The most wonderful time of the year!

Christmas is full of so many good things!  Here are some photos to remember this sweet Christmas and the festivities that led up to it.

Ryan, Anderson and I ventured out to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens for their big light display.  Ryan and I went just the two of us 3 or 4 years ago, and we thought this year Anderson would like it, too.  He cruised around in his stroller a lot of the time, but he got out for a little exploring too.  

This was the "kids area", so I let Anderson point to the different colors.  I was a little paranoid that someone was going to come fuss at us, but he was loving it, and he was very "gentle". 

Daddy and Anderson checking out the lights garden.  That's a giant watermelon-light behind them to the right.

Lauren and Kyle drove into town the evening of December 23.  With Anderson's bedtime to consider, we all gathered at our house for some pizza and -most importantly- our annual sugar cookie decorating contest.  Our official judge, Grandma, was in AZ this Christmas, so we all had to anxiously await the results over night.  As a regular favorite, but never-before-Champion, my dad got the W this time.  We've all figured this thing out, though, as the last 3 or 4 years the Nativity submission has won.  Next year it will be a battle of the mangers ;).

My mom's house

Kyle's pregnant angel (we are now discouraging thinking outside of the box ;) )

Lauren's soldier/ nutcracker

My train

Ryan's "Polar Express" train

 And the winner.......

Dad's Nativity, complete with marshmallow sheep :)

The next morning was Christmas Eve.  Anderson and I played at home (and he took a great nap, good boy) while Ryan worked until 2.  Then we booked it over to the 3:00 church service with Ryan's family.  Anderson was so good throughout the service.  We've been trying the church nursery (which has resulted in tears for most of the service 2/3 times :(  ), so I was very happy he did so well staying (relatively) quiet with all of us in the service.  Goldfish were crucial to this success.

After church, we hurried over to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop (last year we learned that the Legendary Santa Ryan grew up visiting heads back to the North Pole at 2, leading us to visit Bass Pro Shop).  We called ahead and everything to make sure Santa would still be there.  We were assured that Santa was leaving at 5.  So we hustle in at 4:40 .  We are told by 6 employees who are literally standing in a circle chatting that Santa has an appointment and is gone.  Clearly Santa was not gone, as we could all see him.  We plead our case (I may have whined a bit, but it was for the sake of my baby and Santa!), and they said we could go (they also let the next 6 families go ahead without any trouble.  You're welcome fellow-last-minuters.)  Santa himself was lovely and jolly and seemed very happy to see us.  Anderson not so much.....

Poor baby.  But after I fought to get him on Santa's lap, we were getting that picture!

We figured group shots weren't really an option, so we took a few with "Frosty" before heading out.

We had dinner and opened lots of presents at Nannie and Papa's house.  We forgot our camera, but picture TONS of cute toddler boy clothes, a Little Tykes basketball hoop, a train, lots of books for Anderson.  Plus clothes, PJs, shoes, a purse, etc. for Ryan and I.  And this was all before Santa came!

Speaking of Santa, here are some of our favorite photos from Christmas morning.

The race track from Mommy and Daddy was exciting to play with right away.  Anderson was pretty much content to just play with one or two things, so we had to keep encouraging him to open more.  We had fun, and he was a happy boy!

Santa must have known that Anderson loves LMNO peas and had "loved" the H I J page right out of the book.  As you can see, Anderson was very happy to have a fresh copy of one of his favorite books.

After a yummy breakfast brought to you by MY Christmas present from Ryan...

mmmm... we went with Chocolate Chip waffles this morning, and they were delish!

We had a quick visit from Nannie and Papa and then got ready to head to Montpelier for the rest of Christmas day.  

Happy to be with Grandpa and Grandma!

Sweet boy

Opening presents from Aunt Lauren and Uncle Kyle

Playing with the giraffe from L and K.  It was a hit. :)

Great-grandma sent Chuck the Truck!  We've all been wanting this ever since we saw Liam get one for his second birthday :)

Lauren and Kyle helping get dinner ready.  I was feeling really pregnant (as usual these days), and I wasn't all that helpful :)

Reading with Aunt Lauren

and Grandpa... please notice Grandpa's Christmas present (from my mom), which was a huge hit!  Brookstone sure knows how to make a foot massage-er!  We're all a little jealous...

And our entertainment for the evening...

The next day we took a trolley ride all throughout downtown Richmond.  It was a fun way to see lights beyond our normal "West End" stops.  Poor Anderson wasn't feeling great.  Just as his RSV was getting better, it turns out an ear infection was starting (as we found out at his doctor's appointment the next day).  So he was as snugly as ever.  He did perk up and eat his dinner on the trolley, and he pointed and "oohed" at some of the lights.

Our cute ride

A little nap along the way

Some of the lights

At the James Center.  It was soo cold at this point!

Finally got a group shot of the Harden family.  This was a little Christmas miracle- one shot and everyone's eyes were open!

We ran back up to a great view in Church Hill so that Ryan could get a great sky-line shot.   I've stolen it for the blog. :)

I realize this is a super-long blog, but it's full of lots of happy memories.  AND we're not really finished celebrating yet.  The Parker family gets together for a Christmas party this Saturday.  Even if Ryan and I can't manage to get out the door with a charged battery, memory card, and camera, we can ALWAYS count on Michael to be there taking amazing pictures.  

Merry Christmas!!!