Presents and much more

Christmas walk 2009

Have you ever watched a two year old crush ice?

It's entertaining to say the least.

He may be little but his determination is fierce.

Thanh Tran is my guru.

Isn't she GORGEOUS?

Come to mama.

Cold and cranky.

Aidan and Ethan are ready for an afternoon snack.

Bike lights from Unlce Brian set the standards high for the rest of the presents piled under our tree.

A serving dish from Portugal. Thanks Thanh and Brian.

Aunt Thanh and Uncle Brian take every opportunity to be with Aidan and Ethan.
We've made many memorable play dates.
Our family created a photo journal for them of the good times we've shared together.

We had to draft a west coast baller to the east coast.

The kids got mommy new camera gadgets.

I used a lense hood to take this picture.

Cheers to better photos in 2010.

Ethan carried this around saying

"I make this, I make this".

He and Aidan made the wrapping paper for their dad.

Grandma and Grandpa want to know what Aidan and Ethan knows.

Ethan wants a piece of the action.

I don't blame him.

This is the result of two Tran's in the kitchen.

A lot of SPICE.

Uncle Brian entertains Aidan until we were ready to eat.

Happy nephew, happy uncle.

With Grandpa by his side Ethan made it through Christmas dinner without a spill. Thanks G!

Apple cider connoisseur.

Grandpa Mike made out with the best gift of the year. I was so jealous that he got to savor a calm sleeping Ethan.

The Key

I've never been a big believer in mushy love stuff until I met the love of my life. If you are the old me, this blog is not for you. Prior to our date in NYC Kyle handed me this envelope and said we need to make a stop at this address sometime in the day. I thought is was a ticket to a show and was confused when Broadway was no where on the address.

So beautiful, so inspiring, winter white and so festive.

"Come on we're here, you're going in"!

We walked into Tiffany!

Kyle proceeded to escort me to the sixth floor to customer service where we picked up The Key. A rush of love and romance flooded over my being. I wanted to take him right then and there.

It started to snow as we visit the sites of Rockefeller Square. Snow on the nose was all I needed to feel on cloud nine. It's great to know that after five years of being married the magic of romance is more alive than ever.

Kyle is my fountain of youth.

Christmas Eve

Aidan and Ethan got to have their own Christmas

tree this year. We decorated it with all the cookies cutters they own. The tree is perfect for Aidan and Ethan. Like them, it came all the way from Zurich.

They had supper with our Elf on the Shelf Morris on his last watch night. The kids started the meal by eating all their veggies first. Aidan and Ethan helped set the table. Doesn't it look great?

See you next year Morris.

After a long soak in the tub, they got Santa's snack ready.

Two thumbs up:

ready - set- go to bed sign.

Aidan counted nine carrots for the reindeers. Aidan and Ethan gave Santa their night pull ups and diapers. Aidan saved the cookie he decorated at school for Santa. He's been hiding it from Ethan for seven days.

Christmas at our house.

Once the boys were tucked into bed. Brian, Thanh, Kyle and I worked to make all the details of Christmas apear by morning. Santa's sack was left in the fire place.

The big ol' tree.

Santa town

Priceless wrapping paper.

Kyle had the hard job of making these crumbs look like a Santa original.

Winter wonderland

Happy Holidays!!!

We went walking on this Christmas Eve

in a winter wonderland.

Aidan looking for a birds' nest.

In the distant Kyle spotted these icicles.



"Awesome Dad!"




We each got a turn to carry the icicle back to the start of the trail. Each person took on a different interpretation of what it looks like. Aidan used it for band practice.

Uncle Brian with the javelin.

A more pratical thinker, Aunt Thanh modeled it as is.

All was calm until Kyle's cannons ripped through the air.

Ethan wines up for a big one.

Be merry.

Ethan and Uncle Brian

Ethan and Dad

Aidan and Aunt Thanh

Giddy up horse!

Me and my first born.