Christmas Festivities 2009

Christmas 2009

So I thought last year Christmas was fun with Ethan - even more so this year! He was so into it! Those precious little eyes took in everything in great awe. I so love experiencing things through a child's perspective.

The days leading up to Christmas were hectic, hectic, hectic! Packing the house, packing for California, dealing with a broken oven (the healing element went out mid cookie baking) and trying to finish up last-minute projects for Christmas. My new motto became: "Sleep, who needs sleep? Sleep is for wienies!" Somehow we got it all done - well, all but the Christmas baking that is. Sorry 5th ward people. We tried... Honest!

* Christmas Eve: I had to work a part day Christmas Eve, then ran some errands and then went home to get ready for Christmas Eve dinner at my Auntie Kay's. We had a small group and Ethan was the only great-grandchild there but we very much enjoyed our evening. It was such a nice break not having to be in charge of anything and the dinner was yummy! We watched a church devotional that gave the history behind the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" - my Grandma Mary's favorite and one of my favorites too. It was such a good story!! I had no idea of the history and really liked hearing it - Edward Herrmann narrated.

The group - minus Sean and cousin Drew.

Cousins - Christine, Lizzy, Drew and me.

Drew stole my camera.

After Kay's we went back to my parents house so Ethan could open his Christmas jammies and we could read our new Christmas book.

This year's book: Humphrey's First Christmas

* Christmas Morning: We spent our first Christmas morning together - just the three of us! I stayed up waaaay too late and got up waaaay to early. In fact, at one point I remember seeing the comics/crossword page of the newspaper and reading some insanely high percentage of people get like 5 hours sleep or less Christmas eve. Yep, that was me! But, I did manage to get my breakfast casserole made and in the fridge along with a dozen homemade cinnamon rolls. We had a YUMMY Christmas breakfast!!

Before the little one awoke...

This was the star of the show... Ethan opened some new clothes, etc. and then this toy and was interested in opening anything else after that! He was happy as a clam just playing with his new truck! Finally we convinced him to open his last couple presents (which included a pretty cool Little Einsteins rocket)!

Then we got ready to go and headed over to my parents house for breakfast (the casserole and cinnamon rolls I had made), more stockings and presents with them.

My dad shaking his gift... it was just a gift card, but I filled the box with pistachios - his favorite!

Sean modeling his new, super warm-n-fuzzy hoodie.

Ethan and his new "MONSTER CASTLE" from Gramma Julie and Grampa Greg! It roars and lights up and make scary storm noises!

* Christmas Afternoon/Dinner: Our traditional dinner at Grandma Sandy and Grandpa Chuck's! Soooo good! It's my family, my grandparents, uncle Steve and cousin Cody. Gotta love Grandma's homemade rolls.

Gift chaos!


Ethan on his new Cars "TV couch" from Uncle Steve and Cousin Cody - he LOVES it!!

It was a long day. He fell asleep on his little couch right in the middle of all the conversations and activity!

We had a great Christmas!! I love being surrounded by friends and family at that time of the year. I love all of our traditions and starting new ones. And I love our little family!!

[The following evening we left for California!]