Christmas in Rochester

This year for Christmas, Eric planned ahead and saved vacation time so we could spend a decent amount of time at both of our parents house during the holidays. We kicked off our holiday celebrations in Rochester with Eric's family. First we visited Grams at her school and during the first night, Uncle Bob invited us all to a very nice dinner at his country club where Owen was a little angel. It was like he knew he had to behave so that maybe he will be asked to come back again. Anyway, he loved it, the food was great and being able to relax and catch up with Eric's family was very special!

Can you look at Owen's audience? At every meal you knew exactly where all three dogs were ... right at Owen's feet 

 Wow, what's that mom 

 Talking to Tommy 

 Best Chicken Fingers Ever 

 Because sometimes the best toy is simply a plastic bag 

Then of course we celebrated Owen's first birthday -- which if you can remember from the previous post was a wonderful and special day. After his birthday also brought Noah to Rochester which kicked off a whole new level of fun! The boys had so much fun playing together and it was fun to watch them get more and more used to each other and by the end of the trip, you could see them just planning how much trouble they could get into together. They played with all sorts of toys, took baths together, napped on the same schedule and even woke up at night at the same time to have a bottle. It was crazy to see how much they adapted to each other. It is really neat that they are only 6 months apart. As they get older I hope they become really great friends.

Breakfast time 

 Probably my favorite new picture 

 Looking outside 

 Noah LOVED this slide

 Owen on the other hand didn't know what to think of it 

Hanging out with Auntie Lizzie 

 Whose outside? 

 Just precious 

On Christmas Eve morning we celebrated Christmas with the boys! Santa sure was generous and they got so many great gifts. Some of the highlight gifts included a pottery barn anywhere chair, a red sox jersey and hat, a ny giants winter hat and gloves, plastic blocks, a turtle nightlight, santa hat, a music set that came in a drum, a water table, a personalized ABC book and a very neat little red wagon that Owen can push around and put things in. The boys often helped each other open up gifts which was very cute. Although in their mind I think some of their favorite things to play with had to be the empty boxes and ripping up the wrapping paper.

Noah being Santa's little helper 

 Opening gifts 

 So excited 

 Look at that hat! 

 Wow, Mom, there are so many presents I don't know where to start 

 Just buried in gifts 

 There are more gifts? (Notice he has his truck AND Noah's) 

 Precious picture of Noah 

 Time to play some music 

 I told you they liked the boxes! 

On the night of Christmas Eve the Hunter's had their annual Christmas party and many of Eric's Aunts, Uncles and Cousins came to celebrate from all over. It was so special to be able to see them (as we only get to see many of them at weddings or special occasions) and many of them got to meet Owen for the very first time which was also very special.

Ready to party 

 Playing 

 Such a happy boy 

 Matching shirts! 

 Thanks for a great visit! 

Once the boys were in bed the grown-ups got to celebrate Christmas and boy did we get some great presents and want to thank both of Eric's parents for such a great visit and some very thoughtful gifts! We love spending time with his family and can't thank them enough for making Owen's 2nd Christmas very memorable.