Only a few weeks overdue -- a very VERY brief (HA!!!) recap of our Christmas in Colorado. First and foremost -- Gold Stars to ALL of the Martins especially the one under 3. Sixteen or so hours in a car is a LONG time for anyone but to be strapped into a car seat YUCK. Needless to say Zachary did get his MacDonalds. (I think he says MACDonalds instead of McDonalds because of Old MacDonald's Farm song)
I was queezy and whining (shocking!) but Chad stayed in good spirits I think by focusing on the fact that he would be skiing. We got to my brother's house - Uncle The Jamey's House according to Z -- and started to relax. We were able to walk to mass on Christmas Eve and again Zachary did surprisingly well through church.
Opening presents was interesting. A Leonard tradition is opening gifts on Christmas Eve and then gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Even though this was a "lean" Christmas there were gifts spilling out from under the tree. This Christmas was the first where Zachary understood what presents were about and that he gets toys and fun things. He was beside himself with excitement and was in other peoples business when it was their turn to open a gift. He constantly asked "WHAT IS IT?" "WHAT IS IT??!" I will have to have Chad insert some of Z's other funny comments. He would just be so happy and excited opening the gifts -- lots of oh my gosh type things.
He started losing patience toward the end. He only wanted to open his gifts and not wait on others. Another tradition is that we all take turns going from youngest to oldest opening gifts and the young ones deliver gifts to others. He was getting a bit tired but seeing that we had been opening for several hours (I told you a LEAN Christmas) it is understandable.
We woke up to a truly (and forgive the sacchrine nature of this comment) magical beautiful Christmas morning. It had snowed all night and was still snowing in the morning those big soft flakes you see in the movies. I think all of us were taken by the beauty of that morning. We spent more time opening gifts. Jamey cooked an amazing Christmas dinner and continued to stun me with his culinary skills.
Zachary didn't really get the Jesus connection to Christmas. I guess I thought he was getting old enough but he wasn't quite there. He didn't even really play with his Little People Manger set. We'll keep trying.
We left for Winter Park the next day but not before Z, Chad, and Uncle The Jamey were out in the snow. Jamey was clearing the cars and Z and Chad were "helping." The snow came up most of Z's leg (almost to his crotch) and he was a little unsettled about it. He said it was "deep" in a very concerned manner. He watched his dad make a snow angel and really wasn't sure what to make of it.
The condo in Winter Park was GREAT! Perfect for us. Gramma, Z, and I stayed indoors mostly while the big boys went skiing. Zachary was getting a little more irritable and ornery each day. I think the fact that he was cooped up and not eating right and not a good schedule all added to the mood issues.
I do think the highlight of Winter Park was watching Z sled down a tiny hill. His laugh was indescribable. Even the pictures do not do it justice. He really enjoyed himself. I wish I had gotten out with him earlier so he could have done it more days. I think the only reason he asked to go in after about ten trips down the hill was because he is a bit shorter than us and was again nearly waist deep in snow and got cold.
I will let Chad expand and elaborate on our Christmas shenanigans. He'll probably want to mention skiing a couple more times since I was the lazy one. Jamey has a funny story of Z sliding on the dining room floor in some dance move but I didn't see it so I can't do much with it but it made Jamey roar with laughter.
Two quick Z speak phrases that Uncle Jamey enjoyed:
After riding in Uncle Jamey's vehicle - Jamey said something about his car and Z corrected him: "Its not a car Uncle Jamey, it's a Jeep."
And after calling Z silly, Uncle Jamey was corrected again: "I'm not silly, I am funny."
Merry Christmas to all!
I was queezy and whining (shocking!) but Chad stayed in good spirits I think by focusing on the fact that he would be skiing. We got to my brother's house - Uncle The Jamey's House according to Z -- and started to relax. We were able to walk to mass on Christmas Eve and again Zachary did surprisingly well through church.
Opening presents was interesting. A Leonard tradition is opening gifts on Christmas Eve and then gifts from Santa on Christmas morning. Even though this was a "lean" Christmas there were gifts spilling out from under the tree. This Christmas was the first where Zachary understood what presents were about and that he gets toys and fun things. He was beside himself with excitement and was in other peoples business when it was their turn to open a gift. He constantly asked "WHAT IS IT?" "WHAT IS IT??!" I will have to have Chad insert some of Z's other funny comments. He would just be so happy and excited opening the gifts -- lots of oh my gosh type things.
He started losing patience toward the end. He only wanted to open his gifts and not wait on others. Another tradition is that we all take turns going from youngest to oldest opening gifts and the young ones deliver gifts to others. He was getting a bit tired but seeing that we had been opening for several hours (I told you a LEAN Christmas) it is understandable.
We woke up to a truly (and forgive the sacchrine nature of this comment) magical beautiful Christmas morning. It had snowed all night and was still snowing in the morning those big soft flakes you see in the movies. I think all of us were taken by the beauty of that morning. We spent more time opening gifts. Jamey cooked an amazing Christmas dinner and continued to stun me with his culinary skills.
Zachary didn't really get the Jesus connection to Christmas. I guess I thought he was getting old enough but he wasn't quite there. He didn't even really play with his Little People Manger set. We'll keep trying.
We left for Winter Park the next day but not before Z, Chad, and Uncle The Jamey were out in the snow. Jamey was clearing the cars and Z and Chad were "helping." The snow came up most of Z's leg (almost to his crotch) and he was a little unsettled about it. He said it was "deep" in a very concerned manner. He watched his dad make a snow angel and really wasn't sure what to make of it.
The condo in Winter Park was GREAT! Perfect for us. Gramma, Z, and I stayed indoors mostly while the big boys went skiing. Zachary was getting a little more irritable and ornery each day. I think the fact that he was cooped up and not eating right and not a good schedule all added to the mood issues.
I do think the highlight of Winter Park was watching Z sled down a tiny hill. His laugh was indescribable. Even the pictures do not do it justice. He really enjoyed himself. I wish I had gotten out with him earlier so he could have done it more days. I think the only reason he asked to go in after about ten trips down the hill was because he is a bit shorter than us and was again nearly waist deep in snow and got cold.
I will let Chad expand and elaborate on our Christmas shenanigans. He'll probably want to mention skiing a couple more times since I was the lazy one. Jamey has a funny story of Z sliding on the dining room floor in some dance move but I didn't see it so I can't do much with it but it made Jamey roar with laughter.
Two quick Z speak phrases that Uncle Jamey enjoyed:
After riding in Uncle Jamey's vehicle - Jamey said something about his car and Z corrected him: "Its not a car Uncle Jamey, it's a Jeep."
And after calling Z silly, Uncle Jamey was corrected again: "I'm not silly, I am funny."
Merry Christmas to all!
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