Mullen Mania: December

Here is a peek out our life during December 2011.

Landon sometimes eats his food with a serious face.

Sometimes he likes to be goofy.

Sometimes he wants to play games and a favorite is peek-a-boo!

I have to say "Where's Landon, where is Landon?" And then he "surprises" me!

Of course it never happens just once! It happens over and over and over again.

Sometimes he cheats, and gets a little peek! Just checking to make sure that I'm there.

I love Landon's eyes!

Landon loves the dog that lives downstairs. Anytime he hears him bark, he wants to find him and he looks for him around the house. He gets SO excited to see and hear the dog!

The following weekend we went to a tree lighting at a nearby little park. It was right behind our old apartment, so we had been to it before. One of the radio stations that plays 24/7 Christmas music is there and they have everyone join in in counting down until they turn on the lights. When they turned on the lights, some fireworks went off and they let people into the park to see all the lights, meet Santa, and drop off letters that go to the North Pole.

December was rough for Landon because it seemed like he was sick and/or teething the entire month (and had been in part of November too)! Still, he had a few cheery moments and let me capture him having a bit of Christmas cheer (ie shaking jingle bells).

He loves trying to pull all the ornaments off the tree. Little stinker!

We bought this hat when we were in Estonia, while I was pregnant with him. Sadly, it only got worn once as the winter was super mild and I forgot it most of the time.

My friend's sister got some pictures of Landon too. Poor guy was feeling really rotten when she came!

So these picture won't upload, but you get the idea...
Our holiday plans took an unexpected twist when my uncle passed away suddenly. My parents and I flew to Texas and my sister Erica met us there. It was unfortunate circumstances that brought us together, but I'm so glad we were able to be with family in such a hard and tragic time. We all flew back to MA and stayed through Christmas.

As part of our Christmas present to our parents, all the kids (me and my siblings) took over making Christmas Eve dinner, as that has been a large and stressful task for my mom. We planned, shopped, cooked and cleaned. I think we did a pretty good job too! We had quite the feast with amazing appetizers, entree, sides, and desserts. Go us!

It was so nice to have the entire family together!

My little Christmas elf!

We were able to get pictures of everyone on Christmas Day, which was Sunday, so we were all dressed up! Well except Chris and Landon, because Landon as still sick so Chris stayed home with him.

We opened a couple of presents before church, but since we had early church, most of the presents were opened after we got home. Landon really enjoyed opening them! He liked to tear the paper!

Landon was very dramatic with his tearing. He often would hit me in the face, especially the chin, when he was opening his presents while sitting on my lap.

My father-in-law uses his artistic talents to make cards for every occasion and every time we get a box from my in-laws, he has drawn pictures for the occasion on it. The pictures always have to do with the present or something we've done. All the outfits are ones we actually own and he has seen us wear! Such attention to detail!