Christmas Part IV : Running Around

Christmas day was a typical holiday for us.  We went to mass at 9:00, which both girls were thankfully very well behaved for (having all their grandparents and aunts and uncle within an arms reach may have helped just a smidge).  We then headed off to my Grandma and Grandpa Greenlee's house to open gifts and have donuts and other sugary sweets that shouldn't be allowed in such large quantities for a late breakfast (at least it was for us since we didn't eat before going to mass).

 

Claire sitting on her gift from her great-grandparents.

Checking out Great Grandma's Hummel's

With Great Grandpa Greenlee

After my grandparent's house we headed over to Matt's Grandma Palmer's house for more munching and gift exchanging (Which is a whole 2 blocks away.  Hardly worth the time it took to strap the girls in!)

Melanie, Kyler and Lila checking out the snow it G.G.'s backyard

Melanie and Grams showing off the tie-dyed shirt Lila's mom made for her.

This is Ginger

She was one of the items in the $1 gift exchange that the adults do.  Basically, the adults and older kids accumulate stuff that costs $1 throughout the year.  It can be practical or silly.  There's usually some dish scrubbers or some random tools to be had, and candy is always a popular item, along with books, sticky notes, mini puzzles and whatever odds and ends people can pick up.  Last year I even included some deodorant I was able to pick up for a buck and a feather boa I had picked up on the 10 for $5 at Claire's (we made sure that went to a Matt's cousin's husband, and real guys-guy, hunting, 4-wheeling type of fellow).  Anyway, the items are wrapped and passed out amongst the older crowd until everyone has an even number of items, usually around 10 a piece.  You unwrap them and then try to trade with other family members for a more desirable item.  Sometimes you get useful stuff, like when I was expecting Melanie I was able to get some baby socks, bowls and a couple toys.  Other times you get stuck with less desirable things, such as Ginger.  We all agreed she was pretty creepy, and Ben and Jenny, the recipients of Ginger, were trying to leave her behind.  So Donny wedged her in the grill of their Jeep.  I don't think she stayed there for the drive home, but it would have been interesting to see if she made it all the way to Hutchinson like that.  Maybe she can be the yearly exchange item, and whoever gets her from now on has to display her in a special place until the following year when she will hopefully get a new home.  Or maybe she's already in the dumpster.  Who knows.  That's enough about that.

And finally, the girls modeling their hats and scarfs that Aunt Pam made for them.  Unfortunately, I had told Melanie it was time to leave before we took this picture.  She was having so much fun with Lila but was definitely getting tired, so the picture pretty well sums up  how she felt about the idea of leaving.

We then headed to my Aunt Stephanie's house for the only real meal of the day.  Claire took a nap, Melanie ate, played and then fell asleep under an end table, I snoozed on the couch a bit and Matt played dominoes with the rest of the family.  We headed home shortly after I woke up, which was around 5:00.  We then spent the next day or so just hanging out around the house, trying to get the girls back to normal. 

There!  I'm done!  No more feelings of obligation to equally represent all the Christmas activities looming over my head!  I can now get on with life!  And only a mere 27 days after the actual event! OK, so that may have been a little melodramatic.  Nevertheless, it is finished and we can now return to our regularly scheduled program of... hmmm... let's see... well, more cute pictures of the kids I guess.  How's that for original?

Christmas Part III : Christmas Morning - Santa Came

Melanie has basically no understanding of Santa as of yet.  We just haven't really addressed the topic, which is fine by me.  We briefly touched on the subject before going to a Cocoa and Cookies with Santa party at a friends house earlier in the month, but that didn't really help because she still cried when we took her to sit on Santa's lap :P  As we were getting the girls ready for bed on Christmas Eve we got to thinking that we should probably mention good ol' St. Nick again since Melanie is starting to form memories, so as Matt helped Melanie brush her teeth I frantically looked around for our copy of  "Twas the Night Before Christmas" )since that book refers to him as St. Nick at least part of the time, which we'd prefer to be the title we use), but to no avail (still can't find it, as a matter of fact!)  So we had to wing it, but figured it wouldn't really matter what we said because Melanie was tired, so we didn't try too hard.

We kept the gifts simple, but in the future I think we may try to go with getting each of them just three gifts from St. Nick.  The Wise Men gave Jesus three gifts, so why not use the same number for us as well?  Keeps things simple and the kids expectations realistic.   And when you add in all the stuff other people want to get for them (assuming I don't poo-poo their ideas - hi Mom!), I just don't see how we can realistically keep up that pace!

We planned on going to 9:00am mass, so we got the girls up about 30 minutes earlier than usual, which was bright and early at 7:50am, to see what St. Nick had brought. 

We got Melanie up and told her St. Nick had come while she was sleeping and left some presents for her.  It was kinda cute to watch her come down the stairs, obviously not knowing what to expect.

Still not quite awake.

Starting to wake up and get excited about some new books

Check out my slipper boots!

(She really likes these and has asked to wear them out of the house.  If only they had hard soles...)

Melanie giving Claire one of her presents from St. Nick while wearing her new hat and mittens.

Claire also really enjoyed the book.  It played "Silent Night", and musical toys/books always seem to be a hit with our girls.

A spontaneous "I love you dad!" and hug - it's nice to get those every once in a while without having to ask for it :)

And a couple pictures in front of the tree before it's time to get ready for the real celebration - Mass!

Christmas Part II : Christmas Eve at the Stockemer's

Christmas Eve was spent having dinner with Matt's family.   The adults enjoyed prime rib and many tried the inaugural batch of John's blackberry wine (made with berries picked by the family at Spring Creek, of course!),

I didn't try any (not a big fan of wine), but Gordon and Stacey were pleasantly

surprised with how it turned out for a first try.

While the girls ate whatever we could convince/barter to get them to.

Melanie tried a bite or two of just about everything I asked her to, in exchage

for some roll with blackberry jelly of course!

I'm sure Cheerios are a traditional Christmas food, right?

Claire snuggled up with G.G. Palmer for a quick nap while everyone else started unwrapping presents.

The rocking chair Aunt Katie got for Melanie - she's pretty tickled by it!

The personalized aprons Granny Em made for Matt and me

Mine has a bit of terrycloth sewed on it for wiping your hands on - how ingenious is that?!?!

Granny Em trying out her KU snuggie

Uncle John opening his gift from us (more accurately, from Matt)

a case of Brawndo!

(For a bit of background, check this out)

He was apparently pretty excited about it.

I was actually quite ashamed of Matt for getting this for John and kept asking him when he was going to get him a "real" present.  I was so embarrassed that I refused to wrap the gift (making Matt do it instead) and told John before he opened it that I had nothing to do with it and apologized for its absurdity.  Boy, was I way off base!  Lesson learned.  I will not doubt Matt's gift-giving prowess in the future, at least not when it comes to his brother.

Melanie wearing her apron from Granny Em, playing with the bricks Grams and Gramps got for her and Claire.  Matt, Katie and John had some as kids that they apparently played with a lot, so the tradition is being continued.  The blocks were "wrapped" in a cedar chest that I'll use to keep the girls baptismal gowns and other keepsakes in for when they grow up.

Claire eventually woke up and opened some gifts, but wasn't too impressed overall.  Such is life with a 10-month-old.

She was in a much better mood after her nap though!

Checking out stockings which included some Veggie Tales videos, candy and fruit, among other things.

Trying to get a picture of the girls in the cute Christmas outfits their Grams got for them.

Ok, half way through the Christmas posts!  Woo hoo!

Christmas Part I : The Greenlee's

Yes, I realized Christmas was almost two weeks ago.  But we've had a wonderfully relaxing time since then, so I'm just now getting around to sifting through the 350+ pictures we took between all the family gatherings that took place between the 23rd and 25th.  Yes, we take A LOT of pictures.  In our defense, we were trying to be sure Claire's first Christmas was well documented.  And it was.  Very much so.  So without further ado, here is the first installment of the Christmas 2009 posts!

On the 23rd we had my family over for dinner and to exchange gifts, our first family gathering for the week.  It was a nice evening for the girls hanging out with the Greenlee side of the family.

 Playing "horsie" with Grandpa

The sweets we snacked on for dessert.

From the top right : white chocolate cookies 'n' cream fudge, cherry mash balls, mock toffee, smoked sea salt chocolate-covered turtles (my new personal favorite!), white chocolate pretzels, Texas bonbons (coconut and pecan filling), chocolate covered peanut butter crackers (think Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patties), more turtles, and peppermint topped brownies (these looked impressive but I doubt I'll make them again).

Melanie helping distribute packages

Claire comment bubble:

"You want me to do what?"

"You really want me to tear that?"

"Like this?"           

"I can do that!"

*RRRIIIIIPPPP!*

Melanie and the doll cradle Aunt Laura got her, sitting on the doll rocking chair Aunt Amber got her (that kid has a really tiny tush!)

Aunt Amber got Claire her first doll.  She wasn't very good at waiting patiently for the packaging to be removed.

Is she done yet?!?

Got it!                  

And what do you do with your new baby doll?  Try to eat it, of course.

"Claire, your baby can sleep with my baby."

This is why we have a gate around our Christmas tree.

Matt and his extension cords.  Always the practical one, he is ;)

The girls enjoying the Fisher Price Nativity Set while their mom sits there thinking "So many pieces!" ;)

(Really, it is a great toy.  We aren't opening the Wise Men or The Inn at Bethlehem until next year, though.  I've got to take it slowly!)

Can't quite reach...

And finally, the girls with their Nana.