Christmas in Tyler

We went to Tyler for just a few days to visit family.  Pops and Gram had some presents for Zevi and Tahli.  They also got lots of fun toys and books from Aunt Julie, Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike, and Grandma and Grandpa.  I forgot to take pictures of them opening those though. 

Zev got Hungry, Hungry Hippos which he really loved. 

Zev also loved the Scooby Doo Trouble game he got from GG and Grandpa.  I see lots of game playing in our future. 

Tahli got a new puzzle and book. 

 Tahli did the puzzle on the first try. He loved that it had lots of dogs and cats on it.

Tahl also got a new MagnaDoodle because he and Zev ruined the old one.  They were both very excited about this. 

Tahl is currently in the business of ruining any game Zev is playing and knocking down anything he is building.  Here he is trying to steal all the marbles from the game. 

Tahl still loves to crawl on Pop's and Gram's island. 

Here is Z getting kisses from Pops and Gram. Zev LOVES going to Tyler.  He cried when we had to go home.

Here is one of me and Tahl hugging.

Then Zev got a turn. 

Since we got home, Uncle Oren has been in town.  We went to the mall today to play. It was INSANE.  Tahl and Zev still managed to have fun on the playground. 

We also went to play at special Lego exhibit.  Tahl is really concentrating here. 

Now Tahl is looking and Zev is back to building. 

We just can't get it right.  The guys had lots of fun playing here though, so thanks to Oren for donating the money to the charity to get us in.

Hopefully I'll get some pictures of Oren with the guys before he goes home. 

Christmas Day

Zev actually forgot Santa had come this morning! We had to REMIND him to get him to leave his room! 

He was so excited to see his presents. 

A bike! This was actually not his favorite gift of the day, he loved Tahl's Magformers much more. 

Tahl didn't really realize what all the presents were there for.  He just grabbed a carrot and started snacking. 

Zev was excited about his books and his LeapPad games. 

Tahl, of course, really loves this Scooby Doo.  It is a little big for him to carry around though. 

Showing off his Olivia game

Zev was cheering about each thing he saw. Puzzles!

Zev really loved opening his stocking too.  He got bubbles, bubble bath, candy, stickers, and Cuties. I've never seen a kid so excited about oranges in his stocking.

His favorite gift in his stocking (maybe of the day) was his Scooby Doo undies! He insisted on wearing them backwards today so he could see the Mystery Machine. 

more undies!

 GOLDFISH! 

Yum. Candy. 

He is posing with Pinkalicious. He has been wanting this book for a long time.

Here is Ari opening his stocking.  He might be exaggerating his excitement over a box of Whoppers. 

Tahli was excited about his Goldfish too. 

Here is some of Tahl's loot.  He loved this cat calendar. 

Here are the guys trying to learn the Magformers. 

What a mess!

Here is Tahl snuggling his Scooby.

Tahl has gotten really good at saying "cheese," and looking right at the camera.  Thank goodness.

Here is a big house Z built with his dad. 

This one cracks me up.  This is the face Tahl makes when he is smelling things.  Here he is smelling the bubble bath the guys were about to use. 

Zev "bought" Tahl a present at Target.  Here he is running to give it to him. 

They hugged, but I missed it.  Tahl really loved the rainstick. It was definitely worth the dollar. 

 I told Tahl to hold it up for a picture, and he insisted that he needed to sit on the fireplace for the picture. "I sit fireplace. I say cheese."

Another cheese from Mr. T.  Zev was sad that the purple bubble bath didn't make the tub purple, so I made the water purple with some food coloring. 

The guys had lots of fun with the new bubble bath. 

After the tub, the guys had a snack and a rest.  Then we went over to Mimi's for a late lunch. When we got there, Zev tried on her Goofy Santa hat. 

After a delicious lunch, the boys got to open a few presents from their Mimi. 

Tahl got a TagJunior and books to go with it, which he is going to have lots of fun with. Zev opened a Scooby Doo mansion. He was SO excited. 

He also got some extra Scooby figurines from Mimi and books from Nana. 

Zev also got a cool pirate puzzle. 

It was actually a white Christmas in Dallas! It snowed quite a lot, and Zev wanted to build a snowman or at least throw a snowball.  He then decided it was way too cold because he didn't have any gloves. He did march around to make footprints. 

He made a rainbow. 

Then he just had to make snow angel.  He was squeeling, but... 

Look how great it turned out. 

It wasn't so bad after all.  We went inside for pajamas and dinner. It was a great Christmas day. I got a really nice watch, new socks, candy, and a few more surprises. I got some new clothes from my mom, and Ari got some great kitchen gadgets too. We had so much fun together, and the best part was everyone playing and having Ari home.