now that winter is here officially we see less less bear so the birdfeeder goes back out, filled. ok that's one good thing about winter.

another christmas has passed where we were very blessed.

aiden helped with preparations this year. he loves to help cook, especially when it's just him helping me. admittedly as do i. he also likes to pretend we're on a cooking show.

this year's lego christmas advent calendar was by far the best. it had a lot of christmasy legos, which you would think they all would, but notsomuch. the boys were really awesome about taking their turn opening. funny thing was how they always liked the people the most but then it turned out that aiden's every 3rd day rotation had a person. he was sick of getting lego people every time. never happy right? i tried explaining how normally 3 kids aren't sharing one so for the one child who gets it all to themself, it's fun to get a person every 3rd day.

this year's cmas eve mass was most enjoyable. my mom didn't hang back and cook under the babysitting our littlest guise as in the past since cmas mass is the longest with going early to get a seat and all. aiden chose to wear brett's hat to mass and got lots of attention because of it.

the worst cmas picture ever. all lined up and rip roaring to go to church yeah! a&c are stuffing their faces so i don't have to hear the 'im hungry' line.

so cmas morning! colin asked for two things only. 1.) a remote control like daddy, so he could turn the tv on all by himself! and 2.) a shootin gun. i hadn't planned on santa bringing either because up until early this month when he potty trained all of a sudden, he had been on the naughty list all year. last minute santa thought the big boy undies was enough and colin could not be happier when he saw the gun!

an example of our blessedness this time of year is how my parents come over in the early morning. when the kids wake us up, i call my mom and they over shortly. it's a gift to share the morning with them.

aiden's asked for a metal detector for years... as well as the microscope santa brought.

oh and at the school cmas shop aiden always chooses little grandma to buy a gift for. he's gotten her earrings, a heart necklace and this year, a heart bracelet with grandma inside.

pop got another cowboy hat, a year round one.

boys got old fashioned pop guns.

and a lot of books.

brett got a wrapped gift inside a wrapped gift inside a wrapped gift which had 2 yoga dvds to work on his back.

but those were mere decoys to sandwich the rangers vs devils ticket he got along with his brother who he'll go with in the spring.

i love surprising him.

we've spent the time since simply playing with all our stuff. i seem to remember taking a vacation from the routine with the kids last year as well.