We finished our Christmas shopping at the last minute, as usual. Actually, it just wouldn't feel like Christmas if we weren't out there shopping on Christmas Eve. Then we had a delicious dinner at the Nelsons' with ham, prime rib, potatoes, veggies, and our favorite raspberry-pretzel-whip cream-jello salad. We played a new game, after Jake spent nearly an hour reading the instructions to figure it out, and stayed a little later than we should have, but everyone was having so much fun.
Christmas morning we woke up early and the girls opened their presents from Santa. When I asked Kennedy a few weeks ago what she wanted for Christmas, she said "an alphabet set." She wasn't much more specific about it in her letter to Santa:
Dear Santa,
I want an alphabet set. It goes like this: A,B,C,D,E,F,G...(you get the picture)...next time won't you sing with me. Macy wants something for the kitchen.
Love,
Kennedy
I think the girls were excited to come downstairs on Christmas morning, but it's hard to tell from this picture.
Kennedy got a magnetic alphabet kit and board with 240 lowercase letters in a compartmentalized storage box! Both she and Macy loved it. Kennedy spent lots of time throughout the day forming words she knows, asking us how to spell things, and lining up the alphabet. The box also spilled twice during the day, and it was a pain to get all those letters sorted again.
Macy got a set of spices in a wooden rack that make shaking sounds for their kitchen.
They each got a Groovy Girls doll, new outfits (matching, of course), money for their piggy banks, and a fire truck Playmobile set to share. And, Kennedy got a Spanish bingo game. I'd say Santa did a pretty good job this year.
Then we headed up to my parents' house, and arrived at just the same time as Uncle Andy, who had left his house in Boise, with his dog Syd, at 5am to be here in time for Christmas!
We had our traditional egg and sausage casserole and fruit plate for brunch, and Jeff made scones in the Dutch oven.
After eating, we opened up our presents. Everyone was so generous and thoughtful with their gifts! There's just too much to list, but Jake got a new motorcycle jacket and I got a new cast iron pot and the Insanity workout DVDs from my parents.
Andrew gave us all Idaho lottery tickets, and we agreed to split the pot if any of us won. Now that would have made this Christmas the BEST EVER!!!
Kennedy loved her new Fancy Nancy book from Uncle Andrew
Some of her other favorites were a Cook it in a Cup recipe book and baking set from Grandpa Ray, Spanish kids songs CD from Kathy, Tim and Jeff and Mr. Potato Head from Grammie and Pamp. And she got new clothes for her doll, little Kennedy.
Macy napped through present time, but when she finally joined us, she got very excited about three Elephant and Piggie books from Kathy, Tim, Jeff, and Grandpa Ray
and her new doll house (a big hit with both girls, as I suspected it would be) from Grammie and Pamp. She wanted to open her princess sweet potato right away so that she could "play potato head!"
We all look forward to the photo calendar that Kathy puts together each Christmas, and this year she also made a wonderful book full of Sun Valley memories. It was hard not to have Mimi with us, but there were lots of great pictures of her in both the calendar and the book.
We ended the afternoon by playing a few rounds of a Monopoly card game that Tim had received from someone at work. Then it was out the door to our next stop - but only two stops plus our house made for a much more relaxing day than some past Christmases!
We were the last ones to arrive at Jake's parents' so we snacked a bit and then started on round three of opening gifts. The girls got US savings bonds from Grandpa Brent and Grandma Sue (which means I have to find a safe place to keep them for the next 13 years), cute tights, and a moose cookie jar.
Aunt Kari and Uncle Rainier bought them two adorable matching outfits and gave us everything we'll need for a pasta dinner, including the dishes. Kennedy got some new winter boots from Uncle Ben and Aunt McKenzie and they gave Macy some pink, glittery sneakers. Aunt Beth made each girl two tu-tus. Macy immediately put one on and started dancing and hopping around the living room...and she kept her "skirt" on for the rest of the night. Kennedy also had to join in on the dancing when she saw how much fun Macy was having.
From his parents, Jake got a set of 60 pound dumbbells and I got all the materials I'll need to refinish my craig's list corner cabinet. Again, everyone was wonderful and it was great to all be together! We repeated the game from the night before - just to make Jake's time investment in reading the rulebook worth wile. Then it was time to go home and unload the car.
On December 26th, we ignored the sales and return lines and went to have lunch with my family. Macy brought along her books and we also put together Kennedy's new Marble Run set.
Andrew had to head home, so it was our last chance to spend some time with him before who knows when. He's so busy with his internship at West Vet in Boise, and applying right now for a three-year surgical residency. While we were in San Diego, he was in Manhattan interviewing at an animal hospital. We hope he gets a good match when the selections are announced in February. Good luck Dr. Andy!
I missed the Fullmer Christmas party on the 27th because I was sick, but I hear that everyone had fun.
Thank you everyone for making this such a special Christmas. We love you all. And to Kennedy and Macy, next year, even if you feel overcome with the spirit of giving, please keep your cold germs to yourself. It wasn't fun to be coughing all day...and still sick nearly a week later. Both Jake and I got colds this holiday. (P.S. - and when I finally went to the doctor, nine days later, it had turned into a sinus infection and an ear infection.)
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