Christmas 2011

Christmas tree 2011!  I love it.

Duke's pile of goods.  Underneath all the gifts is a really sweet table and chairs from Pappy and Grammy.  He is going to love sitting and coloring.

Duke was a little shy when he woke up and came downstairs to see what santa brought him.  There were 10 people in the room watching for his reaction.  When I was his age, this would have caused some serious crying and then hiding.  He slowly warmed up and once he got started opening, it went fast.

Cousin, Avah, showing him the ropes.

Avah is learning to read so I couldn't pass up the set of Beverly Cleary books at costco.  I love that she is reading.

This is one of Duke's favorite toys!  He played with it all morning.  It was a last minute gift from Aunt B, Avah and Travis.

Playing a dsi game with Gramma.

New hat and gloves from Gramma

New potty from Aunt Megan and Marc!

Mom-mom and Pop-pop got Duke a new train table with lots of trains.  He is showing Pappy how it works.

Taking a chocolate milk break with Grammy.  Birthday and Christmas in one weekend will tire any little boy out.

Christmas 2011 is over already and it was very fun and busy.  I feel like all I keep talking about this year is how fast time is going, but geez, I can't believe that it's all over!  I have a two year old and it's going to be 2012!!

It's time to figure out what it is that I want to accomplish in 2012.  I didn't do everything that I wanted to do in 2011 but I think that I made a good chunk in my organizing.  I will continue with that in 2012 and hopefully work on one project a month.  I really need to organize my photos electronically and the prints.  I just hope that my family continues to be healthy in 2012 and beyond.  I won't ask for much else.

Duke's 2nd Birthday!

He got his scooter and some balloons when he came down the morning of the 24th, his 2nd birthday.  Aunt Megan and Marc were here and he was excited.  Aunt B and Avah came over with some birthday presents and sugar free cupcakes!!

Feeling a little shy about all the attention he was getting.  He was snuggling with Daddy, trying to wake up.

Sitting at the head of the table with his Daddy's dinner plate the evening of his birthday!  He's a big boy now.

His birthday cake.  We went with a basic boxed Betty Crocker.  We didn't have a lot of time!

Finally getting to sing his favorite song to himself.  He was singing the loudest of us all.  "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DUKE HORGAN".  I am laughing so hard that I can barely sing.

Our family picture in front of the tree.

Lots of family.

The Horgan family on Christmas Eve!!

More family - yayyy!  All for Duke's birthday.

It is definitely a crazy busy time of year for a birthday but at least family is already getting together and there's lots to do.  It was a whirlwind of a weekend for sure but we all got through it and I think Duke enjoyed himself.  It is almost a week past his birthday and we are finally getting back to our schedule.  I now have a two year old and have officially entered the "terrible two's".  I will probably post more about that later - but not on his birthday post.

He's grown so much over the past two years that I feel like we've had a lifetime with him.  He's an amazing little guy and we love him so much.  I still don't understand where he gets all the energy from.  I get tired just thinking about tomorrow.

A fun Christmas filled weekend!

This is last weekend when we had cousin Avah for the weekend.  We love having her and Duke LOVES having her at our house.  She read to him and his little mother hen.

My boss's son goes to the same high school that Jack did so she bought Duke a LaSalle sweatshirt!  He loves it.

My dessert for the Callahan Christmas party.  Another ice box cake.

The Horgan clan with Santa!  We are growing and growing!

My little family with santa.  We had so muh fun at the firehouse party!  Duke had fun playing with all the little cousins his own age and dancing and singing.

Maybe a future career?

Our little drummer boy.

slash rock star

Mom-mom has the box on her head!!  They did the "shuffle" this year.  Way more energy than I have for sure!  Duke loved it.

We had lots to do this weekend!  I was worried I wouldn't get it all done.  I had shopping, wrapping, baking, oh and showering and partying.  Friday night is when I tried to get most of the baking done and I did.  I also finished my shopping and most of my wrapping.  Saturday we had the Callahan Christmas party to go to.  It's at the firehouse every year and I think now it is up to 102 people!  There are so many little kids!  I love it.  There is dancing and non stop playing.  It's one giant play date.  Duke had a GREAT time.  He loved running around with all the kids and he kept grabbing the microphone.  He is really into opening presents this year.  It is going to be crazy and fun on Christmas morning.  I hope he doesn't get too greedy.  I really want it to be more special than just the presents.  I want him to look forward to the traditions and not just the gifts but what kid doesn't love presents.  Something we have to work on with him. 

I love this time of year.  The chaos and all the running around for the commercialism of the holiday, I could do without but the music, movies and all the family get togethers, I love.  I could sit and relax by the Christmas tree all day long.  I remember always loving having the Christmas tree up.  I get to look back on the year that flew by and realize how lucky I am to have such a good and healthy family.  This economy really stinks right now and times are uncertain but we are healthy and able to work and are surrounded by good people.  We can't get any luckier.  I often think of all the kids in the hospital over the holidays and all the families who can't afford to buy their kids presents and it always makes me a little sadder this time of year.  For as much as I love the joy of the season, I always think about people who are not as fortunate.  I am one lucky girl. 

Polar Express!

I would say that our first train ride was a success and a good time for Duke and Avah.  Lots of treats and a visit from Santa.  What more could two kids ask for?

Our train!  Duke has been asking for a few weeks now and today was finally the day.

Getting ready to board!

Aunt B and Avah getting ready to board our car.

A very happy family on the train. 

Munching on pretzels and smiling for Aunt Jenn!

Avah being goofy.

Getting ready to hand the tickets over to the ticket taker(?). 

Santa talking to Duke and Avah.  Avah wants a ds game and Duke wants a train.  They each got a candy cane and a bell from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Enjoying the sites.

Big hugs from Avah.

And a smooharoo for Duke.



Pictures with Santa 2011

Getting ready to go see Santa at the mall.  We got all dressed for pictures and we are prepared to tell Santa that we want "trains" for Christmas.  And that we want to "ride a train".



The Polar Express is on the t.v., which is what he is staring at.  We are going to ride the "Polar Express" in New Hope/Ivyland tomorrow so we've been talking about it for a few days now.  I think he will be too excited for words.

He wasn't so sure about Santa.  He said that he would tell him he wanted trains and he did but from Daddy's lap.  He also gave Santa a high five.

But when it came time for Daddy to exit the picture, he did not like that one bit.  Not one bit.  So again this year our Santa picture is sad but we will keep trying.  One day he will smile with Santa, one day.

Then we had chick-fil-a for lunch and all was right with the world. 



Tomorrow we are going on a train ride at 9:30 AM.  It's about an hour and a half round trip and Santa gives all the kids a present (ornament) and we all get hot chocolate.  I am excited to see how he likes the train ride because it's all he's talked about for a couple weeks now.  He wants to ride a train.  I am not sure how he will feel about Santa and Mrs. Claus being on board but I think he'll enjoy it.  I am looking forward to it and taking pictures.  He has his jammies all ready to wear.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Evan wondering what the heck that round white creature sitting in front of him is.

Duke at the dinner table scooping up his first black olive.  He is concentrating very hard.

The Donaldson's at Evan's very first Thanksgiving meal.

Three cute cousins hanging out and Gram Gram and Pap Pap's.

Evan in Pappy's hat. He thinks he is pretty cool.

Duke is wearing Pappy's other hat. 

We traveled to central/western PA for Thanksgiving this yar.  As always, it's great to see family but it also is a reminder of how infrequent we can all get together and how far we all live apart.  I don't know if it's getting older or having kids that makes me have a hard time with this.  Anyway, it was a weekend to be thankful and I was very thankful that I got to see my family for the weekend.

We did some shopping, ate some great food and relaxed and just enjoyed the company.  I won't get to see all my family over Christmas but I am looking forward to spending time at home with our local family and having company at the house for Christmas day.  I just hope we all don't get the flu like last year!!  It was crazy.

We got the Elf on the Shelf out for Duke.  He seems to enjoy it and the undecorated Christmas tree.  The first thing he said this morning was "Christmas tree" and he came down, turned on the lights and then looked for his elf.  I love it!