Friday morning on Christmas eve morning, we hosted Paul's immediate family for our celebration with them. We had brunch (mom's egg bake) and were amazed how spoiled the kids already were. Anna got a microphone from grandma & grandpa that actually projects her voice, has lights and has an applause button. She is a natural! She went right up to it and started making her own music. She also got the parents bedroom set from them for her nursery. From Craig & Tiff, Anna got some new clothes, Tinkerbell movie and Mamma Mia. Alex got cars & a car carrier from Grandma and Grandpa and more dinosaurs too. He got more cars, blocks, and the Alvin squeakal from Craig & Tiffany.
We went to the 3:30 church service at Mt. Calvary, unknowing it was the busiest service to go. We were lucky to end up in the church itself, even if we were in the choir loft. But, the kids (especially Alex) were not easily entertained at church. We had to put him in the nursery halfway through after his screaming fit for us to draw different Sesame Street characters. From church, we went to my cousin Tim & Kate's house in Eagan to celebrate with my Mom's extended family. We don't exchange presents among us, but the kids get a few things from my aunts--Alex got a Buzz bowling game and a Toy Story game set. Anna got a Princess Color Wonder pad and a Scottie tea set. Our family was able to perform our first performance for the Christmas Season from "Elmo's 12 days of Christmas", our favorite book. Goes to the tune of 12 days of Christmas, but with more Elmo appropriate words. It was well received, but later found out Anna did now like people singing along with her during her parts. Paul and I also organized "Minute to Win It" games for the family-splitting the family into two teams and having them face off over 5 challenges: 1)Moving on Up 2)Noodling Around 3)Face the Cookie 4)Caddy Stack and 5)Christmas Cliffhanger. It was a lot of fun to watch people try to do the tasks we had spent the last week "testing". It was time to get home after that long day....the kids were still awake at 10 at night when we got home. Had to leave out cookies for Santa, reindeer food and get them to sleep-but in our room. And, I had to go to church. I sang at the 10:30 service that night so I left Paul all by himself with that task. Came home to find them all sleeping (had to wake up Paul to help execute everything!).
Saturday morning, a late wake-up call after 8 was much appreciated for all! Alex found his new big boy bed with Buzz & Woody sheets from Santa and lots more downstairs. Again, it was so magical to see Christmas through their eyes. Santa was good to the kids: Anna got a baby that walks, a domino set, model magic and lots of goodies in her stocking; Alex got Toy story leggos, superman jammies, Lighting McQueen car, and his bed and little goodies in his stocking including a talking Thomas train. We barely got through all our Santa gifts before my sister & Grandma Haertel arrived. Then, the mass chaos started. So many presents the family room started to burst!! Anna was spoiled with a new Tinkerbell light, clothes, ornament, and a monkey game from Kiki; a church coat and a Leapster with a game from grandma; clothes, Fairy Look & Find Book, sing a ma jig doll, talking Jessie, and a minivan for her dollhouse from us and an Tinkerbell ornament from Alex. Alex got a shake & go car, clothes, talking Woody, and Toy Story 3 from us; a Woody & Jessie ornament from Anna; Toy Story blanket, dancing Mickey, Toy Story potato head set and an ornament from Kiki; and trains, shake & go Buzz rocket, and clothes from grandma! We had a light lunch: chicken salad, croissants, fruit & chip and a munchie dinner (Anna even requested an actual meal after the fact). It literally took us most of the day to open all the presents. I didn't even mention what we got--I was lucky enough to get a Keurig, a coat, an IPOD nano, HR moniter and a watch. Alex got a superman snuggie-just what every guy needs :), a new coat, fleece, Epic Mickey, HR moniter and a watch. A little out of control. The post-opening shock hit me just like usual. It was such a low key day, the kids & I didn't make our way out of our pajamas.
Sunday, we headed to Green Lake to celebrate with Paul's extended family. We did our encore performance of "Elmo's 12 days of Christmas", enjoyed a nice lunch with all of them and the kids got even more presents-hot chocolate sets from Shell, a golf set for Alex from Angie & Nick and a bead set for Anna from Angie & Nick. From there, we headed up to Deer Lake to have some R&R time with the Eagle Ridge gang--including a surprise visit from Smokey & Katie!!! :) Got a lot of good good bonding time, a girls trip to Walmart, good cooking, skype time with Jodi in Utah, games & playtime outside. Alex made his debut on the sled, thanks to some encouragement from Katie & Smokey. We are so thankful for my family, their friendship and most importantly their love of our children!
No comments:
Post a Comment