Christmas

This Christmas was so exciting! We introduced the boys to our Elf on the Shelf (who arrived in a blanket in a box with his book on our front porch one cold night after Thanksgiving). The boys named our elf Lark, and were very eager to see the results of Lark’s nightly antics each morning. I didn’t take any pictures of the things Lark did, but one night he toilet-papered the bathroom (it happened to be the night before Mason’s birthday, so Tyler thought Lark “decorated” to celebrate). Another night, Lark gathered some of the boys’ stuffed animals and played Candy Land with them; he found our cookies and decided to sit in the cookie container and make a mess; he climbed the Christmas tree on several occasions; he even made himself a house out of a cardboard box and played in it!

Tyler wrote and mailed a letter to Santa around Thanksgiving (asking for Super Hero Squad figures, play food, and a play store) and actually received a letter from North Pole, Alaska from Santa in return! I was even excited about that nice, unexpected surprise. Both boys got to see and take photos with Santa at Tyler’s daycare. They let us come early so that Tyler and Mason could be in the pictures together. Santa was super nice, and the boys looked so darn cute, I couldn’t decide which pictures to buy, so I bought all of them! Check them out:
BOYS SANTA PICTURES
A few days before Christmas, we took the boys and their cousins (Jenna, Lauren, and Jaime) out to look at all the tacky Christmas lights in nearby neighborhoods. There were quite a few good ones this year, but our favorite was still one house that was entirely covered in lights and had a ridiculously tall “tree” made from stringing lights from one point and fanning the strands down to the ground.
TACKY LIGHTS PICTURES?
Christmas day was a blast. Santa had arranged all the presents under the tree around the train set, and even made a few little tunnels out of the presents! After eating some cinnamon rolls with green icing, the boys took their time opening their many toys. It took us several hours, because each gift had to be opened completely and played with for a little while before the next gift was opened.
CHRISTMAS PICTURES
Mason’s favorite gift Christmas day had to have been the dress-up box I put together for the boys, which included a custom cape for each of them, complete with super hero mask. Tyler wanted to put on an Iron Man costume (actually, his Halloween costume) immediately, but it was a little snug, so he had to take off his PJ bottoms before putting on the costume. Mason must have seen him do that, so he followed suit, but with no reason to! He ran back into the living room looking like this:
MASON w/NO PANTS J
That night, we drove up to my parents house to celebrate Christmas with them, my sister & her family, and our cousins and their families. The cousins had a ton of fun with each other at Lolo and Lola’s house…and the extra sweets and more gifts weren’t bad, either :)

Happy Birthday, Mason!

Dear Mason,

Today, you are 2 years old! Has it really been two years since you were a tiny little baby, who I could easily fit into the crook of my arm? You have grown SO much and are definitely your own person now.

Many people often think you're closer to 3 years old, because you're tall and a solid little guy. You're wearing size 2T and 3T clothes, and are certainly more comfortable in the 3T size clothes. You are more confident in trying new things (fearless even), especially if you see your big brother do them first. It seems like you see him do something, and realize that he's fine, so you know that you'll be fine if you try it, too.

We celebrated your birthday with your Grandma, Grandpa, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in Suffolk after Thanksgiving. I made you a Little Einsteins Pat Pat Rocket Cake, and I was so happy when you recognized it when I brought it out to you :)

The following weekend, your Lolo, Lola, and more cousins came to our house to celebrate your birthday, too! We had put the tree up when we came home after Thanksgiving, so it was very festive.

Daddy and I are so proud of the litle boy you are growing to be. You are thoughtful and considerate, sweet and loving, but you can also be very stubborn. You like to attempt every task by yourself first and then ask for help if you can't do it yourself. You get mad very, VERY quickly if someone helps you do something and you haven't asked!

You can speak very well, and you often use complete sentances to express yourself. You know well over 100 words, I think it may be more like 200, but my favorite words that you say are "I love you." My heart leapt the first time I heard Tyler say them, and when I hear you say them, it's like hearing them for the first time again. I think it feels even better now, because I know that you both know what those words mean and say them so willingly to Daddy and me.

You and Tyler are playing more together now, and you copy many of the things he does, so you're actually pretty good playmates. I think Tyler enjoys bossing you around a bit, too :) You look up to Tyler so much, and in some ways he knows this (and takes advantage of it), but in other ways he doesn't realize or may forget how much you really try to be like him. It's a lot of responsibility for an almost-5-year-old, but he has handled it very well! He often protects you from his friends and doesn't allow them to make fun of you when you and I go to Tyler's school to pick him up. You are also very excited about going to the same school as Tyler (which will happen after the first of the new year).

We are so excited about watching you and Tyler experience the Christmas season this year. You both helped decorate the Christmas tree and put up the Christmas lights on the porch. You love looking at the neighbors' lights and decorations, so we often walk down the street and watch the inflatable Santa go in and out of his chimney. Daddy and I can't wait to sing Christmas carols with you both, take you and Tyler on a Tacky Lights Tour, and find out what you want Santa to bring you!

I love you so much, my sweet Mason! Happy 2nd birthday!

Love,
Mommy