Andy was sending me cute pictures like the one of Ben having a staring contest with a deer, but as soon as I signed my last note, I couldn't run to my car fast enough.   The "Eve of the Eve" party is a party that Andy's family does with some of their close family friends.  Andy has known them his whole life, so they love seeing him all grown up. :)

Again, I failed to take party pictures, but this is only because we were having so much fun eating, drinking, and being merry.  Oh, and because I spent a lot of my time chasing Ben so he didn't break all of the breakables.  He seems to be a magnet for those!  Ultimately, the hostess let him go through one of her kitchen drawers, which Ben was more than happy to do.  On Christmas Eve day, I was in heaven that I got to hang out with my boys all day.  Ben is obsessed with our tree, and now that Christmas is over, he is finally leaving it alone.  He would go grab a light or throw a toy at it and then say, " Nooooo!"  You're right bud...NO!

Since Andy's birthday is Christmas, we tried to celebrate it as it's own day!  (As we always do!)  Ben helped me pick out and wrap daddy's presents.  Oh, and then he helped open them too.  Such a sweetie pie.  He then proceeded to prove that babies do indeed prefer boxes to the actual contents of the boxes. 

Our little family of 3 went to church on Christmas Eve at 4:00PM, instead of our usual midnight.  Despite getting there 30 minutes early, the place was packed, but we were able to get front row seats in the good old crying room!  Ben was actually very well behaved and I think we would have even been safe outside of the room as well.  Thankfully, Ben was able to squeeze in a quick nap before we were on to our next party.  We celebrate with my dad's extended family on Christmas Eve.  I was slightly very hesitant to bring Ben, as the party didn't start until 7:00, but he was a CHAMP and lasted until 9:30.  As always, it was great to catch up with family that we only see about once a year.  They all loved seeing Ben, of course!  

I was so happy that we had a true white Christmas this year!  I can't even remember which days it was snowing because there were so many snowy days and I loved each and every one of them.  I think the snow is so pretty, and it just doesn't feel like Christmas to me without it.  I don't know that Ben was totally in shock when he woke up to a bunch of presents under the Christmas tree, but with a little prompting he jumped right in and started opening.  He would bring each present over to Andy, and then he would rip it apart.  He loved his alphabet puzzle, shopping cart/food, and iPad cover.  :) 

The next stop was my mom's house.  As always, her festiveness did not disappoint!  The fruit tree alone would have made Benji the happiest boy in the world.  (Sorry, no whole grapes for you, little man.)  I was not so secretly hoping he would eat one of those donuts, but no such luck.

Believe it or not, the box for Andy's beloved coffee grinder was actually Ben's favorite.  He loves peak-a-boo, so he was in heaven when we put him in the box so he could pop up and down over and over and over.  

For the record, Ben wore the same outfit, I believe 3 days this past week.  There are only so many days a year you can get away with this adorable ensemble.  Actually, he could probably pull off this look 365 days a year.  

We couldn't stay at my mom's too long, because our next party was at 11:00.  Next stop: my cousins' house on my dad's side.  We were all spoiled some more, and Benj got to follow around his cousins, grandpa, aunt, uncle, etc.  I love this boy to pieces, but it is also nice that he likes to be with other people too!

I have to include the one and only picture with my sibs from Christmas.  Yep, oldest and shortest on the right there.  

It was nap time for ALL of us before it was time for Christmas Day party #3.  I am not one for taking naps, but the Christmas Story was on, (I think) it was snowing a bit, and well, I was tired, so it was the perfect combination for a heavenly nap.  After we were all well rested, we headed over to Andy's parents house for our final Christmas celebration.  Although Andy got a lot of birthday love, we finally sang to him at his parents' house.  Ben even had a few bites of his ice cream cake, which is a holiday in and of itself!

Although we thought Ben would be sick of celebrating, he partied like a rockstar yet again.  The beautiful snow was falling yet again and it was the perfect ending of a perfect day.  Ben even played some Christmas songs with me on the piano.  My heart was so full by the end of the day.  This was truly the best Christmas ever.  It is exhausting trying to make sure we see everyone, but we are blessed that we all live close enough that we are able to do this.

Although we were able to celebrate Andy's birthday on several occasions, Auntie Anna graciously offered to Benji-sit the day after Christmas so that we could have a date night!  I made a comprehensive list of 8 restaurants and 8 bar/post-dinner activities/dessert options that I thought Andy would like.  It was a multiple choice test of sorts and he had to choose one from each category.  He made excellent choices and we ended up at a Middle Eastern restaurant and then we went to one of our new favorites, a wine bar.  It is quaint and cozy with a fireplace and games--again, perfection.  For the record, the birthday boy won the game (of luck!) that we were playing.  ;)

On Friday, we had a lazy day of cleaning, shopping, working on house projects, and eating!  Andy is an awesome shopping partner, so I guess I shouldn't' have been surprised that Ben is a great shopper as well.  We picked up my mom for lunch before heading to the mall.  This kid was a total angel at each and every store we went to.  

Although it seems like we were doing things non-stop, there was plenty of time for play and typical Benji shenanigans, including waking up with your arm out of your sleeve.  "I have NO idea out this happened, momma!"

We were even able to use his beloved sled a few more times.  Ben has gotten a lot of use out of his boots and snowsuit, although it is hard to walk in the snow when it is above your knees!

We ended our day today with a hike through one of the parks near our house.  I'm not sure if Ben found it relaxing or boring, but either way, he was out cold by the end of our little adventure.  

Tomorrow is my 6th and final day of vacation before it's back to work.  Boo!  Thankfully I have off New Years' Eve and Day!  I am going to miss my boys so much!!!