Christmas 2009

Sven's Mom and sister Bridget were supposed to fly in on December 19, but due to our 'blizzard' they didn't actually arrive from Atlanta until December 21.  (And boy was it stressful finally getting them here with all of the flight cancellations going on one week before Christmas!)  We were thrilled when they finally got here!

Nikolas and Grandma have started a Christmas tradition of baking cookies together.  And for those of you who don't know, Sven's mom is the head pastry chef for Coca-Cola in Atlanta....so these aren't your basic Christmas cookies!  Nikolas loves this special time with Grandma.

While Mom and Bridget were here, Sven was able to arrange a private tour of the White House's East Wing for all of us.  It was so neat touring the White House while it was decorated for Christmas.  It was beautiful.  We were trying to imagine what it would be like to call the White House 'home'!  Since we weren't allowed to bring anything with us for the tour, I wasn't able to even capture pictures outside.  Kinda like those souvenoir t-shirts say....."and all I got....." was this White House Christmas puzzle.  =)  Mom and Bridget had it put together in no time!

And this was de ja vu all over again....Nikolas working at a loose tooth, working at it and working at it until.....THIS!  Look at this smile, would ya?!!  Yikes!  =)  (Yes, his tongue is poking through the hole in his teeth!)

Christmas Eve we did something none of us had done before.....we went and saw a movie.  We saw "A Christmas Carol" starring Jim Carey at the base theater.  It was kind of a neat thing to do -- they played Christmas songs before the movie and Santa arrived and passed out candy canes to the kids.  It was fun!  We took these family photos before our outting.

As Darryl, Jackie, Kyla and Talicia directed, Nikolas was allowed to open one gift on Christmas Eve.  It was a Pittsburgh Steelers Christmas ornament.  Nikolas (and Sven!) were thrilled!  Thank you, thank you!

And before we knew it, Christmas morning was upon us and so was Nikolas.... at 6', 6:30 and finally 7' am!  Boy was he excited!  (I'll spare you all  of the pictures of Nikolas opening gifts and inlcude only some from  family we want to thank and those with extra special expressions.)

Thank you, Darryl, Jackie, Kyla and T!  Now Nikolas is prepared for his 'Hometown Day' in January when he can wear clothes to school representing his hometown....I'd say Missoula is close enough!  =)

Ok, this one was from Sven and I....but don't you just love that expression?!

This gift from Grandma and Grandpa sustained some serious excitement.  Nikolas had been asking for this Star Wars helmet every day for over three months.  You can just imagine his excitement when he opened this box from Grandma and Grandpa and found THE helmet.  WHEW!   Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa!

Our delicious dinner......

....and Rascal's.  =)

And after a day's worth of activities and eating, we were all fat and happy.  =)  And as it is every year, we contemplate how months of anticipation can possibly be over in just one day.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is looking forward to a Happy New Year!!!  (2010??? WOW!)

The "Blizzard of 2009"

Sven got his wish....his eternal wish for snow.  And he kept getting his wish.....and getting his wish.... and getting his wish.  His wish lasted a full 24 hours and caused all sorts of chaos for the east coast.   The airports were closed for 2 days and schools closed the entire week.  We never thought we'd see this kind of snow in MD.  Sven and Nikolas were beyond ecstatic!  Nikolas played until we made him come in to thaw out and Sven shoveled snow for hours despite his broken ankle.  Boys will be boys!  I'll have to admit that it sure was beautiful and "since we've no place to go (since the airport is closed and Grandma's flight is cancelled) let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!"

Is that my car or a UFO?

 What a white-out it was-- we could barely see across the neighborhood.

Wet?  Cold?  Who cares?!?!

Have you ever seen people ENJOY shoveling snow like this?!

Nikolas' fort looked so cute decorated for Christmas with the lights shining in the snow.

That's our happy snow boy!

This is the view of our neighborhood out of the back of our living room.

I'd have to say that our house looks pretty good all decorated and white.

The children came from out of nowhere and conquered the hill of snow that the snowplows had piled up on our corner.  Oh did they have fun!

Who knows if we'll see snow again like this while we're here.  Either way, we have some great memories from this blizzard!