26Dec
Hi, imaginary friends! I took a little break from blogging last week in preparation for Christmas and to spend some much needed down time with my family, especially my wee ones. I wish I could show you pictures of exciting adventures we had while I have been gone, but the truth is that we mostly sat around in Christmas pajamas, eating popcorn, wrapping Christmas presents, and watching “The Christmas Story” over and over again.
(“My father wove a tapestry of obscenities that still hangs over Lake Michigan even today…”)
On Wednesday night, though, the action began. We knew we’d be traveling on Christmas Day and dear old Santa didn’t want to have to haul Christmas presents across the state to Grandmomma’s house, so he decided to come on Thursday morning instead. I was a little worried because it was our first “Christmas” at home with no one but the four of us. I was afraid it’d be boring. But Wednesday night after the kids went to bed, Chris and I had the most fun ever helping Santa put out his presents. We spent two hours putting together the train set Bean was getting. I’ll do a review on the presents the kids got later when I get back home next week, but let me just tell you that this train set is pretty darn awesome and a heck of a deal for $50. Santa’s elves really outdid themselves.
Gracie Girl’s big gift was a poor man’s ball bit. Santa brought a bag of 50 plastic balls and we threw them into Gracie’s pack ‘n play. I worried that this might be a flaky gift, but it ended up being amazing!!!
Even Bean loved it on Christmas Day!
Christmas morning, I was up at something ridiculous, like, 5:00 because I was so excited. I ate cold leftover potato casserole from the night before straight out of the pan until I heard Gracie moving around up there around 6:00. That was fair game to me, so I ran upstairs and woke everyone up. Christmas was here!
Christmas morning in our own home with just our little family was better than I ever even imagined. We spent the first hour just playing with Santa’s toys. Over the next two hours, we slowly opened presents, played with toys, tried on new clothes, opened stockings, and ate biscuits together while The Carpenters Christmas album crooned in the background. If Norman Rockwell had been there, he would have painted us.
I have the Brown Family Official Christmas Photographs on our real camera. These are just the ones from my iPhone while we’re traveling, but, just like Christmas Day, sometimes the most casual images tell the best stories. And seeing my two wee ones smiling and laughing on Christmas morning with my honey bear lovey sweetie pie sitting across the couch from me told the whole story perfectly. No need for big gifts or lots of food or a house full of people. It was simply perfect just the way it was.
*****
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1) Calypso: "If Norman Rockwell had been there, he would have painted us." Sweet.. I cannot wait for the day that I can have Christmas morning at my own home..... (12.26.2011 12:04pm)
2) Alaina: So cute! Looks like the kids had a great time! (12.26.2011 12:44pm)
3) The Life and Times of Me (Waiting for Bulgaria): Sometimes it's the simplest, quietest moments that are the most special. I think we've "overdone" Christmas in so many ways that we forget what it's about. Oh and "A Christmas Story" is one of the greatest Christmas movies ever. (12.26.2011 01:03pm)
4) Jen S: Congratulations on a first successful Christmas @ home! Gracie & Bean look incredibly happy :) (12.26.2011 02:27pm)
5) Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife: We had our *first* family Christmas this year too! And, I also had some anxiety over it being lame.... I think altogether there was 8 presents under the tree. But, we had the best time. It was slow, it was peaceful, it was wonderful. I baked homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time ever, and they only took 4 hours to make! =) But, they were DELICIOUS! It was a morning I'll cherish for the rest of my life. (12.26.2011 03:31pm)
6) Keshet Starr: That ball pit is the best idea! (12.26.2011 04:02pm)
7) Ashley @ A Recipe for Sanity: Sounds like a wonderful day! Merry Christmas to you all! (12.26.2011 06:06pm)
8) Abby @ I Used To Have A Brain: We had our first real Christmas celebration as an immediate family this year (finally!) and it was better than I could have hoped for too! (12.26.2011 09:24pm)
9) Dawn: I love the idea of your early family Christmas at home before traveling and meeting up with other family. I think we will keep that in mind for future years....... :-) (12.26.2011 11:48pm)
10) Mindee@ourfrontdoor: Your ball pit idea? Simply brilliant. And yay for simple at home Christmas. It's the best. (12.27.2011 10:32am)
11) Chloe: That ball bit is so cool! I wish my parents had bought that for me when I was a baby! Glad you had such a great time with your little family! (12.27.2011 01:54pm)
12) Kat: Merry xmas (2)! I love Gracie's pjs! (12.27.2011 08:36pm)
13) Pseudo: Came from a spin about your blog and glad for stopping by. You make me nostalgic for my kids being little and the magic of playing Santa. (12.27.2011 09:25pm)