Christmas Day!!!

I LOVE my BOYS!

I love how Nate is discovering the fireplace while Josh is opening a present.

Now Nate is in the fireplace.  Thank goodness the previous owners never used it or we would have soot and ashes everywhere!

SURPRISE!!!

Just after we finished opening our Christmas Presents there was a nock on our door.  I went to open the door and there was John's mom with her camera taking pictures, John's dad, and two of John's brothers (Gary and Nate).  It was the best surprise and best Christmas present!  It was one of the best Christmas's ever!

Can you tell I was surprised!

Gary and Josh hugging!  Josh was so excited for them to be here!

Nate immediately went to Grandpa Edwards and snuggled with him.  It was so adorable.

Nate and Grandma Shawna

After Josh went to bed that night, we had our second round of Christmas with John's family.  Nate wouldn't go to sleep so we let him come out with us and he had a blast being the center of attention (Josh is usually in the center of attention or does whatever he can to be the center of attention).  Nate was talking up a storm and laughing constantly and he got to open a present all by himself without his big brother interfering.

Josh helped Grandma make dinner one of the nights they were here.  She made authentic fish tacos.  They were soooo delicious!

It took over 30 hours for them to get to our house because of mechanical problems with the airplane.  They were supposed to be to our home 24 hours earlier than they got here.  They were exhausted.

Christmas Eve!

Santa came to our home!

Nate was very curious and liked Santa.  Josh on the other hand was very unsure and a little scared.

This was as close as Josh would get to Santa.  Maybe next year he won't be so scared.

Joshua

"Santy Claus, Why, Why Are You Taking the Christmas Tree?  WHY?"

One of most favorite times and memories of this past Christmas season was reading to Josh every night by the Christmas tree. Out of all the books my favorite and definitely Josh's favorite (because he requested every single night without fail) was "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"

About a week ago, while John was taking down our Christmas Tree Josh said the following:

"Daddy, why, Why are you taking the Christmas tree!?  WHY!?"

"Are you going to stuff it up the chimney?"

"Why are you talking away Christmas! I don't want Christmas to go away!" Josh then proceeded to cry and John had to explain that Christmas would come back and then Josh was fine and was able to stop crying. When John told me this story, it sounded just like Josh. Too bad I wasn't in the room when this happened :( I thought it was so cute, so I had to post it.

Conversation with Josh in August 2009

This was so fun for me to go back and read!  It is now 5 months later and it is amazing how fast these little ones change and fun to remember how there were and what they would say and talk about just a short time later.  This particular conversation was much longer and we had while Josh and I were playing with toys.  I decided to write down what he was saying on a paper near by because I wanted to remember some of it and have a record.  He was so cute at this time!

Josh liked to talk about all of his Iowa friends.  This is what he had to say about a few of them during this conversation that was mostly Josh talking!  He's becoming quite the talker.
"Sammy's always, always eating!
"Sammy's always tired."
"Sammy is in Oregon."
"Elizabeth is always doing puzzles."

"'W' is always Joshua's"
"All the letters are always getting played with."

"Mommy and Daddy went to Africa" (I wish).  I am going to go to Africa too!  I'm going to go to Asia too!"

Josh likes to quiz me from time to time.
Josh: "What letter is this mommy?"
Me: "E"
Josh: "WOW!  Really good job mommy!  E is for egg.  Good job mommy, good job!"

"Mommy, you're a girl.  Daddy is a boy.  Joshua is a boy too."(Good to know).

"Mommy, you got married to Daddy.  I saw the picture of your beautiful dress.  Girls get married in beautiful dresses at the temple."

"Mommy, will you marry me?.... I'm going to marry Hailey and Kate!!!" (We've had many talks on this one, he has lately narrowed it down to marrying Olivia now.  He even asked Olivia's dad for permission the other day.  I have no idea where he learned that.)
"Mommy, you are my best friend!"

Josh: "Mommy, are you happy?"
Marie: "Yes"
Josh: "Oh, Good! (sounding very relieved)...  Mommy, how are you doing?..."