Monday, December 29, 2008

Happy Happy Joy Joy

So, we had our first Christmas in our own house, and it was great! We maintained some of the family traditions I grew up with, like NOT getting up early, getting dressed before breakfast, having a blanket over the living room doorway to hide loot, eating breakfast together, doing the dishes, and then walking in youngest first. We didn't have the set menu I grew up with (frozen peaches, bran muffins and cheesy scrambled eggs), instead opting for sourdough waffles with buttermilk syrup (we did still have frozen peaches because I had some on hand). The kids got up at their normal time, between 7:30 and 7:45, and we went in to start opening presents around 9 am. Those of you with predawn gift-opening traditions may shake your heads, but I LOVE this tradition and love even more that Newton wants to keep it.

As I mentioned, our presents from Mavis's parents usually come from the countries they have visited each year, and this time the handicrafts of Mongolia, Kazakhstan and El Salvador were best-represented.

Newton's Santa presents were mostly sports-related.


Cindy Lou got wooden stacking rings.


Grandma Rhino checking out Newton's new basketball shoes (practice starts January 20!).


Cindy Lou liked Newton's new basketball better than most of her own presents.



I got a really awesome present from Mavis.


Loot.


Cindy Lou's new purse from Grandpa Artsy-Fartsy & the Rev Running Nut, with dolls from Kazakhstan and El Salvador from Grandma Rhino.


The Wizard working with Grandma Rhino on his new puzzle (100 pieces is just right!).


The Wizard got an easel from Santa. Judging from how much time he's spent with it since, it's his favorite present.


This cap from Kazakhstan was a gift from Grandma Rhino to Mavis. It fits me and Newton, but looks cutest on the Wizard.

2 comments:

Sara said...

First off: Rock on for the macbook!

That is impressive that you can wait that long for gifts to be opened. A couple things probably kept that from happening in my house. Our house(s) always had an open floor plan so there was NO WAY to keep us from staring at our stuffed stockings and the present laden tree. Probably just as important was the fact that most of us don't require much sleep and we would naturally wake up in excitement at the crack of dawn (after going to bed after midnight). Out of mercy to my mother and my one sister who did need more sleep, we would wait about an hour before jumping on their beds to wake them and get the party started.

The Laundry Queen said...

We manage to actually cover the couches with blankets at our place-- that works well, too. I loved that we didn't start until 10 this year. Very leisurely.

As for Cindy Lou with the basketball-- you go, girl!