Jingle Bells (Instrumental)

The video of him NOT SINGING at the school Christmas program.

Jingle Bells

The video of him actually singing at home, where no one was watching!

Photo Flashback

Okay, so I couldn't pick. There were actually about 5 photos in this group that I wanted to include because they were so cute . . . but here are my favorites of each of the twins from that day in history.



Sawyer, fascinated by shadows and light, even at 11 months. They still captivate him.



Xander's smile has always been infectious - big and happy and mischievous!

(December 10, 2006)

The Official Greeting . . .

The cards went out at the beginning of the week . . . hopefully everyone has actually received theirs by now. If not, well, here you go . . .

How much do we love the fruit snacks in the photo? We tried those and even suckers, and this was the best we could do. I won't mention the PhotoShop-ing either, as in Xander actually being from a totally different outtake picture. I like how the finished photo looks like Connor and Xander are eyeing Sawyer, wondering if he's going to start screaming again. This was his year to HATE the Christmas card photo session. Connor's turn is next. Oh, the joy . . .

The Magic

Connor is at that really, really fun age right now . . .



where Christmas trees, lights, and ornaments . . .



and candy canes and thoughts of presents are all he can think about.

I love to see his eyes light up and hear the excitement in his voice. He's so excited about Christmas this year. As soon as we got home from preschool today, we had to put the ornament that his teachers Miss Julie and Miss Crystal made for him. The first thing he does in the mornings, before even coming into our room or calling out for us, is to run downstairs and plug in the lights on the Christmas tree - even sometimes going back upstairs and climbing back into bed!

And, as most four-year olds will do, he's focusing mostly on the bright and shiny. But, we're working hard to make sure he still gets the other aspects, too. I let him help put stamps on the Christmas cards, talking about how much people he doesn't get to see very often will enjoy seeing him and his brothers on the card and how it's a fun way to keep in touch with everyone. When it was time to shop for the other kids in our extended family, I took him along and we talked about how picking out a fun gift to make someone else smile at Christmas time is even better than getting one (yeah, probably not getting through on that point just yet). And his Christian preschool is working on the religious history of the holiday, teaching him the story of the first Christmas and helping him learn carols that are both religious (Happy Birthday, Jesus!) and fun (Jingle Bells, anyone - he sings this one non-stop of late).

It's just going to be a fun year, watching him discover the magic. Tomorrow is his first-ever Christmas program at preschool (there will be pictures, of course)! I'm not sure if his excitement can make it two more weeks, but we're going to try . . .