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Back at home on Christmas night, after returning from our trip to Atwater, we celebrated with just us... picked up a pizza and opened gifts from each other.
Joel and Grant got lots of cars from the movie "Cars" for their new Piston Cup Track, which was our gift to both of them. They LOVE it. Cars, cars, and more cars seemed to be the theme this year.
And there's the track and some of their many cars.
They also have really enjoyed the Elefun game...
I was behind the camera ALOT this Christmas, mainly attempting to figure out my new camera by taking probably over 1000 pictures, but here is a picture to document I was actually around...
Back to the previous day... Christmas Eve morning (after Jeff and Mitchell had shoveled the 6 inches of snow that fell during the night), we departed for Atwater to spend 24 hours with Gpa and Gma Benson, Uncle Jon, Aunt Terri, Lincoln and Jayna. It was a very, merry 24 hours (quite honestly, it was) 
The boys immediately dove into to having a blast wrestling with Lincoln (no surprise). We let them have their fun for awhile... of course eventually Joel and Grant got a little over-zealous with the wrestling and we had to bring that to an end.
We even managed to take a few pictures before heading off to church (gee, make sure you don't crack a smile now Bensons on the right)
And, putting an end to the wrestling led to stair-jumping... (I think Jayna is actually falling in this picture), but no tears were shed during stair jumping, surprisingly
but... when Grant started jumping from the 4th step, that also had to be put to rest...
Playing around with Uncle Jon
Terri, posing for me, helping me learn to custom set my white balance, which I have found to be VERY helpful. Thanks for all th tips this weekend Terri!
In true 2010 Christmas fashion, we were tracking Santa with the "Santa App" on Terri's ipod. We could check his exact global position all day and keep an eye on the constantly updating naughty and nice lists. If you look closely below, you can see Joels name on the "nice" list. We even sent Santa some text messages and the Santa App told the kids they BETTER get to bed because Santa would be in their area soon. (this actually worked quite well for getting them all to bed!)
Jon and Terri got Roger a "Race Horse" game that we all really enjoyed playing. A simple card game with a simple wooden race horse board = a big hit.
Kids playing in a big box (not sure why we bother with the presents...)
Mitch's new "very sweet" bat from Uncle Jon. He apparently got it on Ebay from some kid that had no idea how to price it, which led to a lucky day for Mitchell. I can't wait to see that think crank out some homeruns this spring!
"Brett Favre" Vikings hat from Gpa and Gma. Apparently this hat is similar to the one Brett wears.
Joel, not looking so happy about being put in a bear-hug hold my Gpa Benson (as a means of getting him to stop wrestling if I remember correctly)
Time for bed... Santa got cookies, beef jerky, and Pepsi:)
Christmas morning, and Santa did not disappoint... the famous "Criss Cross Crash" was delivered for Grant
And a Bat Cave for Joel
"Criss Cross Crash" was a hit with everyone, just watch the video below for some live reaction. In case you need some interpretation during the video, Grant first yells "This is speeeedy", then later yells, "Whoa", and "This is cooolll" Nothing but pure joy watching the speedy cars race around.
Kids playing in a big box (not sure why we bother with the presents...)Mitch's new "very sweet" bat from Uncle Jon. He apparently got it on Ebay from some kid that had no idea how to price it, which led to a lucky day for Mitchell. I can't wait to see that think crank out some homeruns this spring!"Brett Favre" Vikings hat from Gpa and Gma. Apparently this hat is similar to the one Brett wears. Joel, not looking so happy about being put in a bear-hug hold my Gpa Benson (as a means of getting him to stop wrestling if I remember correctly)Time for bed... Santa got cookies, beef jerky, and Pepsi:)
Christmas morning, and Santa did not disappoint... the famous "Criss Cross Crash" was delivered for Grant
And a Bat Cave for Joel
"Criss Cross Crash" was a hit with everyone, just watch the video below for some live reaction. In case you need some interpretation during the video, Grant first yells "This is speeeedy", then later yells, "Whoa", and "This is cooolll" Nothing but pure joy watching the speedy cars race around.
The hersheys kisses in the boys socks may have been one of their favorite parts of Christmas morning, only on Christmas does a kid get to eat chocolate for breakfast!
Santa also brought a transformer for Joel and Grant... although somehow by the end of the day, Joel seemed to have Grant talked into giving him the transformer he got, since Joel apparently didn't like the one he got, as it was shaped like a truck instead of a car... like I said... cars were the theme of the weekend
Santa also brought a transformer for Joel and Grant... although somehow by the end of the day, Joel seemed to have Grant talked into giving him the transformer he got, since Joel apparently didn't like the one he got, as it was shaped like a truck instead of a car... like I said... cars were the theme of the weekendJayna, looking pretty Christmas morning in her new dress:)
and is happy he can play outside in the snow once again....
I got my new CAMERA, and love it, love it, but have lots to learn, starting with some lessons from my sister-in-law over the weekend and a very long manual to read as well.
oop, there is the biggest smile we got during the performance:)
Joel and his favorite Mrs. Hohol
The stocking he made at school, says he wants a "Robot Movie" for Christmas.... this is the first we've heard of this... not a clue what that might be...
After 2 weeks of being "Hulk", and not a SINGLE complaint AT ALL, Joel gets his casts off tomorrow and we pick up his AFO's, or as we call them, his "Super Hero AFO's"... One leg will have Batman painted on it, the other, Spider-man. We are so proud of how well he is doing with this so far, and happy to move on to the next step (mainly due to the odor that has begun rafting from Joel's feet/toe area:) yikes! . As you can see from the video below, these casts have not slowed him down AT ALL.
...complete with autographs from daycare and preschool friends and teachers:)
First we had it in the middle of the room, then decided to put it around the tree...
The train was sent to Jeff (and Mitchell) when Mitch was younger, by Jeff's dear Aunt Jeanine. And with her passing this past year, the train is more special to us than ever before. We found this letter in the box from many years ago when she sent it.
The letter reads... " Dear Jeff and Family, Just a short note to wish you all a very Merry Xmas. I'm sorry this package isn't Xmas wrapped but I just didn't know how to accomplish it. Just a little Xmas momento that I hope will tell you all how much you and yours are loved. Maybe every Xmas you'll remember me a little and know how much you mean to me. ~ Aunt Jeanine
From what I gather, it was Grant's idea, which I do believe... he has been really loving to use that bathroom stool to get at anything he can reach on the kitchen counter-tops recently, and I often find the stool in various places around the kitchen. This particular morning, the stool just happened to be right where the graham cracker houses were... considering Joel could have reached them without the stool, I am thinking the story that Grant got them off the counter is a true one, indeed:)
First we thought maybe Grant was the only one brave enough to visit with Santa, but luckily Joel decided that he also better tell Santa what he wants for Christmas.
Kelly, showing me the ornament Great Grandma Mary Ann sent for her.
Grant, giving Grandpa a "hug" and thank you for a gift.
These disc shooters were a huge hit
Grandma Jane showing off her new Fossil purse that was a gift from ALL of us.
And Grandpa, showing off his new, powerful drill, which was gift from ALL of us.
This Thomas track from Grandma Jane has entertained Joel and Grant for HOURS since they have opened it and it hasn't even been a day. They just LOVE it.
