The backwards moonwalk crawl...

Arlo has been doing this move for months but I finally caught it on camera a couple weeks ago:

A lesson in self-feeding

Aunt Allie helped with dinner while she was here visiting over Christmas. 

In addition to helping feed dinner, she also helped eat dinner.  ;)

I look away for one second and she's got Arlo eating mashed potatoes with a spoon!  He was a little distracted by the time I got there with the video camera and was very much interested in smushing the potatoes with his fingers (can you blame him?) - but really, he did quite well!

He'll be a pro before long!  Just has to figure out which end of the spoon to use.

You lookin' at me?

 

Thanks for the lesson, Aunt Allie!

-Katie

It's Slinky, it's Slinky, It's fun, it's a wonderful toy!

My family stayed at our house on Christmas Eve and it was SO nice to have them there when we woke up!  Arlo played a game of fetch with Grandma and this new Slinky.  This had gone on for a while before I ran to get my camera - he couldn't get enough!

After a leisurely morning, a lovely breakfast, and a baby nap, we finally got around to the truckload of gifts under the tree.  Again, I was not on the ball with the camera for most of the day, but I did snap just a few of Arlo opening gifts.

 Arlo got many cool things.  Here he's opening his first train set from Grandma.  And in the background you can see his cute new Carolina blue table and chairs (from Grandpa, including the custom paint job!). 

 He was thrilled to play with the bows and ribbons, of course.

 He also loved the new wind chimes that we got for my dad.

 After a while, Grandaddy and Grandeda came from Hickory and we all got to hang out for a bit.

Unfortunately, I had to work on Christmas, so I had to excuse myself from the merriment.  But it was a wonderful morning and we enjoyed every second!

-Katie

Christmas Eve is here!

After a fun Christmas Eve morning in Hickory, we headed back to Durham to spend some time with the Young side of the fam.  We took advantage of the crisp cool weather by cranking up the fire pit in the backyard!  My dad brought several bins of wood scraps from his dad's old woodshop, so we had lots of fuel. 

It took Arlo about 5 seconds to climb into the wood bins.  Shocker!  He enjoyed pulling out pieces and handing them to the fire tenders.  

Aunt Allie and Grandpa chilling by the fire.

 Grandma and Arlo in his box of toys, aka wood scraps.  (Everything is a toy to this child.)

 The rascals.

 We sat outside catching up for a long time til it got dark and cold!

 The only thing we were missing was some marshmallows!

 After we went inside and got all warmed up, Grandpa was in charge of bedtime stories.

 

The book of choice on Christmas Eve?  The classic read, "Can You Make Santa Giggle?"  A big hit at our house.   :)

 

And in case you're wondering, YES, he can make Santa giggle.  Often!  And loudly!  

I hope you all enjoyed your Christmas Eves as much as we did. We are so looking forward to years of setting out cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer, then popping a bottle of bubbly (a Helms family tradition!) and wrapping presents all night long!  

-Katie

A video supplement to the last post!

Couldn't resist - check out this cuteness.  We can't wait to embarass the kids during their teenage years with this video!

 

Makes me laugh every time!!!

-Katie

Kissin' cousins :)

The Starnes and Holcombs came over for brunch on Christmas Eve morning.  It was great, as always, to see them and let the cousins continue to get to know one another.  Hallie is just 6 weeks older than Arlo and we're so happy they'll have each other as playmates at family get-togethers!

It took Hallie a few minutes to warm up to her cousin.  

 

But he finally won her over with his cool new toys.

And he even gave her a present to open.   

This photo cracks me up. 

 This one, too.  What a happy guy!

 

Look how CUTE he is!!!

Once Hallie warmed up to Arlo, they were pals.  Both kids are learning how to give kisses and like to show off their skills.  How's this for a sloppy wet smacker?

 And all three of their faces in this one right after "the kiss" are so hilarious!

After all the smooching, we took a few pictures of the grandmas and grandbabies.  

 The tree is in memory of Aunt Liz and it turned out so beautiful!

 

It was a great morning with family in Hickory! Then we had to dash back to Durham to spend Christmas Eve at home so Santa could find us that night!

-Katie

Christmas Eve morning

When we woke up in Hickory on Saturday morning, Arlo had MORE gifts to open (it's not even Christmas yet!).  Roscoe helped, too...

 

The backpack is for taking to big boy school (daycare! eek!) which starts in a couple weeks.  Mama is nervous.  Baby will be fine.

 

Arlo loves all of his awesome new gifts and really loved spending time in Hickory with Grandeda and Grandaddy! 

-Katie