Christmas in Florida-Part Two
Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 10:34PM Christmas traditions are so special, aren't they? Michaela already loves traditions, from getting hot chocolate at the same tavern in Colonial Williamsburg, to the Christmas Eve Eve party that Diana (Mike's mom) has each year.
On the 23rd of December, Diana has the family over for dinner and a family picture. Anyone who is in town, comes. Her husband, Mr. Bob as the kids call him, has two children with families, but only one of them lives in town. This is Mr. Bob and his son Robert.
Christian and Robert's son enjoyed the big cousins' (the teenagers) iphone games.
Pool is always a hit. Doesn't Michaela look striking? (Hey. That was supposed to be a funny joke. But...strikes are in bowling, not pool. So...I'm not clever and witty, after all.)
The kids got to decorate a little tree downstairs. Too cute.
The big tree stood in its usual place, stately as always.
A big hit in a tiny package...peppermint ice cream in mini-cones. (This is the oldest cousin...he was four when we got married. Now he's getting ready for college. Aaaahhhh!)
This is Bobby and Wendy (I have to say I wrote Bobble. It made me laugh. I love Bobby. He is great.)...what can I say about Wendy? She is awesome. She takes care of me. I'm like the seventh child (remember, we have six kids between the two of us). She has brought me a little sweet tea each day, to help me with my no-soda-drinking. The sugar in her tea is much less than in the five cans of Pepsi I was drinking a day (at least, I think that's true) (that was a joke...of course it's true).
Everywhere we went there were kids (big and little) with the games on the phones. Christian is with Mike's oldest brother.
This is Mike's other older brother, with their mom.
The evening was fun. These glamour girls enjoyed every minute of the night, in their fancy Christmas attire.
We spent Christmas Eve with Mike's dad and his wife, and many other family members and friends. I did not take my camera to that party...Bobby may have some pictures that I can add at some point. It was a fun evening and we got to open our presents from them (Lance and Susie). Mike and I got new luggage, which was very exciting (isn't it great to be in your thirties?) since I have been talking about getting rid of our old luggage (which has seen better days) the entire month of December. A true and fun coincidence.
We spent Christmas morning with the kids and Grandma and Bob. Michaela, Christian, and Eliana opened their presents from us. It was so much fun to see them get excited about our gifts.
Yes. Yes, that is a Snuggie. That is what Michaela asked for, and that is what she got.
Christian is happy with almost anything Star Wars. This is a fancy puzzle tin. He said,"This. Is Awesome."
Eliana opened some Dinosaur Train toys. It was really cute. She was very happy to have them.
The most bestest, though, was the present Michaela gave to me. She took the time to draw something, just for her mommy.
She is one very special girl. Don't you think?
Each year we give the kids an ornament that commemorates an aspect of the year for them. Since this was Eliana's first year in big-girl school, Mike had the idea to give her a school related ornament. She didn't quite get it at first.
When I told her what it was, she liked it and hung it on the tree.
Later in the morning, Wendy, Bobby, and the kids came over for brunch and present opening.
I cannot imagine having six children at any given time, but especially when taking pictures...
The cousins do a gift exchange each year. This year Michaela and cousin C. had one another. Michaela received a journal (which she has written in each night since then, and is really loving) and cousin C. received a guide to fixing her dolls' hair. They were both thrilled.
The boys opened K'Nex from Grandma and Mr. Bob.
The big girls opened new babies. (Now that's a way to get a new baby. No labor, no pushing, no hospital food.)
And of course, there was a pooping reindeer (and penguin and polar bear).
If you've never seen someone eat jelly beans out of the bottom of a plastic reindeer, well, all I can say is you haven't really lived. I highly recommend it.
We still have a few days here. Mike is home, packing up our house for the move (I have a story about that for another post). We'll join him next week, in our new home. I already sense that 2011 will be an adventure. It's a good thing I have a blog.
Reader Comments (2)
I want to have more kids just so I can dress them in matching pajamas.
You staying on vacation while Mike packs up the house is GENIUS!!! :)
That picture of M in her fancy clothes is killing me. She looks so grown up. I much prefer all of them together in their jammies!