Christmas morning
I'm posting these on the actual days the events occurred, that way I can more easily go back and find photos later!
Christmas Eve we had dinner at my parents' house, then went to Jake's church for service (liturgical dance! puppets! aghast!), and finished the evening at my parents' where they were hosting a dessert party and then left for Mass.
On Christmas morning, we woke up early.
Karen carried Ben downstairs in his brand-new pajamas. He was a little unsure of what was going on.
But he brightened right up when he heard the word 'present'. (Not really, but it makes for a good story)
'Santa' (aka Aunt Karen) brought a giant turtle to the living room!
Oh my goodness, Ben! What could it be?
Jake is excited. It was a Yakima Rocketbox to attach on top of our car. 'Santa' got it for us because he KNEW we'd get way more things for Ben than we could ever want or need.
My dad got a baby 'turtle' and inside was a brand-new digital camera! He'd been using the same one since 2001, if you can believe it.
(My mother is holding the old camera in the 2nd photo of this post).
Apparently, I should have brushed my hair. Ben looks cute, though!
It was too early for Olive.
My grandmother (G-Nana) asked for a 10-foot stepladder for Christmas. Her reasoning? "So I don't have to stand on the very top of the ladder I have now when I clean out the gutters." The woman is 75 years old! My parents said "No way!" but Santa brought G-Nana a very large and suspiciously ladder-like present.
We fooled her! Karen attached a 2-step kitchen stepladder to some long boards and wrapped it all up.
Jake was very upset at the deception. "You guys shouldn't DO things like that!" he protested.
Then David and Mom went out into the garage and brought back the REAL 10-foot ladder.
G-Nana was surprised.
Ben was happy too.
Then it was time to get warm, homemade Snuggie style!
My sister made Snuggies for each household and they are warm and very comfortable.
We ate breakfast and then commenced opening presents.
Ben and Mama, opening his gift.
This is hard work!
Cuddles with Daddy.
Poor baby got all tired out before we were finished and ended up taking a nap on his Nana's lap.
We had to wake him up before he was ready to get dressed and take our annual stair picture.
Ben in his Christmas Day outfit (handed down to us by my cousin). He was very festive!
Stair picture. We have one of these for every Christmas since I was able to sit on my own (so basically 25 years!).
Olive is in the photo as well, but she's hiding behind Jake's head. I think she was tired of the flashes going off.
Just for reference, here's the post with last year's stair picture. Ben was with us, just in utero.
Next up, Christmas Day afternoon at the Purington's!
Christmas Eve we had dinner at my parents' house, then went to Jake's church for service (liturgical dance! puppets! aghast!), and finished the evening at my parents' where they were hosting a dessert party and then left for Mass.
On Christmas morning, we woke up early.
Karen carried Ben downstairs in his brand-new pajamas. He was a little unsure of what was going on.
But he brightened right up when he heard the word 'present'. (Not really, but it makes for a good story)
'Santa' (aka Aunt Karen) brought a giant turtle to the living room!
Oh my goodness, Ben! What could it be?
Jake is excited. It was a Yakima Rocketbox to attach on top of our car. 'Santa' got it for us because he KNEW we'd get way more things for Ben than we could ever want or need.
My dad got a baby 'turtle' and inside was a brand-new digital camera! He'd been using the same one since 2001, if you can believe it.
(My mother is holding the old camera in the 2nd photo of this post).
Apparently, I should have brushed my hair. Ben looks cute, though!
It was too early for Olive.
My grandmother (G-Nana) asked for a 10-foot stepladder for Christmas. Her reasoning? "So I don't have to stand on the very top of the ladder I have now when I clean out the gutters." The woman is 75 years old! My parents said "No way!" but Santa brought G-Nana a very large and suspiciously ladder-like present.
We fooled her! Karen attached a 2-step kitchen stepladder to some long boards and wrapped it all up.
Jake was very upset at the deception. "You guys shouldn't DO things like that!" he protested.
Then David and Mom went out into the garage and brought back the REAL 10-foot ladder.
G-Nana was surprised.
Ben was happy too.
Then it was time to get warm, homemade Snuggie style!
My sister made Snuggies for each household and they are warm and very comfortable.
We ate breakfast and then commenced opening presents.
Ben and Mama, opening his gift.
This is hard work!
Cuddles with Daddy.
Poor baby got all tired out before we were finished and ended up taking a nap on his Nana's lap.
We had to wake him up before he was ready to get dressed and take our annual stair picture.
Ben in his Christmas Day outfit (handed down to us by my cousin). He was very festive!
Stair picture. We have one of these for every Christmas since I was able to sit on my own (so basically 25 years!).
Olive is in the photo as well, but she's hiding behind Jake's head. I think she was tired of the flashes going off.
Just for reference, here's the post with last year's stair picture. Ben was with us, just in utero.
Next up, Christmas Day afternoon at the Purington's!