Our Christmas 2008

Well, because I spent most of New Year's Day snoozing, it's almost two in the morning and guess what? I'm still awake. I'm going to use this time, though, to post our Christmas pictures.

Hey, it's much easier to do it now rather than later when I will have that crazy one year old that lives here, all over the computer. It is one of her favorite things IN THE WORLD!!! I videotaped a five minute pouting session she had the other day just because I wouldn't let her touch the laptop. I need to get that on here... it's quite a sight to see.

Anyway, onto our Christmas!

We had one of the best Christmases we've had in a long time (minus Gammy, Gampy, & Stuart... we missed you guys!).

Last year when Kate was born, everyone said, "Oh, you will have the BEST Christmas ever this year." Yeah, not quite.

Christmas 2007 with a one month old who cried all the time was not the BEST Christmas ever.

To prep for Christmas Eve last year, I had to con two of the teens into coming over to help. One to help me cook and bake and one to help Mark keep Kate from crying. OK, so I may be exaggerating a little bit with all the crying, but last Christmas wasn't easy. Add to that the stress of toting a one month old around to two Christmases, trying to keep going when we were EXHAUSTED, buying cute first Christmas outfits, shopping, wrapping, baking, AND nursing.... whew! I'm worn out just typing it. All that to say that yes, Christmas 2007 was fun with a new baby but was a far cry from Christmas 2008.

This year, we changed up our Christmas Eve tradition a little bit and went to Uncle Scott and Maddie's. When Mark was working at the church, we always had to be in Union for Christmas Eve to attend the service. This year we went to Scott's church, Windsor Crossing. It was amazing... we enjoyed it so much! Then, we went back to their house for chili and festivities.

After church, the bow came out, the shoes came off, and she had cookie crumbs all over her.

Playing with a "Go Cards!" sign Papa gave her.

You'll see this face a lot as you look through these pictures.

Weighing the consequences... should I open it? Should I not open it?

Whatever! I'm openin' it!!

Yeah, I'm all OVER this present!

We did my family's Christmas Eve tradition and opened pajamas for us to wear that night. At the end of the night, Papa read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (also a family tradition... Papa was a good stand-in for Gampy, although we missed the "funny version").

*** Gampy: If you are reading this, Maddie saw the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas book laying in a box with all of the presents Mom brought and said, "Dad... Look! It's Gampy's story!!

We drove home and put Kate to bed. Mark and I got all organized for the next day. We knew she was getting a lot of presents from grandparents, so we went very light buying presents for her.

Two big gifts:

and about five other wrapped gifts. Books, crayons, pajamas, a bath toy...

Needless to say, she was thrilled to pieces!

Is this for ME?!?!

And then, she proceeded to eat her new baby stroller...

What do you do with this thing anyway?

Oh, that's right... you eat it!

I made Pioneer Woman's homemade cinnamon rolls for the neighbors the day before, so I made us a pan, too. I reheated them while Kate played with her "Santa" presents and then, we moved onto opening presents while eating cinnamon rolls and drinking coffee.

"Reading" Daddy's card to Mommy

A new book!!

Can I open another one??

Another book?

Books are a fave around here right now. If you want to keep Kate busy, plop her in front of a pile of books and she will go to town. Recently, she has started "reading" them. She will either hold it real close to her face and squint her eyes (hilarious to see!) or she will point to the pages and say "da da da da". Mark and I caught her the other day lying on her back reading a book. So cute!!

Hmmm, should I guess what's in this one?

No surprise here, it was a book.

Oooh, some crayons and a coloring book!

Let's see, how do I do this?

Now I get it!

Ooooooh!

The crayons are retired for a little while. She colors for about five seconds and then bites the tip off of the crayon. Once she saw my reaction, she now thinks it's funny and runs from me as she's biting it. I hear it "snap" and then, she's off down the hall. I'm tellin' ya... she's a stinker!!!

What's in this box, Mama?

Pajamas? Are you kidding me?!?!

She looks thrilled, doesn't she? :)

Gimme that one. I know what I'm doin' now!

Helping Mommy and Daddy open their gifts.

Oh, so you push it! You don't eat it, I get it!

Poor little girl was fighting a cold over the holidays. Her nose is running in all of our pictures.

Opening her Taggies Giraffe from Gammy and Gampy.

Oh, I love it!

We all got ready and headed to Nanny and Poppy's house for the afternoon. We opened LOTS of presents, ate great food, played Guitar Hero, and had a wonderful time!!

Give me that present, Mama!

I LOVE IT!!!

Look out!! Kate with a hammer!

What IS this?

Later in the day, we headed over to Mimi and Papa's house.

Sitting in her new rocking chair eating Teddy Graham's from her stocking.

They don't like her or anything, can you tell?

Opening her gift from Uncle Brad and Vicky

She was rocking back and forth by herself.

Hey!

Smiling at Uncle Brad. She is MADLY in love with him.

Uncle Brad, you kill me!!

Notice the disheveled hair and bow hanging down?

Oh, Uncle Brad, you're the only one I need...

There's that face again.

And, here it is again riding her pony the next day.

Giddy Up, Horsie!

This was right before she fell off because she was being a daredevil riding one handed.

Mark had to work Friday but after he got off, we went back over to Nanny and Poppy's to play games and eat chili.

On Saturday, we put all of our Christmas decorations away and took down our tree. We went to the nursing home to visit Mark's great grandma and have him take a big family picture of everyone with her.

Old people love Kate (and always think she is a boy). She turned on the charm as we were leaving, wearing Poppy's hat and shaking her balloon.

We hope you all had a fantastic Christmas.
Here's to a blessed 2009!!!