Merry Christmas

We spent Christmas with Gram, Grandpa Tim and Big Mike.  Obviously, it was fabulous. 

 Starved Rock is one of my favorite places to go in IL.  We  went on Christmas Eve.  The boys were tired and cranky but I loved it.  It's so beautiful there. Funny story.  On Christmas Eve Tyler and Mikey were both whiny, tired, cranky...you know how it goes.  We put them down early and they woke up happy, but I died laughing on Christmas morning when Tyler said, "Oh yah...I tricked Santa!  I was naughty and he STILL came!" 

 Gram has a two wheel bike which Ty was all over.  He can't wait to be a big boy and ride on his own.

 The local YMCA has an amazing indoor pool which we frequented. 

Again, both boys had a great time.

 As usual, Gram led singing time.

 When Tom was growing up, they always had a birthday cake on Christmas Eve to remember that we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus's birth.  We've continued that tradition.  Too bad it's hard to get the boys excited about having cake.  :)

 Christmas Morning!  Mikey is cleaning up the crumbs that Santa left on his cookie plate.

 The pictures are out of order.  This wasn't on Christmas.  Big Mike brought a friend to visit before Christmas and Ty was obsessed.  In fact, during dinner one night he quietly reached over and grabbed her hand, then he lifted it up and kissed it.  What a ham. 

 Back to Christmas Morning...Love, Love Gifts!

 Again, not on Christmas.  Tyler was disappointed that there wasn't enough snow to sled.

 Christmas afternoon and evening we had a big family party and the kids got hooked up (again) with tons of great gifts.  The boys were excited to have cousins over to play.

 Tom and I Christmas Morning.

I'm always overwhelmed by how much love I feel from my family and Tom's.  I'm blessed to be surrounded by such amazing people.  Here's to a great 2012.