Christmas 2011

Wow! What a fun Christmas season this year!

Christmas Eve was really a great and relaxing time for all of us. Nate was home for the first time for Christmas Eve, so we didn’t make any big plans. Cayden didn’t nap well and was exhausted. We listened to his Santa video and then we tracked Santa too! Soon enough it was time to get Cayden bathed and into his Christmas jammies that Gamma and Big Pop sent him. He was too tired to make cookies or even put out the magic reindeer food, so we upgraded Santa and the reindeer to cake balls. When we got Cayden into bed, we read him “The Night Before Christmas” and got him to sleep. He was SO exhausted that he only woke up ONE time!! Santa’s helpers enjoyed putting together the awesome things Santa left for Cayden upstairs and then the things left for Cayden and Emily downstairs!

We were really surprised when he didn’t get up too early Christmas morning. We heard him stirring and called Gamma, Big Pop, and Aunt Carly on Facetime so that they could be a part of Christmas morning with Cayden. My parents came upstairs to see too. Cayden was a little overwhelmed, but not nearly as bad as last year. Once he saw his trains, he was so excited! We had to pry him away to open his other gifts. He was a bit miffed at first until he started ripping paper and then he LOVED it! He kept signing “more”, “more”, “more”! It was so funny.

After we finished gifts and Cayden played with some of his new toys, we went down and had a yummy breakfast. Soon after, Uncle Adam, Aunt Jennifer, and Emily showed up for family Christmas where EVERYONE was spoiled! The kids enjoyed each others gifts and I know we loved ours. I was blessed with a new lens for my camera and other wonderful camera accessories from my parents and my husband!

Then, Santa called and told the kids that he left some items for them in the other room! Emily got a kitchen and Cayden got a trampoline! Together, they were left an easel. Excited doesn’t even cut it…they played and played and played with all of their new toys.  They jumped on the trampoline together, well, Cayden bounced and Emily jumped. We ate finger foods instead of a traditional dinner and then the kids took a much needed nap. After Cayden’s nap, we decided he needed to switch rooms because he has SO much stuff and we didn’t know how we were going to fit it. So, we finished Christmas off by relocating Cayden. It was wonderful and relaxing and just fun. I’m so thankful that we got to give more of the family a chance to be involved via technology and that we could all be together for Christmas.

-Tami

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