Christmas with the Miltons

We spent Christmas day with Adam's side of the family. 

Brenda made a HUGE breakfast, which was WONDERFUL!
We opened gifts...

We played games...

We hung out and let the kids play with their new toys...

It was a wonderful, restful Christmas with family.

Christmas with theMarum's

Christmas night we went down to Huntersville for Christmas with my side of the family.

My Grandma and Grandpa Dalland came down from PA, and Grandma Marum was also staying (she lives 45 min. away).  Zachary is the only grandchild/great-grandchild/niece or nephew on my side so everyone LOVES watching him.  Ask any one of these people what they think of Z-man "oh he is so smart/cute/good etc..., and I am not just saying that because I am his grandparent/great-grandparent/aunt/uncle.         

Monday mom made omlets...

We opened presents...

and introduced Z-man to his new toys...

We had a great time!

SANTA CAME!

We asked Santa to not go overboard with gifts for us this year because we don't have a lot of space, there isn't anything we need and Zack doesn't understand Santa...yet. 

Since we had to be out the door at 8:30, Adam and I woke up and got ready at 7:30.  We showered, dressed and finally decided to open our gifts without Zack.  We packed the car and waited for Z to wake up.  He finally woke up (with a little help from me making noises in his room) at 8:15.  Of all days to sleep in...
Anyway I think he was a little confused that there were MORE presents for him to open.

However, he quickly got over that...

He got socks, a sippy cup, a toy car, some pj's, goldfish crackers and some puppets...

now what?

Christmas Eve

Adam and I wanted to start a new tradition as a family of 3...until now we had just taken part in our childhood traditions which was fun but having 4 Christmas's was pretty exhausting.  Last year we were in Australia on the beach and unfortunately that option wasn't on the table for this year. 
We began the day with breakfast at the Flying Biscuit Cafe (EXCELLENT...this will defiantly be continued next year.

Then we came home, packed and got ready for a gathering at our friends house.

We all went to Church together.

After church we came home I made appetizers,

Adam poured the wine,

and Zachary examined the gifts.

"FOR ME???"

After our snack we opened gifts...this was a very exciting Christmas for me...I finally came up with a gift for Adam that he wouldn't expect and that he would LOVE, and it was my little man's first Christmas.  I really didn't expect much out of him, but his excitement was awesome.  He was crazy crawling this way and that way opening gifts, playing with new toys, eating bows and smiling and laughing all night. 

We took turns helping him open gifts

yes, he is chewing on wrapping paper...but this is the coolest toy ever for babies who love i-phones.  You can put your phone in here download the Fisher Price App's and your baby can play with your phone without damaging it.  It has a drool guard and a cover for the power button.

he was so overwhelmed that he fell and rolled 3 times over his clothes.

Adam's gift was a Keurig coffee maker (which he opened last)...he began by opening coffee and a thing of creamer that he thought was to bring to work...

but no...it was for his very own machine!

I am super excited because Adam got me a ravioli making attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer. 

basically we officially have a tripped out kitchen.
Of course we had to play with all our new "toys".  My camera strap looks perfect on my camera.  Adam made his first cup of coffee...oh and...

Adam let Z play with his i-phone

Adam blew up the ball pit

I took a turn...they really should have included a pump

This was the most still he was all night

guess who LOVED the blocks...

yep...I was asked to hold Zack back so he could build it really tall

We settled little man down with a bath and a bottle,

We had dinner (baked ziti...perfect make ahead dinner)

and desert...gilato and a canoli (had to keep it Italian...next year I am thinking Mexican).

We hung our stockings on the baby gate hoping Santa would visit!

Caught in the Act

It only took him about 2 weeks to find these gifts under the tree...

Yes I should have known that he would eventually find the gifts and go all "Zack attack" on them...

Part of me was just curious about what would happen...don't worry he only took the bow off his own present.





Yes, this is something we do everyday...

honestly I am just rooting for the little guy to get a hold of the paper and rip it...

meanwhile he is more interested in the bows