Dear Abigail,
Because we have 20o different places to be (when we're in Munford for Christmas, that is), we celebrated Christmas at Papa Rob's on Thursday - Christmas Eve Eve. Thursday morning began with Mimi getting the stomach bug that got passed around. Let's just say this wasn't a pretty site, and you and I tried to avoid it at all costs. Thankfully, we had somewhere to go, so after a tough morning of getting things under control and situated, we ventured off to Papa Robs. Also, Daddy finally made it into to town! So we left Pic-pic to mend to Mimi, and started our Christmas celebrations!
Ever since I mentioned to Papa Rob that it would be nice if we could all sit in the same room for Christmas dinner and eat a meal rather than a bunch of appetizers (as we've done in the past), he has been in turbo mode to make it happen! And, if you know Papa Rob, you know he's been stressin' about it, too!! But, I have to say, he pulled it off. He cleaned out the bird room, including painting it and setting the Christmas tree up in it and tons of tables and chairs! It looked so nice and was felt so good with all of us sitting in there. And when I say all of us, I mean our family, CL and family, Em and family, Papa Rob, Gramma, Uncle Charlie, Aunt Gloria, Krissy, Madison and her crew, including her cutie pie little brother! So yes, there were a lot of us, but we were able to sit in the same room!! YAY! You and Clara Lee had a ball sitting beside each other. I dare to say it, but I think you guys love each other...
The 2 of you had tons of fun before dinner, too...
And I told you that John Michael didn't stand a chance with all you girls around!!!!
And then after dinner it was time to start opening those presents!!! This was your first present to open this season (other than the monstrous amount of presents we opened with our advent calendar - note to self: make those smaller for next year!!).
We watched as you helped Em open her dollhouse.
And them Clara Lee unwrapped a dancing Mickey Mouse!!
And then it was your turn...
A tricycle!! And a pink one on top of that!! With a basket for your baby doll! It was perfect - except John Michael got a hold of it and wouldn't get off!!! Look at that kid go!!
Eventually he let you ride, but then Clara Lee wanted Mickey to ride it, so you were nice and let everyone else have their turn. In the meantime, you had a ball playing with Madison and Emily and Clara Lee! And you destroyed the play room - YAY! That makes Papa Rob so nervous, even though he tries to be all cool about it!! Eventually it was time to head to bed, but guess what - when you woke up that next morning, no one was there but me and you and Daddy and Papa Rob and Gramma - so guess what that meant...
You got to ride your tricycle with no one bothering you! Hooray! Papa Rob cooked us all a big hearty breakfast and we eventually headed over to Mimi's to check on her and get things ready for Christmas Eve. Thankfully Mimi was 100% better, just that old 12 hour bug, so we were back in action! Christmas Eve day was fairly tame, if I may say so myself. We made a couple casseroles for Christmas Day, and got things ironed and straightened, but overall, pretty relax. That afternoon/evening, we headed over to your BFF's to celebrate Christmas with her and all the McCormick family! This is Mommy's second family, no doubt, and they have no problem accepting you right on in there like another member! And, they even had a present for you!!!! Bebe was so excited about giving you a gift and I can see why! It was just what you needed...
Cleaning supplies!!! You got a mop and a broom and swifter thingy and wrags and all kinds of things AND it was all pink!! Your favorite color! It was perfect, and Miss Claudia was super pleased you were cleaning her house!
After we got a good bite to eat, you and Bebe and Robert Hale chased each other around and around and around! Bebe is my favorite little helper!
And then Sarah decided to give you her present - Woody!!!! You, my darling, love you some Woody! It's been 2 weeks since Christmas and have slept with Woody every night and begged each morning to take him to school with you. When you are picked up from school, you immediately ask if Woody is at home. Love you some Woody...
So, member how I said the Clark family got together on Christmas Eve, well, we decided it would be fun to Skype to them while they were having their Christmas and we could all open presents together. Well, long story short, the pig was frozen, Uncle Martin was asleep, and dinner was delayed, therefore present opening was delayed for the Clarks... So, we decided we'd just get you to bed since it was Christmas Eve and all. We said goodbye to the McCormicks and headed to Mimi's house. Mimi and Pic-pic were up at Pic-pics Mom's house so we stopped in and said hello (and to show your pretty little face off!) and THEN headed home. We sat out milk and fudge, because Mimi says Santa likes fudge much better than cookies, and off to bed you went. Right after you went to bed, Mommy got a phone call from Aunt Steph saying they were reading the Twas the Night before Christmas all by the fire. This is a long time running tradition in the Clark house - everyone gathers around the fire while someone reads from the same book. At this point, Mommy and Daddy both were rethinking this whole separate Christmas things, BUT, we put them on speaker phone and listened to the whole story!! Then, we kept them on speaker phone as they opened their presents from us and we opened ours!! It made Mommy so happy, and I really wish I could have woken you up, but you needed your rest. And rest you did! I think you slept until 730, which I'm pretty sure will never happen again on Christmas morning, so Mommy and Daddy enjoyed it while it lasted. Eventually, you got up, though, and WOW, look what was waiting for you in the living room...
Santa came to visit!!!! And he even left you a note, and I guess Mimi was right - he loved him some fudge!
You were completely overwhelmed with all your new toys, but clearly loved your baby doll stuff...
Oh, and your massive amount of M&M's that were left in your stocking! That was sweet of you to share with Baby Kate...
Of course, you have all these new toys and you wanted to play with Mommy and Daddy's...
(it's a ski helmet so we don't hurt our heads! That Santa is so smart!)
And you played and played until Mommy made you start opening more presents!! Cause that's all you needed was more presents!
You even had Pic-pic hold Baby Kate while you opened your presents...
Eventually, we headed over to Clara Lee's to see what Santa brought her (that's one of Mimi's traditions), and of course the 2 of you were up to know good immediately!
We turned our heads for a second and the 2 of you were hiding in the bathtub - the wet bath tub that Jesse had just gotten out of !!!
And, then, while Mimi and Pic-pic went to Em's and John Michael's, Mommy and Daddy and you headed back to the house to get things together for Mammaws Christmas Breakfast. Now, talk about a tradition. We've been going to Mammaws for Christmas breakfast FOREVER - for all I've ever known, that's for sure. And, the best part about it is you get to wear your jammies down there!!! Well, that and you get about 1 billion presents on top of those you already have!! You have so much fun down there though because pretty much nothing's off limits! You and Clara Lee were into everything, but specifically the double stroller - how fitting...
And you helped Lynnie look for something under the bed - what could it be??
Of course, her kitties!
And you and CL loved those kitties, although I'm pretty sure Lynnie was having a small heart attack, while the kitties were, well, frightened to death!
And then the kiddos had a little fun - Oh, wait, you don't look like you are having fun, you looked scared. What would make you scared on Christmas morning breakfast??
Well Katie Ann carrying all 5 of the little kiddos, of course! They were having a ball on Katie's back but you did not want to come near that!!
Eventually, we got to eat breakfast (member how I said anything goes!!)
And then we opened presents! Present opening at Mammaws is a bit chaotic, to say the least, so the last thing to do is take pictures. So, yes, I did not get a single picture of present opening at Mammaws. I'm hoping Aunt Ash-ash or Aunt G got a couple, but, again, things get pretty crazy at that point!! I do recall, even if there are no pictures to prove it, that you got a lot of mighty cute presents, including a cute cute cute polka dot pram stroller and a baby swing! I'm starting to think this is Baby Kate's Christmas!!
Soon enough, we headed back to Mimi's for you to take a nap and for Mommy and Mimi to go into turbo mode to get ready for Christmas Dinner. What an adventure that was... But let's start from the beginning. Everyone arrived around 3ish, and we decided we wanted to open presents before eating this year, because eating is always so rushed and we get all in a hurry and then when we finally get presents open it's time to go to bed! So, we opened first. Which seemed to be going fairly well. You of course were being a bit of a diva and didn't feel like opening anymore, so Daddy had to do the unwrapping for you...
You, as expected, got tons and tons of awesome gifts, as did everyone, and eventually after all the presents were unwrapped, the women of the fam went straight to the kitchen to get the dinner going. Now, I will say, we did have a few things going as we were unwrapping gifts, and Pic-pic and the men were frying up some turkeys in garage out back, all while you kiddos were having a ball playing together and with your new presents. But then horror struck! Somehow, one of the casseroles leaked butter or grease or something into the oven and BAM, it caught on fire! Of course, most of the men were outside so the women were screaming inside, not knowing what to do. I ran outside to get Pic-pic and Uncle Bubba in the mean time threw water on it, which supposedly worked, although we got the fire extinguisher just in case. It was a bit chaotic for about 10 minutes and smoke was everywhere. After opening all the windows (did i mention it snowed that day???) and sending the kids all upstairs and shutting the doors so the smoke wouldn't go in the room, things FINALLY calmed down and we thought we could continue on with the dinner. But nope, another fire broke out - same deal. And after fire extinguishing that, we decided whatever was cooked was what we were eating! Thankfully almost everything was cooked and thankfully we cook a lot for Christmas, because we had plenty! Believe it or not, after all that drama, and all that stress, we actually sat down for dinner only 8 minutes past when we said we were! That's right, we wanted to eat by 6 and it was 6:08 when we sat down! I couldn't believe it, but we were ready for it. And after a full belly, the last thing we wanted to do was conquer that kitchen. But, we did, and you girls played and played and played. Eventually, you HAD to go to bed, and after telling everyone goodnight, you ended your Christmas adventures!
Man alive, what a fun-filled Christmas extravaganza baby girl!!! It involved basically the whole month of December, but how much fun was all of that?!! Merry Christmas baby girl! Merry Christmas!
PS - On Sunday (the day after Christmas) Mommy and you went to visit John Michael and Em and had a very VERY lazy day at Mimi's, and eventually, about 8 o'clock that night, made it back to Franklin...
No comments:
Post a Comment