The Lights on Christmas Eve at Longwood Gardens
Yet again, it was another fabulous Christmas for us this year. This year, Adam's family (mom, bro, and sis) and our good friend Ruth came to our house, thereby giving me the priceless gift of not having to load up the gifts, kids, outside winter gear, and what Santa would need, only to have to bring it all home again a few days later. But not only that, they washed every single dish for 3 days, put up with my directions for cooking Christmas dinner, and kept my kids happy.
In return, I gave them the gift of being dragged to Costco with peak holiday crowds, an allergic reaction to our cat, a couple of nights on a slowly deflating air mattress, a house that doesn't get much warmer than 63 degrees, and the chance to catch the stomach bug that had been moving through our family that week and that wiped me out for Christmas day. Merry Christmas! (It goes without saying I have, quite possibly, the best in-laws.)
We started by having our big Christmas dinner early in the evening on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day:
After we got a small fill of some Wii action, it was on to the rest of the gifts.
My mom recently gave me all of my old (vintage!) Strawberry Shortcake dolls, and so this year she gave me some (NIB!) clothing and accessories to go with them.
After gift opening and a little lounging around, (and since there is no snow here) we went to the field at Max's school to play some kickball. A new tradition perhaps? By this time, our friend Yvette and her kids were with us, and we were happy that they spent the rest of the weekend with us to play.
Adam has become the master of the brine-soaked, convection roasted Turkey
Post dinner, we went to Longwood Gardens for the lights and the holiday displays in the Conservatory. As usual, it was fantastic.
Christmas Day: This year we did one big "Santa present" and got the kids a Wii.
It was very well received.....
...and immediately put to good use.
After we got a small fill of some Wii action, it was on to the rest of the gifts. 
Isabel loved her pile of books from Grandma and Grandpa Smith.
Olivia made us a flag of a wreath painted with her handprints.
Chris (aka "Uncle" as Isabel calls him) helping dress the new doll.
My mom recently gave me all of my old (vintage!) Strawberry Shortcake dolls, and so this year she gave me some (NIB!) clothing and accessories to go with them. 
Chris and Sha-sha
Ruth and Auntie Kami
After gift opening and a little lounging around, (and since there is no snow here) we went to the field at Max's school to play some kickball. A new tradition perhaps? By this time, our friend Yvette and her kids were with us, and we were happy that they spent the rest of the weekend with us to play.
Good times in 2008 for sure.
6 comments:
sounds like a good one! We got a Wii this year too. Much to the delight of my kids (and husband). our friends gave us Mario Galaxy and that has been a huge it.
sorry to be so dumb - but what does NIB mean?
Yes, Em, the Wii is a huge hit around here too. I'll have to keep Mario Galaxy in mind (Max's birthday is coming up)--it sounds fun. Right now we only have Mario Kart and the Lego Star Wars game right now--but both are fun.
And, not dumb...NIB means "new in box"....you know, just incase I decided to sell my authentic, vintage Strawberry Shortcake stuff on Ebay!
Sounds like a nice Christmas (minus stomach bugs and such).
I think one of these years I'd like to sample Adam's brine soaked turkey. Looks scrummy.
Suuuure the Wii was "for the kids." My dad sent one to our kids for Christmas, but Eric and I have been staying up way too late each night playing Rock Band! =)
And if you are ever in need of an air mattress, give me a call. We have three, and to my knowledge, none deflate yet.
It does sound like an excellent Christmas, other than the obvious drawbacks. I was so happy none of my family were sick on Christmas Day (we had plenty of sick days before and after, but none on.) When this morning Dean told me he was feeling flu-ish, I evilly exulted that he hadn't gotten sick until *after* the holidays. (But I also left him alone to nap on the couch while I made dinner tonight.) (I should also say that, to his great credit, he did shovel the several inches of new snow off our driveway and sidewalk before he collapsed on the couch.)
Happy New Year!
Looks like you guys had a great time. I completely agree with you about how much Christmas is simplified by not adding travel to the picture. I remember playing and trading strawberry shortcake dolls together when we were young. Hope your girls have as much fun doing the same.
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