A Close to Christmas 2008...

Last night we had our "small group Christmas". Our small group is a group that's been together for over 4 years- back from when we went to Wheaton Bible Church. We usually get together every few months, eat dinner and let our kids play together.

Our group consists of Ryan, Noah, myself, Tracy, Eric, their daughter Lauren, Steve, Jill and their twin boys Will and Jake (who are just a little younger than Noah). Yesterday we met at Steve and Jill's house. Noah had a good time playing with Will and Jake's toys. We had an excellent enchilada dinner, and then it was time for presents. Noah has become an expert at opening gifts now, and was very very excited to have more gifts to unwrap. Our friends gave him some pretty cool things, like play-doh which will come out on a rainy day or snow day to play with, and a tug boat that opens and has a car inside of it.

At the end of the visit, we tried to change Noah into his jammies. He, like his cousin Liam prefers to be naked, and fortunately kept his diaper on while he ran all around Steve and Jill's first floor in his bedtime hyperness. Eventually I was able to get him in his pj's and then into his car seat. He babbled almost the entire way home, but fell asleep when we got onto I-55.

This morning I had to wake him up- because today is my first day back at school. Normally, I look forward to teaching, but I'll be honest, as much as I love my students, I'd rather be at home with my little boy. We had a really good time during my break.

Theresa, the lady who watches Noah, greeted him with an "I missed you so much!" this morning. He was a little clingy, but Theresa had saved his Christmas presents for today, which was smart, because that drew him away from me. She knows his love of Elmo, and got to watch his excitement as he opened his Elmo presents. When I left, Noah gave me a kiss, and a smile, and then brought his new Elmo phone to Theresa and said "opy, opy, opy"- she needed to dismantle it from the box.

At the bottom of this post are some pictures from our visit to grandma and grandpa's house.