Wrapping it up

On the fourth day of Christmas, it was Christmas Eve!!  The final hours had arrived to prepare for our Christmas celebration and in those final hours, the boys needed to wrap their gifts to Daddy.

This year, Kellan learned how to use scissors, so he got to cut his own paper.

After some time, he asked his brother for some assistance from the other side.

Again, notice the PJ's and bed head.  Yes... we're sleeping in and lounging in PJ's until late in the day.  Ahhh!!!

Oliver went right after his gift.

He was SO excited to give this gift to his Daddy.  This was exactly what Daddy had asked for and Oliver spotted it in the store.  He couldn't wait!

Before I knew it, Oliver had this gift under wraps. I was blown away with how well he did.  He only took a few pointers from Mommy on how to get the corners tight and he delivered the rest.  I made note and complimented him on his skills, which far exceeded his Daddy's wrapping skills.

Kellan was so proud of his package and the perfect placement of his green bow.

Oliver was beaming with pride (and bed head) as well.

(I can't believe how big this guy is getting.  Be still my beating heart.)

Oliver even labeled his own gift.

It's not every moment of every photo op that the boys beam with smiles and bright eyes when Mommy says, "stand here and hold up your gift for a photo".  Even though, these are some of my favorites.  The true emotion that is forever captured.  Life isn't always smiles and glad tidings, sometimes it it short of patience for Mommy's photos, but you know you should just get it over with because she's a persistent one.

Or, maybe life just hands you a battle wound, known as a paper cut.  

Hey, no workman's comp here, buddy.

Just band aids, neosporin and endless kisses.

Kellan posed with his gift to.

Like Oliver's earlier photo, this is one of my favorites of Kellan.  These candid faces make me smile.  Maybe because whether they beam with smiles or give me the grumps, I love them to pieces.

Don't be fooled, grump poses or not, they loved wrapping gifts.  Sometimes Mommy just likes to capture raw emotion.

As we cleaned up the wrap up, the boys worked on their writing skills.  Kellan is learning his letters and numbers and he is really quite good at them.  Sometimes, he stumbles a bit and that's where a big brother comes in handy.

After some time, Kellan asked Oliver for more help.  Oliver was more than happy to oblige and Kellan watched in wonder.

I love seeing these two working together, one learning from the other.

It was official, Christmas Eve morning (or mid-day) was a wrap.

Let the festivities begin!