GETTING GRAMBOT

The gPad makes him SO HAPPY. So far we're trying to limit it to car trips and restaurants (now that Christmas is over, though I suppose vacation is not...), but we shall see. We'll figure out a time schedule.

Yelling "Come on out Grambot!" as they wait at the gate.

FROZEN

After dropping Uncle Jamie at the airport, we headed over to the nearest movie theater and watched Frozen. Cora ate her weight in popcorn and gummies, and was doted upon by many strangers due to her Princess Sophia outfit (and yes, it was a HUGE struggle to convince her to put on pants and a sweatshirt to leave the house, so they obviously went UNDER the outfit...) The kids both loved the movie from start to finish (Cora even got out of her seat to dance a few times), but the snow/ice monster and wolves scared them. Cora cried when Anna was frozen, then cheered "That was a good one!" when she punched the evil prince. It was hilarious, and us adults really enjoyed the show as well!

THE LINDSAYS

OUR LITTLE PRINCESS

She believes that amulet has magical powers... 

CASTLE WAR

Battering ram vs. eagle canons

CHRISTMAS DAY 2013, IN PHOTOS

Meeting her new baby boy doll from Santa

She named him Joseph, after "Jesus' dada"

Quite pleased that Santa remembered to bring him a Cars bike with pedals

Opening stockings in bed

We made Jean and Jamie Lindsay family calendars containing pictures of the kids and their quotes, since we didn't receive Waddell family calendars this year

Sticky Bun Bundt breakfast break

Just add mimosa and coffee for a merry breakfast!

Professor Lindsay

Bitty Baby got a new snowsuit and jogging stroller

 This is where she opened the Sophia the First tiara and amulet from Uncle Davey and Auntie Taryn and literally SCREAMED because she was so excited. The Princess Sophia dress came next.

Ooh, her first gaming toy! She said "Thank you Grambot and PawPaw!" and James was quite concerned about her sharing (since he hadn't opened his yet...)

That's a robe. James got a blue dog, Cora got a pink princess cat.

First Merida, then Tinkerbell. Both from Gramma. She was so happy to get dress-up clothes from everyone and immediately tried everything on.

Pretend campfire to go with their teepee and "camping closet". Also, you may be noticing that this is now Cora's THIRD set of footie pajamas for the morning. She was WAY too focused on presents and kept having accidents. Sad face.

"I got my own iPad too like Cora!"

Pretty excited about his Legos and also pretty intent on getting daddy to start working on them immediately.

James wasn't the only Lindsay to receive Legos for Christmas. For as long as I've known Jean, she's mentioned wanting a VW bus like she had when she was first married. We made that dream come true. I wonder how long it will take her to figure out those 1300+ pieces?... Good thing she loves puzzles!

Little babywearing mama is getting serious

Cora started to be a bit much for us, so I locked her into one of the giant Amazon gift bags. She wasn't impressed...

Helping James turn Optimus Prime into a big rig

Buster got a present too - a harness! (Because his neck is so THICK that all collars we've tried just don't fit right. Bonus is that now we have something to grab onto when he busts through our legs to escape outside and run like a crazy fool around the neighborhood for games of chase... not amused with that, by the way. Pretty sure the rescue group named him Buster because of this tendency...)

Loving that castle that his Uncle Davey and Auntie Taryn got him, and all the accessories Gramma gave him.

Cookie break

Heading out into the cold to test out that new stroller!

Training wheels on for day one. First  lesson: How to brake.

Somebody was upset that she couldn't catch Maxine...

Fixing that tire with his tool kit

By evening, daddy had set up and charged the LeapPads. Still working on getting the kids to call them LeapPads and not iPads. Though James sometimes calls his a gPad...

Winding down for the night. It was a GOOD DAY!

CHRISTMAS EVE 2013, IN PHOTOS

Opening their gifts from GGmama

Christmas Eve dinner: ham (free in the mail!), sweet potato dumplings, green bean casserole, yeast rolls, cranberry sauce, and salad

We almost forgot to light the candles...

Helping mama make Santa's cookies (complete with clip-on earrings from GGmama)

Helping daddy make reindeer food. We added carrots this year!

Opening their brand new Christmas pajamas from Gramma

The kids were THRILLED with their new jammies - we love how they surprised us over and over again this holiday with the gifts that really made them squeal with joy!

Heading out to see Christmas lights in their new jammies

Frosting Santa's cookies when we got home (at 9:00pm...)

Pointing to the cookie he chose to leave out for Santa

Mama's cookies

Scooping reindeer food onto the driveway

Setting out Santa's cookies and milk near the nativity

Buster said he was cold...

Jude considered snuggling in too...