David is Two!

Oh David. You are two. You've been sleeping in a big boy bed for months because you decided to crawl out of the crib this summer. You know how to open doors and the refrigerator with "baby proof" locks on them. Sometimes you spend your days taking anything Will decides to pick up, vrooming your cars on the walls, eating toothpaste, unrolling toilet paper, and dumping out every toy you have just for the fun of it.

Happy Birthday!

I love the big elephant tear streaks in this one, he was unhappy that we were waiting and took the temping cake away.

Oh David. You are two. You sit and quietly and look at books with an air of amazement and wonder. You never forget your brother and when we are leaving the house or when he is sleeping. You ask "please" for everything, even things you shouldn't have. You soften our hearts when you point out the picture of Jesus or when you recognize your grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in photos or on the phone. You say "beep" when you walk backwards...in fact sometimes we wonder if we are raising a truck instead of a little boy! You spend hours with your cars and trains. You like holding a hand going down the stairs--not for the help but for the company. You are your Daddy's little boy who still to loves Mom a whole lot too.

The red "You Are Special" Plate (trust me, it says that under the food)

Cars cake compliments of Dad

So excited! It is hard to believe he was ever a little baby.

Blowing out the candles; now he can officially turn two.

Christmas Day

David woke up somewhere in the 5 am hour...we were prepared with the movie Cars on Brad's laptop. David watched his show while we tried to snooze. William woke up at a much more reasonable 6:30. Brad was more excited than anyone and reports that he couldn't sleep well last night. Just like when he was a kid.

David walked over to his chair and promptly sat in it after clearing space by sliding the cute pile of presents off. He then demanded that Will sit in the chair next to him.

I think the chairs were a hit!

We lazily opened gifts until the afternoon. David did ok at unwrapping. He would always for "help please" so he could play with whatever he had opened. He didn't really care much about moving onto the next thing. Will ended up liking some of David's gifts which worked out when big brother decided he wanted what Will had.

Much of the day was spent playing with GeoTrax or as David says train tracks.

It was a relaxing Christmas with a few surprises and a lot of fun for the kids. We are converted to not traveling during the holidays.

Jammies, Books, and Santa

Christmas Eve wouldn't be Christmas Eve without opening our jammies and books and calling our parents/grandparents to let them know what we were about to do.

Grandma Kathy asks David to touch his tummy.

Mom helps Will open his first Christmas PJ's.

Merry Christmas!

Don't ever let anyone tell you it is all about the gift.

Only the box and paper actually matter.

My boys. All three.

David hasn't had feet in awhile but he kept pointing out his "shoes" so I think they were a hit.

Santa was SO EXCITED for our first New England Christmas he came early....

We discovered his gifts and realized that we'd better go to bed!

David and William slept soundly and had no idea that "Ho, Ho, Ho" had been here.

One cute reindeer rear...Happy 1st Christmas Will.

The Sweedish Dinner

Proof that year one of the Lyon family tradition of a Swedish dinner on Christmas Eve happened.

Couldn't pass up the formal place settings--mixed with paper stuff for the kids of course. Don't mind my table cloth that doesn't quite make it to the end of our "fancy" dining room set up.

Authentic Swedish candlesticks. I didn't know it then, but they were a sweet gift.

It was a success! We didn't get the bread perfect, but it was still edible. Brad loves being in the kitchen cooking and baking my family traditions into reality. Lucky me. Am I becoming too dependent? I'm not sure I could be a host all by myself.

Note Ryan in the back between his two boys in red shirts. (Our beloved former home teacher and friend.) We forgot he served his mission in Sweden. It was scary thinking that we didn't really know how Swedish our dinner was...but he'd had the rice pudding before. Phew.

The Holt's brought their chimes and duets. We chimed, they played piano, I fluted, and the adults sang. That made it feel a lot more like Christmas. I'm not sure we even missed being home.

Mom,

I just wanted you to know that the horse (still can't remember his name) is now a delight for Will. Watch as he bounces along to the trotting noises.

Love, Dee

Missionary Give Away

The roads were clear by the time dinner rolled around and the missionaries came over as planned. They told us about the ties they love to collect; I told them not to assumed they could keep all their ugly ties after they got married!

Brad decided to gift his horrid hand-me-down clip on Savers or DI tie from his mission....5 and 1/2 years later (without coaxing or pressure from me) and boy was I glad to see it go!

Thanks Elders! Just be sure to pass it down the line.

SNOW DAY

Snow is still a novel thing for me. I wasn't surprised when church was cancelled this time. I'm sure we got about two feet. I'm sure I didn't go out. I'm sure I missed enjoying the before Christmas music program. I'm sure it was a quiet day of relaxing at home.

David ventures out--his Dad rescued the car and brought it inside for the winter

I'm not gonna lie--this is the most I've ever seen here.

I think I'm glad we didn't travel this year.