Max embraced Christmas. He loved all the lights and decorations we saw, I can't tell you how many times we drove past a house all lit up and he exclaimed 'wow'. He was introduced to Santa Claus and quickly started calling him 'Ho Ho'. Just as quickly, he understood that Santa Claus gives you presents. On more than one occassion and out of necessity I tried to remind him that Ho Ho only gives presents to good little boys. Remember he's rapidly approaching three years old and has all of the attitudes and behaviors that goes with it, you can't blame me for trying.
Max enjoyed Christmas and all of the events leading up to it. Santa Claus visited him at school, he received gifts from people we visited and he met Santa at the mall. On the Sunday before Christmas we went to NJ to spend the day with my brother Tom, sister-in-law Maria, niece Stephanie and nephew Jonathan. My brother Richard, sister-in-law Maureen and niece Tanya also joined us. We had a very nice day. While we were eating dinner, Jonathan told me that the fire engines were coming with Santa Claus and that they throw lollipops to the kids. We had to go outside to see this, these are three of Max's favorite things; Ho Ho, pops and fire trucks. The fire trucks came, lights and sirens going, Santa Claus sitting perched on top of the engine and the firemen throwing lollipops on the ground near us. Max watched in awe. While driving home that night Max repeatedly exclaimed, 'Ho Ho - pops - oh no!' I was hysterical laughing, I guess the lights and sirens were a little too much for him. It still makes me laugh.
We spent Christmas Eve in NJ with my brother Richard and his family and friends. I spend every Christmas Eve with them and it was very nice to see how excited every one was to meet Max. He enjoyed the many types of M&M's Aunt Maureen had available for him and stayed awake for quite a while when we got home. In a couple of years he'll understand that he has to go to sleep so Santa can come.
On Christmas morning when he came out and saw the presents under the tree he wasn't quite sure what to make of it but when I told him that Santa Claus came and left presents for him he got right into it. He opened each present then wanted me to take it out of the package. He checked each thing out then moved on to the next. I had the video camera running the entire time, it will be fun to watch. After going to Christmas mass, Max took a much needed nap and when he awoke my brother Richard, sister-in-law Maureen and nieces Tanya and Jenny were here. We had a very nice day.
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| Max meets Santa at the mall. |
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| Max and our friend Alexis wearing reindeer ears and ready to be Santa's helpers. |
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| Torre enjoying her Christmas presents. |
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| Max playing with his Christmas present from Aunt Maria. |
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| Max enjoying a Christmas cookie. Our good friends Cyndi and Dan in Canada sent us a basket of Christmas cookies to celebrate our first Christmas together. It was a very nice surprise. |
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| Max loves wearing Ho Ho's hat, he wore it to school a few times. |
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| Our Christmas tree after Santa came. |
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| Max talking about life with my brother's cat. |
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| Max wearing his reindeer ears. |
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| Our first Christmas picture together. |
