Christmas 2009

What a different Christmas this one was from the years past. We have lived away from California for six and a half years now and this is our seventh Christmas we've been married. But in all those years we haven't ever spent one in our own home and have always been fortunate to be able to go spend it with our families. This year though, with three young kids it made more sense financially and mentally (hello stress!! Trying to fly with three little ones seems daunting!) to stay here. I tried to focus on the positives and continue old traditions and make new ones as I came to terms with some sadness I felt not spending these days the way I was used to. At certain times I would think "oh we should be getting ready to go to the Macaroni Grill for Christmas Eve dinner!" or "We should be showering and getting dressed to go down the road to spend the afternoon with Richard's family on Christmas". I must admit, we had it so easy all these years with our parents living across the street from each other. I look back and absolutely love how easy and fun it was to spend the day with each family.

Back to the present. Christmas Eve Eve to be exact. I took Calli to see The Nutcracker Ballet at San Antonio's Municipal Auditorium that evening. I think I am going to make this a new tradition and it will be something Serena can also be included in as she gets older. The production itself was okay, a few mistakes here and there, but the costumes were gorgeous and it held Calli's attention for most of the evening. We started the night by having dinner at IHOP. Calli had seen the commercials on TV and been talking about eating there for awhile. Since they have special holiday pancakes I decided it would be the perfect place for us to go. We both got Gingerbread pancakes, which Calli loved, but it made me realize I am not a big gingerbread fan! After finishing our meal we headed to the theater very early and had to wait around to be able to even sit down. We bought a souvineer (a Clara ornament) from the gift stands in the lobby while we were waiting. All in all, I think Calli had a fun time and enjoyed being able to dress up in her Christmas dress and spend some time with just her and me.

Jameson had an appointment with the orthotist a few hours before the show (1 mm more of improvement and almost halfway done!!) so Richard came along in a separate car so Calli and I could leave from there. This is the two of us in that parking lot.

Here is Calli at IHOP enjoying her gingerbread pancakes and chocolate milk!

Calli standing in front of the theater
These aren't where our seats were (we were over to the left more) but we were leaving the restrooms and this was a good opportunity to get a photo of Calli in front of the stage.

Calli and me before the show started

Just goofing around while we waited

The next day was Christmas Eve. We woke up and got ready to go to the mall for our annual tradition of meeting Santa Claus. Richard wanted to go to the outdoor mall, but I am not a fan of outdoor malls and just felt that going to an indoor one was more traditional for us :). Anyway when we got there and out of the car it was very cold and windy, making the wind chill temps around 40 degrees or lower. We were glad we had decided to stay indoors! The mall wasn't very crowded when we arrived and the Santa line was nearly nonexistent. In years past we have had to wait over an hour to meet the jolly fellow, with my dad volunteering to stand in line for us some of the time. But this line was very short and we were meeting Santa in about twenty minutes. I was very disappointed with the Santa set because it wasn't nearly as good as what we have seen at the Arden Mall. But I realized that the Arden Mall is the exception, not the rule, of the Santa sets and we had just been spoiled.

So I knew we would have issues with Serena wanting to sit on Santa's lap since this was the fourth or fifth time we had seen him and she had always pitched a fit. But I was determined that she would sit on his lap instead of having another family picture (I only wanted the kids in it this time). Santa was great though because she freaked out and I hoisted her up there and he grabbed her around the waist and held on tight so she couldn't slide down. So she is crying in the photo, but at least I have one!!

When we got home from the mall we had received the last of the packages in the mail from family and spread those gifts from Auntie under the tree. This is what it looks like, complete with gifts from Mommy and Daddy, Grandmas and Grandpas, Great Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunties.

A new tradition I think we'll continue is making a gingerbread house. I had bought a kit at Walmart and putting it together was a challenge. I knew that the icing wasn't going to really hold the roof on and sure enough it started to slide off. I sat and held it for a few minutes before just giving up and letting it be. It didn't slide too much so I was happy. I also decided to sacrifice perfection to let the girls just have fun decorating it themselves.

Holding the roof in place

Here are the girls decorating. Calli looks a little stressed out ;).

They were eating a bit more than they were decorating!

The finished product...look at those cheesy faces!!

That's better!

We have another tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve evening. I made mashed potatoes and chicken for dinner and it was getting kind of late after that. The dishes could wait as we gathered around the tree to hand out a gift to each kid (pjs of course!).

Tearing into their presents

Their new pjs! I had trouble finding footsie pjs for Calli's age so this will probably be the last year she gets them. Serena and Jameson had Minnie and Mickey pjs.

And Richard even bought ME a pair of pjs!

After the kids went to bed, Santa went to work wrapping presents and filling stockings.

CHRISTMAS IS HERE!! Jameson was the first one up at about 5:45am. Richard got up with him while I slept a bit longer. I was really disappointed because Calli went downstairs on her own before I got up. I had wanted to bring the girls down together and record their reactions on video because I know Calli especially would be super excited. But I had to improvise and started recording when Serena came downstairs instead.

Here is Jameson playing with his stocking toys. Santa brought him a small dump truck, a Batman shirt, a pair of shoes (to wear in his walker outside so his socks don't get dirty!), teether toys, a bib and a bath toy.

Calli and Serena opening their stockings. They got movies, shoes, clothing items, fruit snacks, bath toys, games and other fun things.

Finally it was time to open the BIG presents from Santa!

Santa brought Serena a cozy coupe car. She is forever getting in Jameson's walker and being silly and walking around the house, so Santa thought she might like her own big girl kind of walker to play with outside :).

Calli received an art tower table from Santa. She is quite the little artist and now has a place to design her masterpieces as well as somewhere to store the art supplies and hang her drawings up.

Jameson was given a dump truck with blocks!

Calli couldn't wait to open the rest of the presents right away, so we divided everything up into piles for each person and started unwrapping.

Jameson liked to play with the garbage bag

Calli and her pile of presents, opening her card from Grandma-Great

Serena digging into her gifts

An Elmo towel and a See N Say!

Thanks Auntie Kendra for the Hannah Montana doll!!

Grandpa James and Grandma Keri got Calli this Princess story book to put together.

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Molly gave Serena this Elmo and friends purse

Serena unwrapping a big present from Mom and Dad - a stroller, high chair and bouncer seat for her baby dolls!

Jameson with his namesake train

Serena opening another present

Jameson and his car toy. It was the first year we had boy toys in the house! I have decided I don't enjoy shopping for boys, it's much harder!

The aftermath of opening all the presents!!

The girls enjoying Calli's new art table after I put it together

Serena the veternarian!

Calli the chef!

After opening all the presents, it was time for our BIG breakfast! Blueberry muffins, hashbrowns, bacon and scrambled eggs with sausage were on the menu. It was yummy and we were stuffed!

The girls watching the Disney Christmas parade on TV while we cleaned up the kitchen.

Jameson enjoying his new bug catcher from Grandpa Bob and Grandma Molly

Serena playing in her car after we finally got it all put together!

We got the girls some sidewalk paint and spray paint and Calli was trying it out.

Daddy and Serena

After playing outdoors we all sat down to watch a Christmas movie and enjoy popcorn. We put on Elf and laughed and had a fun time.

And finally, our family Christmas picture. Thank you to the timer on the camera and Calli's art table (used to hold the camera high enough to get the shot).