Christmas with the Michaelis'

Christmas - it was only 2 months ago! But, like the Type A that I have always been, I am staying in order with my posts.

We spent the holiday with my in-laws and had a fantastic time. Grandma started a Christmas tree for Justin and has an ornament for each year.


The weather was bitterly cold, but Justin braved the wind by going out and was a pooper scooper with Grandpa. With three dogs in the house, there was plenty to do.


Grandma got a gingerbread house for Justin to make. My wonderful husband took the reins and helped Justin through the tedious craft.


I was quite impressed with Justin's fine motor skills, and how insistent he was in making it look just like the photo on the box.


Justin worked on this thing for a full hour while we listened to Christmas CDs. I just sat on the couch and took photos.


The proud boys and their finished product.


We went to the train exhibit at the Mayborn Museum with grandma and Uncle Kevin while the other men played golf.


Justin loved all the trains.


So many trains


Anytime I can try and get some bokeh on a photo


Justin always loves the tornado


Ryan's girlfriend, Stephanie, got to spend some time with us. Her and Ryan gave this Lightning McQueen game to Justin for his birthday. Derek decided to leave this addictive device at Grandma & Grandpa's house. My mom never allowed video games in our house, and Derek had them at all times. So it's funny to me that he is more adamant than I am about limiting the use of games around Justin.


On Christmas Eve in Waco it snowed! Such a treat that Justin has gotten to see so much snow this winter.


Even Roxy got to run through it while on a bathroom break.


The one day the weather was nice we all ran outside to release the cabin fever.


And I invited my camera along as well. The time of day was just too perfect not to take some photos of my boy.


I am still rather obsessed with the placement of the sun when I have the chance to manipulate it.


Derek used to ride this tractor when he was little.



Steve & Kerry gave Justin a solar powered car for Christmas. We had owned it for 2 weeks before the sun ever came out for us to try it. It was so much fun! If your shadow got in the way then it immediately stopped. Pretty cool even for me.


So did I mention that Justin was waking up early this holiday? As in 4:50am on Christmas Day? Yes, I had dreamed of waking up, cuddling together in our bed, and letting him open his Compassion Child gift from us. I think that before 5am that I was so out of it that that warm fuzzy feeling had not come out from under the covers yet. But nothing stopped the happiness of this little boy!


As usual, Justin was the distributor, and most of the time the opener, of the gifts.


He had such a great time the entire morning. Thank goodness for the in-laws because he didn't get much from mommy and daddy, much less we still don't do Santa. Somehow I think we are okay since we had a trunk full of things on the way home.


Ryan loves Duke basketball, and when he heard that Derek had befriended Shane Battier (a former Duke player), a little birdie told us that he would love a signed anything form him. So for those that know Derek, you would know that he never enjoyed signing autographs for himself in sports because he was just too humble. And never would he run up like the fans and get one for himself. So please imagine the love for his brother as he went over to Shane's house, basketball in hand, and watched him sign a ball. He said he has never been more embarrassed. Thankfully Shane knows him well enough to know that this wasn't normal. Ryan was truly thrilled, so all the hard work paid off.


The one thing that all the boys played with all morning was the nerf gun. Derek saw our Sunday School teacher's oldest boy with one, and he was determined for Justin to have the same thing. I don't know who has more fun with it?


Taking a breather from all the fun.


The dogs, who had sat quietly, started to romp around for our enjoyment. Roxy, always the villain.


And we did manage to take a Christmas card photo of the family on Christmas Day. This was right after I fell asleep on the couch at 11am after being awake for about 7 hours by then.


Such a treat to be with Derek's whole family. We don't get to see his brothers as often, so all of us really had a great time being together. Finally, last post for 2009!