Xmas 2011

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. We did. A very busy one but a good one at that. I am now happy to be hibernating at home after two very busy days seeing both sides of the family.

This was the first year we attempted to take Peyton to church. I think Austen made it through the whole Xmas mass when we brought him when he was her age. Peyton made it through three quarters of church. She wasn't understanding why she couldn't just talk in her normal voice or shout in church. When she was shouting it was usually something like her full name (which she just learned) - "Peyton Amanda Szurgot!" Or it was "Papa!" Who was sitting in the row in front of us. Austen was mesmerized by the stations of the cross on the wall and couldn't believe anyone would make someone carry a heavy cross or beat them or where a crown of thorns. He's going to love CCD!

Xmas morning the kids were excited to open their presents. Austen woke up first about 7:20 a.m. And he didn't run to the tree. He only ran to our room to get the remote for the TV (which we confiscate and he has to ask for on weekends so we make sure he doesn't wake up at 5 a.m. to watch cartoons). When we reminded him that Santa came he was pretty excited to see all the presents and note that Santa ate all of his cookies and drank all of the milk he left him.

Since Peyton had a late night the night before, we let her sleep and Austen open his presents. He got pretty excited to open his remote controlled car but the best line he probably had all day was when he opened a shirt he got from Grandma Lou and Papa and proclaimed " this is for work!" (It was a dress shirt.) Here is Austen opening some of his gifts.



Peyton enjoyed opening her presents too. She tore wrapping paper piece by piece and her funny moment came when she opened her first present and Austen asked her "what is it?" And she proclaimed "a box!" Of course she hadn't opened the box to see the real presents!



Christmas wrapped up nicely with Austen doing karaoke to Xmas carols at Grandma Szurgots house. He even convinced his dad who never sings to do a solo.

I'd say we have a lot to be thankful for this Xmas.