Christmas was good to us this year. My dining room table made a rare appearance to host Christmas Eve dinner. If you know anything about my dining room, this photo in itself is nothing short of a Christmas miracle.
This is my parents' first Christmas here since their move from Texas, so they came over for Christmas Eve dinner. My dinner plans involved cooking a pork roast. Unfortunately, I forgot to pull it out of the freezer early enough to thaw it completely. Since I was hesitant about serving up roast ala salmonella, I ran out and bought a Paula Deen ham on Christmas Eve. That sucker was great! Thank you Paula Deen!
My parents were in luck. They got to hear Addie's harmonica concert. It was as lovely as you might imagine from a hyped-up four year old with a new harmonica.
After Christmas jammies were opened and donned, JoJo read stories.
Then, I had a little fun taking bokeh photos of the tree,
and late that night, Santa stopped by. He stuffed the stockings and set out the baskets o' electronics.
I usually prefer still photos to videos, but I do love videotaping the girls coming down the stairs each Christmas morning. This year, I think Nina's reaction was priceless. I'm so glad I caught it on video.
You think she like her iPod?
Elise was pretty happy with her stash as well.
One of the things on Addie's list (along with a roller coaster, a fox, and a giraffe) was "little tiny people that I can push on a little tiny swing." After puzzling over this request for a while, I finally realized that she was remembering playing with some vintage Little People that my mom's neighbor in Dallas had. As always, Ebay can usually get me out of any jam. Who would have thought that in 2011, a four year old would be asking for 1970's Little People? When she opened the gift though, she exclaimed, "It is just what I asked for!!"
In the afternoon, we spent time with JC's family. All the testosterone bearing family members (they are few and far between) received remote control helicopters. Papa looks like he was having fun!
Addie continued her streak of good presents.
Maybe she had just opened her Cars Play-doh set. That was a huge hit. Most other toys were neglected the rest of the day while everyone played with Play-doh.
After a couple of science experiments,
a few rounds of new video games, too many desserts, and saying thanks that nobody's hair got caught in the remote control helicopter blades, we all settled down for a long winter's nap.
looks like a good Christmas at the House of Estrogen!
Tell JC he has a very nice foot ;)
Posted by: Robinlynnb | Tuesday, January 03, 2012 at 11:14 PM
I always love your Xmas morning videos. So delightful to see the fruits of Santa's labor. I had those 'little people' toys, too. Wooden with holes in the bottom? Those toys along with the Play-doh reminded me of my own Xmas mornings, oh so many years ago. Glad your parents are here. And yes, JC has a nice foot. ha
Posted by: SMcCoy | Wednesday, January 04, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Suetta, I hope you're feeling better! I wish you had been able to come over and enjoy the Paula Dean ham with us! :) Yep... you are remembering the Little People correctly. They stared out wooden and at some point switched over to plastic bodies. I think the ones I got for Addie have the plastic bodies, but if they had been made a couple years earlier, they would have been wood.
I'm cracking up at everyone commenting on JC's big ol' boat foot. He was watching the video this morning and said, "Well, there's my foot!" I said, "Oh, did you read Robin's comment about your foot?" He said, "No! Somebody commented on my foot?" So he hadn't even seen that yet, and he was noting his own foot. Anyway... funny stuff. :)
Posted by: Ann | Wednesday, January 04, 2012 at 02:36 PM
Enjoyed it, Ann! : ) I didn't notice the boat. ; )
Posted by: Holly Smith | Friday, January 06, 2012 at 03:13 PM
I just re-watched the video without the sound. It's pretty funny to watch expressions and nodding of heads in response to questions without hearing anything...just like the old days when we had Xmas morning movies, pre-sound. We'd have to act out how much we liked something with thumbs-ups, pointing, nodding. Lots of waving. lol Mother had a Super-8 camera with a handheld light bar. After many years, the lightbar gave out so our Xmas movies were darker, even though she'd open the front door and all the curtains to get as much light in as possible. We've come a long way. :-)
Posted by: SMcCoy | Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 10:42 AM