boys and their toys

Ryan received a new toy for Christmas from my Dad and me, and though a GoPro wasn't even on his radar, it has shown to be the perfect gift.  We spent the days after Christmas enjoying the snow and sunshine and Ryan clearly enjoyed capturing and editing the fun.

You can watch a great video of our sledding fun, here.

and what Ryan calls, Wash Park Mush, featuring Luke Dukers, here.

It also takes pretty great still photos and is at the cutting edge of 4k video technology so will be great for capturing our family's fun for years to come.

Santa! Santa! I know him!

Ben had stayed awake pretty late Christmas Eve chattering away so he slept longer than all of us by far.  Tante asked at one point if we could wake him up, but instead the adults enjoyed coffee and breakfast prep until Ben joined us.

You can watch a video of Ben coming downstairs on Christmas morning, here.

For better or worse, the video sums up how Ben felt most of the rest of the day.  He had little interest in anything new or any gifts from Santa.  He was mostly interested in his old baby-toy music table until we just took it away. :(

Santa and his entourage enjoyed the treats.

Ben was pretty excited to be an Elf.

Santa was good to us.....

Ben gave little notice to his "black" car or "black" bike that Santa went to the 

ends of the earth to find.

These Wall-E and Eve robots talk to each other.

mmmmmmm! Butterbraid.

twinsies :)

dye-free lollipops were possibly Ben's favorite stocking stuffer

Ben was very interested in Tante's "BIIIIG present."

I wish I remembered what was so funny.

Ben got a hiking backpack filled with all the essentials for his adventures with MeeMee.

This Hotwheels track Ben received on Christmas Eve from Great Grandma Lola was the hit toy.  It was fun at MeeMee's and a blast on the stairs at home.

 

 

Thanks to a white Christmas that started late and picked up steam as the afternoon wore on, we stayed at MeeMee's an extra night and enjoyed an extra cocktail after an amazing prime rib dinner. 

This Holiday season was a little shorter due to a late Thanksgiving and a little rushed due to the stomach bug that ravaged our house, and Ryan's travel the last two weeks before Christmas.   Despite all that, this year more than many, the kindness of strangers, fellow shoppers, retail workers and neighbors really got me in the spirit.  I felt like people were kind in general and really slowed down a bit to help each other out. Because there were a few traditions we were forced to miss, I really focused on being present for the ones we did enjoy and really felt the love and magic of the season around me.  We finished the Christmas holiday as healthy, happy Heimer's and have lots more Holiday time to spend together and with family and friends.

Christmas Eve

We were thankful to continue the tradition of Christmas Eve at the Heimer's this year, as everyone's work schedules cooperated.  Unfortunately, for the second year in a row, Ian and Christy were sick, so the Witherspoons were absent from the celebration.
We arrived late morning ready to make merry and enjoyed snacks and drinks throughout the afternoon.  Lots of heavy appetizers, and white bean chicken chili meant our tummies were full and happy all day.  Ryan and Jim ran a couple errands for Uncle John as Nana wrapped a few last gifts and Ben and I bopped about trying to be helpful and enjoy the time with family.  After a late afternoon meal, we opened gifts.  Ben was more excited for gifts this year and WAY more excited at this point than he would be the following morning.

Ben LOVED this B-toys walk-on piano

Two phones and a dimly (yet holiday appropriate and lovely) lit living room meant these  were the closest to a nice family photo we got that evening.

Ben had his standard measurement and grew another 3/4ths inch since Thanksgiving!

All 3 Heimer men tickling the ivories.

After gifts and a couple of sweet treats, we headed to MeeMee's where Tante would arrive shortly, and we'd hurry off to bed after leaving treats for Santa and the reindeer.

First, mystery bars for Santa, then.....

carrots for the reindeer.

Ben got to have a slumber party with Tante in his room at MeeMee's house.....

Up they went! 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!

Note: our DLSR camera is broken and in the shop so holiday pics left lots to be desired.  Ryan's iphone 6 takes some great pictures but can be nearly as technical to operate as our big camera for people unfamiliar.  Hence, no great family shots, but I'm extra thankful for the few decent shots we did get. (Mostly in the daylight of the next day.)

Happy Holidays from the Heimer Haus