The title of this post is in reference to the abbreviation for Oklahoma (OK)…our official Christmas destination of 2009! As is typical of many families, we are lucky enough to have two Christmas celebrations every year…Brian’s side of the family and then my side of the family. Each year we rotate which side gets “actual Christmas”. This year, Brian’s family celebrated on December 19th. It was a fabulous time as always…delicious food served Memaw-style complete with fun activities like graham-cracker house building. Can you believe that I forgot my camera that day? I took a few pictures with my iphone though.

On December 22nd, shortly after the break of dawn, we all set out in various methods of transportation that would eventually lead us to Stillwater, OK…home for the past 30+ years to my grammie and grampie (now affectionately known to the boys as GG and GGpa <—Great Grandma and Great Grandpa). Brady, Aiden and I were shuttled to the airport by Memaw and Grandpa while Daddy and Logan set out via super van. 5 round-trip tickets plus the necessary van rental while we were there was atrociously expensive…not to mention that we had all our gifts, toys for the troupe, and all our cloths to pack. Divide and concur seemed the best course of action. My crew did very well on the plane. Nana greeted us at the airport and we made our way to what we’ll refer to as “The 723”.

Daddy and Logan joined us a mere 4 hours later – go super van team! We spent the next 4+ days being fed ridiculous amounts of delicious grammy-food and hanging out with the family. Auntie Denna, Uncle Tom and Baby Ryan joined us later on Tuesday. Papa arrived, by sheer miracle, early Friday morning. You see…while we were hanging around the house on Thursday, Oklahoma and the surrounding area was being hit hard by a monster of a snow storm. Papa made it as far as Texas Thursday evening (via Las Vegas where he drove from their home in Los Angeles). He even GOT on a plane that was delayed and delayed and delayed before they were told that they had to get off because the Tulsa, OK airport had been closed. Papa then rented a car, drove as far as he could and then continued on the next morning (Christmas morning) to join us. Nana, GG & GGpa were actually sleeping away from The 723 each night, in GG’s twin sister’s home, and they got stuck in a snow drift right outside the house Thursday night for no less than 1/2 an hour!

Despite the weather, we were all together on Christmas. It wasn’t just an O.K. Christmas…it was a chance for the boys to visit GG and GGpa for the very first time and a chance for me to return to a treasured place I haven’t seen in far too long. This journey would have been nearly impossible only a year ago, but it proved to be a fun adventure for our family. We struck out for home on Saturday morning and made the 12+ hour journey back with very little fuss from the boys…a true Christmas miracle! ;) We even had a pizza party on our way back. Brian and I needed some coffee and pulled into a Starbucks-containing plaza around 5pm. He spotted a sign at an adjacent Little Caesar’s advertising $5 ready-to-go pizzas. We bought one for the car and kept on “keepin’ on” instead of stopping for dinner. I think the two of us thought it was more entertaining than the kids…but whatever, it saved us at least an hour of non-driving time!

Pictures!

Here is Aiden with his graham cracker house during “1st Christmas”

Logan was more interested in tasting the building materials than in creating his house

At some point, Aiden spilled something on his pants and expressed a strong desire to have them dry (ie: freaked out a bit until I got them into Memaw’s dryer). He was cold so he snuggled under a blanket to watch a Christmas special on TV…Bear snuggled with him.

Aunt Diana sent me some of the pictures she took…I am way impressed at this year’s picture of the boys! Even Brady was looking at the camera!

Here are our boys the next morning enjoying Logan’s new Playmobile Dolphin show. Any toy that requires water is a big hit all around!

Random shot of Brady enjoying the train…he’s making “a tunnel”

Heading for Oklahoma – my crew on the plane! I took a car seat for Bear which was a God send! He wasn’t as crazy as usual…although he spent a good deal of the flight “yelling” at the window because he wanted to put it up, then down, then up, then down…but his single little hand couldn’t do the “up” part very well. I was across the aisle on our tiny little plane and leaned over to lend him a hand for while until, eventually, I just had Aiden switch seats with me. Here, Aiden is frustrated playing a game on my iphone. I think he’s actually yelling at it!

Aiden and his McD’s pancakes. That kid made me carry him on my shoulders (double stroller being otherwise occupied by Brady and the car seat) through the entire airport…and we had a long walk! Mama need a chiropractor!

We had to wait a while for the plane to be de-iced. I have never seen this before, but it’s pretty cool! Whatever they spray on the planes turns them orange then green. This is a bad shot of the wing outside of my window (shockingly, I had both seats to myself!)

Shortly after our arrival at The 723, GG and GGpa left to pick up Denay and her family. We started to get stir crazy so me and Nana took the boys out. We had to stop for some supplies and Aiden wasn’t content until I gave him my camera in the shopping cart at the grocery story. Here is a picture he took of Brady.

Ah…a Stillwater tradition – lunch at Eskimo Joe’s. I had to document the boys’ first trip!

Logan is quite fond of his baby cousin. Hopefully someday the feeling will be mutual :) Here is he giving baby Ryan a hug at the restaurant.

In an effort to keep them entertained, the boys got to open one small gift Wednesday and Thursday mornings (Christmas being on Friday). Thursday, Brady opened his bug-hunters kit from mommy and daddy. He had a blast hunting for these little sponge animals we hid in the hallway.

The Wii also traveled with us to Oklahoma. It was good for keeping all my boys (big and little alike) from getting rambunctious…it just also meant that we were a little hoggy with the TV! :)

This is the greatest thing of all time: garage turned playroom! GG and GGpa’s garage sits right off of their living area (perfect for keeping an eye on the kids). A while back, they saw that the local Masonic lodge was doing a carpet change and asked if they could take some of the remnants. GGpa sealed off the door with plastic and they bought a few cool-to-the-touch space heaters. GENIUS!

A Christmas Eve tradition: opening one gift from GG and GGpa. The boys got books this year…

…and then story time with GG

mommy likes stories too

After the boys were nestled all snug in their beds, Santa dropped by with an item that required a little mommy and daddy-elf assistance…a 500-piece marble run for Aiden. It was quite a process, but we actually had a lot of fun putting it together…even though bedtime came around 1am.

Another Christmas tradition: opening stockings! Santa was very kind to the boys…lots of fun stuff!

Senior sweet-tooth went straight for his candy bracelet.

Aiden spent most of the morning organizing and re-organizing the contents of his stocking. Brian says it’s scary how much the two of us are alike – har har Mr. Funny Man!

The pocket doors between the living and family rooms were pulled shut so as not to reveal the gifts Santa left. Here, the boys wait not-so-patiently with the little puppies they got in their stockings (Logan had to go and get his whole “crew” for the big reveal)

Just what he asked for – a nerf gun! This is actually dart tag and comes with 2 vests, 2 guns and velcro-tipped darts. Daddy and the boys have had a lot of fun running around the house with these!

Brady got a Geo-Trax airplane – big hit!

I didn’t get a shot of Aiden and his marble run, but he loved it…as did Brady…and mommy and daddy (admittedly, we played with a bit before going to bed on Christmas eve)

Bear got himself some new drums (thanks Denna, Tom & Ryan)

Ryan got some cool stuff too…which Brady thoroughly enjoyed while Ryan spent a little time playing in a box – so stinkin’ cute!

2 of Aiden’s favorite gifts: a dollar from his stocking (he was still carrying this around the week after we got home) and a make-your-own-lizard foam “blocks” set.

As I mentioned before, we were hit with quite a huge snow storm while in Oklahoma. No offense intended, but that state maybe owns 1 snow plough from the looks of the roads on our way home. Here, Aiden was complaining that the sun was too bright so I gave him my glasses. funny!

It didn’t seem awesome at the time, but Brady woke up around 5 the day we left…that translated into a big long nap for a while as we set out. Kids sleeping in car seats…equally adorable and SO uncomfortable looking!

Here is a road two days after the snow stopped. Clearly only one side was touched…

There were tons and tons of vehicles abandoned on the side of the road…

…as well as some recent slips into the ditches. Brian and I counted 54 cars and 3 semi trucks along our route. Once we got out of Oklahoma…it was smooth sailing all the way home (props to dad who is an excellent driver in bad conditions…and for the long hauls as well…he drove the WHOLE way!)

Back at home, we set up the massive amounts of cool farm toys the boys got from GG and GGpa. Logan and Aiden got barns complete with various tractors, animals, and other buildings. Brady got a horse carrier.