Christmas 2010

I hope you all had a great Christmas...one full of family, friends, fun, and fantastic memories! 

As for us, our holiday was fabulous.  We spent some time with extended family and we also spent time in jammies with just us...that was the best.  Let me explain.....

CHRISTMAS EVE is always spent at my hubby's parents house with his 2 brothers and their families.  My mother-in-law cooks a turkey dinner and we each bring something to contribute to the meal.  We have dinner and visit.  Then we all gather round and listen to my father-in-law read the Christmas story. This year, my mother-in-law also read Dr. Seuss....How the Grinch Stole Christmas, as well as a few other stories. 

And of course, the "Gift Bag" game.  This is the highlight of the evening I think.  She makes up a gift bag for everyone there and fills it will lots of little things.....candy, sanitizer, Kleenex, candy canes, gum, chips, and so on.  Every year it is different, but the thing that is always the same....money and a small stuffed animal of some sort.  K was looking forward to this all night as she really wanted a bear.  So we gather in a circle with our bags and listen to the story being told...passing the bag to the right when she says "right", or going across the circle when she says "across".

We always have so much fun.  When the story is done, then you get to keep the bag you are holding.    K was so disappointed when she opened up her bag and found no animal...I think we were all a little sad.  Then "Granny" says that she has something on her bed that is only for the grandkids and that she would call them in one at a time to see it.  And she started with the youngest...which was K.  She was thrilled as she followed her granny into the bedroom.  I was told I could come in to take pictures but was not allowed to go tell the others.  This is what was on her bed.....

K was thrilled that Granny had found a PINK BEAR just for her....of course, that was the one she picked.

After each child picked their animal, they had to stay in the bedroom so it was a surprise for each child.  The oldest 3 grandchildren there are college age, but they had just as much fun as the little ones did.  It was fun to see them all compare and play with their animals the rest of the night.  They all had names by the time the evening was over.  I think they thought that was a far better animal than the little ones that fit in gift bags.

At home, the kids opened their new jammies, placed out cookies and milk for Santa and headed to bed.  Not before checking NORAD to see where "he" was though.  (T got to answer phones for NORAD Tracking Santa at Petersen AF Base today.  He had a good time and we loved calling him to ask him where Santa was.)

CHRISTMAS DAY was nice and quiet and lazy...the way a holiday should be.  We stayed in our jammies all day playing with our Christmas gifts, napping, watching tv, games and so on.  I think everyone was happy they had gotten at least some of the things they had asked for.

(congregating in M's room before going down Christmas morning.  See T laying behind the girls!)

T asked for a car or truck and this is what he got......

He never did say he wanted one that was big enough for him to sit in.  But he was happy to get the paintball things he wanted, Air Force clothes and volleyball shoes.

M was thrilled when she got this........

She didn't ask for it, but we thought that with all the reading she does, that a Kindle would be the perfect gift for her.  She loves it!  She was also happy to get jewelry, clothes and the movie she wanted.

J was happy to get all the art supplies she asked for.....markers, colored pencils, drawing pads, and so on.  She was excited to get the "frog" pillow pet.  She loves frogs but was disappointed when she never saw one in the stores.  Little did she know that the original pillow pet online sold frog ones.

K asked for bears of course, and of course we got her bears.  It is the cutest stuffed animal cuz it has this cute little growl when you press it's tummy.  I think her favorite gift was the blanket she got.  She says the tan color reminds her of a bear.

When my mother came over for Thanksgiving, she brought a very soft cuddly blanket a friend of hers had given her that K just fell in love with.  She mentioned she wanted one just like Grandma's...I went to Big Lots on Black Friday to get something advertised and saw the blanket...I couldn't resist.  She has been walking around all weekend wrapped in that carrying her bears.  She was happy to get the glow in the dark Bendaroos, a white board, and some more Zhu Zhu stuff.

Now, me on the other hand, got the best gift ever......

that's right folks...a new lens for my camera.  Now I can take those far away shots that I have been dreaming about.  I love it....my hubby is the best.  The following pix were taken with my zoom lens from across the room.....Oh too much fun!

And for the family gift this year...........

a full size keyboard electric piano.  We are loving it and I might actually sit down and learn how to play.  I think we are going to have some fun with this gift.  It is so nice to hear sweet music in our home every day.

I surprised the family with tickets to see the musical THE LION KING. You know the Broadway play that is getting rave reviews!!!  Yea, well it is coming to Denver next year and I have always wanted to see it.  And since I will not get to NYC any time soon, I decided that I would buy tickets for the whole family.  OK, so they were not as thrilled as I am, but I think by the time it rolls around, they will be glad I added "this" culture to their lives.  (BTW, Les Miserables is coming too....I would like to see that one again)

So we got 2 Wii games this year.  Ever since we got JUST DANCE, we have been anxiously awaiting the second one to come out.  So Santa brought T that one and I must say, I am a bit disappointed in it.  It has some really weird songs and actions.  They always seem to try and change something that is a hit when they bring out the 2nd one.  WHY?????  Don't they understand that all they needed to do was different songs,  not try to jazz it up and change it all around.  It is still fun, but not as great as I had hoped.  HOWEVER, Santa brought K....WIPEOUT.  I must say....it is as funny to watch as the TV show.  We have laughed so hard as we are playing it and "wiping out".  That one is a keeper.

Overall, we had a super fun Christmas....the house is a mess......the kitchen is full of too many goodies.....and I am tired.  We were hoping for a white Christmas , but it was gorgeous and sunny and warm.  It reminded me of my California Christmas', which really isn't bad for me.  But it would have been nice to have some snow! 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight.  (I need a nap)