Christmas at Mimi & Papa's

Christmas morning sure was an exciting one. We knew that Liam was well aware that "Santy Claus" was coming but didn't know if he was quite old enough to wake up with that "can't wait to get downstairs" excitement. Well he mostly certainly did and I found him jumping and dancing on the bed upstairs after I double checked to "make sure" that Santa Claus came (aka: got the video camera ready, put the battery back in the camera, started a pot of coffee, etc.) This was a tactic used every year by my father to drive us kids absolutely crazy! 

Peaking down the stairs at the crowd actually awaiting his arrival! I don't know who was more excited.

We were all making such a fuss over him he got a little nervous.

Leftover cookie and a note from "Santy Claus"

Trying to figure out how best to get all of the loot out of his stocking. I think if the hole had been a little bigger he might have climbed right in. 

In awe of Mimi's Christmas tree and especially excited that Mommy was asking him to touch the ornaments. 

Christmas Traditions

Last year we started the tradition with Liam of opening one special present on Christmas Eve, a tradition carried down from my family. My mom always gives matching pajamas on Christmas Eve and still does! Now for the "big" kids who will not let her out of it and the little kids who actually look cute in matching pajamas. Not wanting to steal her tradition, we started one of our own which is opening a special Christmas book. This year given our fascination with trains, we thought it appropriate for Liam to get the Polar Express and he absolutely loved it.

A Graning Family Christmas

This year Rolf was able to take a week of leave for Christmas and we took advantage of that week by heading to North Carolina to spend some much needed time with family. We spent the first part of the week in Sylva with Rolf's entire family we celebrated an early Christmas with us on the Tuesday before Christmas. I did a horrible job of taking pictures while we were in Sylva so here are just a few from our time there.  

Liam absolutely loves his Uncle Charlie. They both share a fascination with trains!

Don't let this picture fool you, these two can definitely cause some trouble. 

Christmas on the Farm

This year we tried to take advantage of the many Christmas festivities that the DC area has to offer. Early in December we headed out to a community farm in Derwood, Maryland, for a Christmas hayride and open house. Liam had a great time going on the hayride, climbing on the tractor, and checking out all of the farm animals. I was even able to talk my boys into posing for a little Christmas card picture!

Merry Christmas from the Graning Family!

A Christmas Cookie Play Date

Before heading to North Carolina for Christmas Liam had his good friend Hunter over for a Christmas cookie play date. The boys had a great time rolling out the dough and cutting out the cookies but by far their favorite part was decorating and eating them.  

Check out the flour all over Liam's face! He thought rolling out the dough was super fun!

Liam's most favorite part about decorating cookies is eating the icing!

Our own "Polar Express"

As you might have guessed we have a small obsession with trains going on at our house so it only seemed appropriate to build a gingerbread choo-choo train instead of a gingerbread house for Christmas. Liam and I had a fun afternoon building and decorating the train. Decorating the train for Liam meant eating as much icing and as much candy as possible before mommy put it on the train.