Friday, January 02, 2009

Christmas Highlights

Let me begin by saying this was the best Christmas I've ever had! Not because of the presents, but the time spent with family. And because we traveled to Iowa this year we got to celebrate 2 more Christmas celebrations that we don't get to when we stay in Savannah. I will highlight some of the best moments with pictures. My favorite part of Christmas this year was my dad. He made our stay in Iowa so wonderful, I can't thank him enough. He cooked "made to order" breakfast every morning and dinner every night...except one night when Scott and I had a date night.

Tyler did great on the plane...we lucked out with the entire back row for the long flight from SAV to Chicago. Here are a few cute shots.



Tyler, Grandma, and Max playing in the snow. (video in an earlier post) We visited Greatma's new senior living apartment. She sold her house of 52 years in December after having a sign in front of her house for 5 days (FOR SALE BY OWNER). If that's not God's calling I don't know what is! Anyways, Tyler spent quite a bit of time there when Greatma and Cousin Perri babysat while I went to the Drake vs. Iowa basketball game. They all had a great time and were even successful at getting Tyler to take a nap. Very impressive. When we got back he was happy as can be playing with a ball in the living room. I am very happy with where my grandma lives now, she is safe, has a garage, neighbors all down the hall, the apartment is spacious and all one level. We are very excited for her.

Greatma wanted a day to spend with both of her Great Grandkids and so we took a trip up to Great Aunt Carla's farm and spent the day. Here is a special picture of Great Grandma, Lindsay and Tyler all on her lap. They played catch with a ball, watched the hopping snowman fall off the table, played "This little piggy" with Tyler's toes, read books, and went sledding. It was really fun seeing my cousin Andy and his wife and talking about parenthood. Lindsay is 17 months so only 4 months or so older than Tyler. So they are just steps ahead of us...it was fun to see what we can look forward to. Lindsay speaks both English and Spanish and I think that is so cool. Tyler received his first kiss...yes, from a cousin.Both Lindsay and Tyler went sledding for the first time. I think Lindsay liked it better than Tyler. Daddy and son in the open country on sled in Iowa. POOPED OUT! What a fun time at the farm!We are all ready for Christmas Eve celebration at Great Aunt Chris and Tony's. But first we must stop at Pal's.Christmas Eve Night: Recently we have changed from giving many gifts to everyone and opening them 1 AT A TIME to a White Elephant Gift Exchange. I miss the old way, but maybe that is because my brother and I were the only kids and the ones that always had the most presents. When John-E and I were really young the gift opening would last hours and had snack intermissions. Then as we got older and the family started drawing names and now we are down to only white elephant gifts. Anyways, it's a smart way, none of us NEED anything and the fun of family is all that really matters anyway. I will still treasure those memories forever. Especially a themed Christmas like when Uncle Chuck got a ton of boxer shorts and grandma a ton of ear muffs. I think my grandpa got a ton a one thing one year, but I can't remember what it was...any help family?



So this year Tyler and Lindsay got the illegally bought gifts...since they are just babies. They both got a monkey and lots of books. And a few others gave out small gifts as well. It was fun...and I sure hope we continue to break the rules.

The youngest families. We were both married in the the same month and had our first child 4 months apart!

Below is the pile of White Elephant gifts. I drew the best number of all...the last one!! I ended up getting to unwrap 2 presents and choosing one for my parents to keep and one for my parents to keep. One was a dirty ol' picture frame with bugs and cobwebs on it (Thanks Chuck), and the other was another laptop bag with a $1 bill inside. This year there were 3 laptop bags...so next year we may just have to ban them! We ended up with a cheated bought gift that Great Aunt Chris bought that was a toy for Tyler...a baseball tee ball and bat. He loves it! Uncle Chuck got our one of our gifts that was a cordless phone with answering machine...and the joke was it had all my recorded messages on it. And then it was time for the annual Girls against Guys Trivial Pursuit. Guys win again. OOPS clarification...Guys won this year but Girls won last year (I wasn't there...maybe that's why we won?). It was a little tougher this year concentrating...with Tyler and it getting late for him. Christmas Day Dinner at my parents with my Grandma, Aunt Debbie, cousin Jimmy and his girlfriend Ginny.And then soon after dinner...we were packed up with 1 extra suitcase and headed back to the airport for a day of uneventful travel. We had 3 quick flights with 3 quick layovers. Tyler slept the first flight and the last flight and was really good on the middle flight. Scott's parents picked us up at the airport on Christmas night. We made it!

Next post...Christmas in Savannah.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Carrie,
Great Christmas photos. Thanks for sharing. One clarification -- in regards to Trivial Pursuit, you write, "guys win again." Last year, the women won. So the "again," isn't quite accurate. Hee Hee Hee.
Love you all -- and loved seeing you!
Aunt Carla

Sylvia said...

hey girl-
what a sweet little man you have there!
whew- I am tired! :) would love to chat when you have the time!