Our Daily Roandezvous

Christmas Morning

I think I was more excited about this Christmas than I have been since I was a kid. It was all because Noah is now old enough to enjoy opening his presents. He had fun on Christmas morning opening all his presents, Avery's presents and playing with everything.

Avery woke up around 8:00, so we fed her and then went to wake up Noah so he could come see what Santa brought. He had been talking all week about Santa coming to bring his toys, flashlight and super computer, that I expected him to jump out of bed. Instead he was a little hesitant to come out of his room, though he seemed to warm up the idea once he saw what Santa had brought. Then he got a little overwhelmed again about halfway through and started throwing a fit, so we stopped ate some breakfast and then resumed out festivities. That is when he really got into it and started having some fun opening his stuff. I know Christmas is going to get more and more exciting the older my kids get and we have some early morning ahead of us.

By now my camara has really had it, so we had to take pictures with the video camara which is why the quality is lousy.

Santa brought some Elmo slippers.

Playing with his brand new Super Duper Computer. Santa listens when you are a good boy.

Favorite new toy.

Baby girl just sittin back while we do all the work opening her stuff.

Wow, I got a new mobile. Cool, I will sleep in peace now.

Christmas Eve

Jeremy and Kristin got home from the Hawaian honeymoon on Christmas Eve morning so we did Marino Christmas at our house on Christmas Eve. I left the kids and Eric at home and went to church, and Eric started cooking. He made shrimp poboys and a barbeque shrimp appetizer. It was all delicious. Then we opened a bottle of wine and opened presents. Of course, my camara started acting up again so I only got a very few pictures, and none of anyone but Noah. Oh well, a good time was had by all, and the shrimp was so good we hope to make it a tradition.

hmmm, wonder what Noah got.

Oh wait, you mean this is for Avery, not me.

He had so much fun with this t-ball set that he hardly wanted to play with his toys on Christmas morning and kept going back to this one.

Messenger's Christmas Land

The Messenger's Christmas Land is a Baton Rouge tradition. It is one house and one family that sets up a spectacle of Christmas lights and displays for everyone to enjoy. I think they have been doing it for at least the last 30 years. I remember going every year when I was a kid and am excited to be able to go with my kids ever year.

I have been asking Eric to go all season long but we have been so busy that we only go to go last week. As soon as Eric got home from work we loaded up the kids and drove to Denham to eat dinner and then go look at the Christmas lights. Since it is just one house in a neighborhood you have to drive and park carefully on the street. Then you walk a couple blocks down the house. Like I said they have lots of lights and different displays set up that are fascinating for kids. They have some of the original ones from when they first started doing this and I think they add a new display every year.

Noah seemed to enjoy looking at everything and especially enjoyed seeing Santa in the airplane and seeing the Sesame street display. Avery of couse just slept in her stroller, but cried the entire way home because she was hungry and I didn't think we would be there long enough to pack a bottle.

Overall it was an enjoyable evening which is what we needed to get in the holiday spirit after such a rushed December.

My camara started acting up so I only got a few pictures, but here is one of the displays. The elves and toys all move to simulate Santa's workshop.

Another display. You push the button and Santa pops out of the box.

Christmas at Gammy and Poppy's

The day after the wedding we went to Poppy and Gammy's for Christmas with them and the Duffy's. Noah was excited to be with his family and to be able to open presents.

Funny story. Poppy and Gammy were nice enough to give us there bedroom for the weekend since we had to get up with Avery in the middle of the night. The first night Avery was in the pack and play and Noah was in the bed with us. Notice, I did not say Noah slept in the bed with us. Noah tossed and turned all night long. He would try to talk to Eric and I. He would randomly count things in the bedroom. He would poke us in the face while pointing out our eyes, nose etc. He did it all except sleep. Needless to say, Eric and I didn't get much sleep that night either. The next night, Noah was moved to another bed where he slept for about 14 hours straight, which he should have done since he had 4 late nights in a row between the rehearsal, wedding, visiting family and Christmas.

I just wanted to document this story to remind myself why Noah does not and will not sleep in our bed.

Ready to open his present. Since everyone would say "Oooh look what you got Noah," by the end of the day he would tear off a tiny piece of paper and say "Oooh, look what Noah got".

He loved all of his presents, but I think he had the most fun bringing the trash to Uncle Micha. He would start to get a little cranky and we would hand him some wrapping paper and he would run to Micha and put the trash in the trash bag.

Poppy and Fammy and all their grandkids.

MeMaw and Baby Avery. I think we figured out she was great grandchild number 13.

Bright eyes after his full night of sleep.

Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Baby girl sleeping through the festivities.

Klaire showing Noah his picture on the Christmas tree.

Cracka and Sissy's Wedding

On December 17th, Jeremy married Kristin, or in the words of Noah, Cracka married Sissy. It was a beautiful wedding and the reception was a blast. The bride was beautiful, the groom was handsome, and Noah was a great ringbearer. It is amazing what bribing a kid with candy will do.

Noah was told all week, that he had to walk down the aisle carrying a pillow in Cracka's wedding and Cracka would give him a peppermint. During the rehearsal Noah literally ran down the aisle, whereas the flower girl cried and didn't want to go at all. During the wedding, Harley ran, and Noah just sauntered down carrying his pillow and went to get his candy.

We all had a blast during the reception at the old Governors mansion. It was a beautiful reception and alot of fun too. Noah had the best time dancing, and was quite entertaining. He lasted until the end of the party at midnight which surprised Eric and I, and wasn't even cranky the next day. This was quite a feat considering we were up until 11 the night before for the rehearsal dinner.

There are quite a few pictures here, and they are kind of out of order because they came from a couple different camara. After bringing Avery to the rehearsal we decided to get a babysitter for the wedding, so you won't see her in any of these pictures.

Dancing with Baba and PoPaw

This was a little embarassing. Noah decided during the father/daughter dance that he wanted to go see Sissy, so off he went before I could catch him. I am glad they didn't seem to mind.

Dancing with Harley.

Who's got rhythm?

Bridal party.

Handing Cracka his pillow in exchange for his candy.

What a stud.

First glimpse of his beautiful bride.

My handsome boys.

My stunning Mom and handsome Dad. Yes, ladies and gentleman he did wear a tux and kept it on all night. He even wore big boy shoes, even though he really wanted to wear his flip flops.