I know, I know…it’s a little late. My blogging has kind of fallen by the wayside lately as I spend my time preparing for my upcoming little arrival — but here it is; an entry about our Christmas, 2008.
It was a whirlwind of a Christmas season! Although we did manage to go visit Bethlehem and participate in some neighborhood Christmas activities this year, due my medical problems, we had to miss out on some of the really cool things I had planned (such as choral concerts, and lighted boat parades). All in all, we still had a great Christmas season though — and Christmas itself was no exception.
Christmas Eve
We celebrated Christmas Eve as we generally do; with games and lots of snacks! (This year we were delighted to have a neighbor family join us) And then we opened our traditional Christmas Eve gifts — a new ornament and a new pair of pajamas.
Christmas Day
They do it every year — get up WAY before dawn to attack their stockings! This year certainly was no exception! The first person awoke at around 2:30 am, and was promptly sent back to bed, but by 4am they were ALL up, so I was too.
We always have a large Christmas morning brunch (although we tried some new recipes this year — all keepers!). Thankfully, Gator had prepared most of the meal the day before, so it simply needed to be heated up.
After eating, Rob read the Christmas story from Luke, and then present time began. Now, when your family is as large as ours, gift-giving is quite a lengthy process (especially when the Mama insists on taking turns — one person opening a gift at a time). It was well into the afternoon before we were finished — and children’s friends had even begun to arrive to join in on the fun before it was all over.
Before the Carnage
Sibling Gifts, and a Treasure Hunt
The very first gifts we exchange are those from siblings. The children all loved the blankets that Audrey made for them this year.
…but Gator made them *work* for his gifts. He sent them on a treasure hunt! (the”treasure”, of course, being their gifts).
Gift Reactions
One of my favorite parts of gift-giving, is to see the surprised reactions on the faces of the recipients. There were some classic ones this year!
Gator discovers his gift of an Indiana Jones DVD
(which had been cleverly disguised in a shirt box)
Shane’s self-proclaimed favorite gift — a big stuffed tiger
When Rey discovered his jumbo lion, he yelled, “I love it!”
Christmas Funny #1:
Prior to Ant opening his new RipStick, there had been three boxes of almost the same size. Two had been for Boo and Dinky (containing those big pink fuzzy chairs that Boo is using in the background), so when it was Ant’s turn to open his box, he had assumed he’d gotten a chair as well. Imagine his confusion as he tore open the box to find it was not a chair — but what was it? He felt it, at first thinking it felt like a banjo. He didn’t know what it actually was until he got it completely out of the carrying case — thus the delayed look of surprise.
Dinky opening her new jewelry while her friend Megan watches
Christmas Funny #2
Poor Dinky. She tore the wrapping off a small box to see a label which read: Salt and Pepper Shakers. She was visably disappointed. She couldn’t believe we had actually gotten her such a lame gift. I mean, what kind of parent buys a salt shaker for a 10-year-old? That disappointment quickly changed to that look you see in the photo above, once she opened the box and realized that the salt and pepper shaker were ones to go with her very fancy tea set that she has enjoyed since her sixth birthday. She didn’t think I’d remember that she has been wanting some completer pieces to go with it.
Think they like their new dress-up shoes and clothes?
It sure didn’t take them long to change.
Gator was thrilled with his new Indiana Jones Monopoly, but this NEXT gift
(his Indiana Jones whip) had him sprinting outside to immediately put it to use.
He didn’t even bother to put his shoes on first!
I don’t think Ant was expecting that multi-tool. ;)
Curly-Top showing off her new laptop.
…And some reactions just weren’t as…well, a picture is worth a thousand words
(Note to Dinky – if you aren’t so thrilled with a gift, learn to fake it!)
Finding Nemo
Rey is a BIG fan of Nemo (he calls him Mee-mo), so I was thrilled to find some Nemo pajamas on clearance at the Disney outlet store online. I think he was even more thrilled.
After jumping up and down for joy in the above picture, Rey wasted no time in
putting his new Nemo pajamas on — he stripped down right then and there!
And before long he transformed himself into a Nemo Jedi…
…before becoming Darth Nemo.
And speaking of Star Wars characters…who is that masked man?
Christmas Funny #3
Lefty (the masked man above) was very jealous when little brother Rey opened up the Star Wars action set, which included dress-up clothes and light sabers. His face just fell, and he said, “I wish I would have gotten that.” So imagine his delight when he soon realized he’d gotten a set also.
Christmas Funny #4
Lefty again. This time he had watched several people in a row open up a new Webkinz for Christmas, so he correctly assumed he’d be getting one as well. So he smiled as he held up a soft gift, and proclaimed, “I know what this is! It’s a Webkinz!” Then, a look of utter confusion overtook his face and he said, “Huh?”, as he ripped open the wrapping to discover a new Spider Man bathing suit instead. I didn’t capture *that* one on camera, but it was most certainly the most interesting, surprised, gift-opening expression of the day.
Two Very Appropriate T-Shirts!
If you know my husband you’ll understand. He was once locked in a broom closet by a teacher after being told he has “diarrhea of the mouth”. If I send him to ask the neighbor a question, I will likely not see him for another hour. He always “gets to talkin’”. Maybe this shirt will help. (For some reason, he didn’t find it as humorous as I did.)
And for Audrey, who is often assumed to be the mother of the younger children when we are out shopping…
Christmas Dinner
I revamped the entire Christmas menu this year. We ended up with some GREAT new dishes, but since it was our first experience with said dishes, everything took longer than expected, and we realized we REALLY need more than one oven — so Christmas dinner didn’t actually make it to the table until about 9pm, after two children had already fallen asleep while watching a movie.
But the table turned out pretty, I think. (I give Rob credit for the fancy folding of the napkins).
