Christmas 2010

This year's Christmas break was quite a whirlwind for us, as we traveled through the Midwest over the course of 6 days visiting our families (and bringing some back with us, too). We celebrated our own little Christmas morning on Thursday at our house opening stockings and presents. We slowly packed up our bags and the car for the long journey. Thursday afternoon we arrived at Mike's dad's house to see this surprise:

A doll house restored by Grandma Laura & Grandpa Bob (it was Sister Sarah's when she was little and now it's going to get a second life with all the little girls in the family).

Izzy loved it. We headed to Mike's mom's house Friday morning and then went to Christmas Eve service at a local church. Bringing two little girls with ants in their pants to a church service is NOT my idea of fun. They wanted down, then up, then juice, then raisins, then crayons. Note to self...leave the girls at home next year. Wait a few more years for them to be able to sit through that.

Christmas Eve was celebrated with Grandma Laura's family in matching jammies

Izzy threw out reindeer food...

...and left Santa cookies and a beer

Santa arrived at our house at 7am on Christmas morning and came into each of our rooms, waking us up with his jingle bells and ho-ho-ho-ing. I simply LOVE that our family is carrying this tradition on. Brings back such fond memories of my childhood for me.

Laney wasn't such a big fan of Santa...

...but Iz loved him!

Santa brought Izzy an Amer.ican Gi.rl baby doll and high chair

And lots of dress up clothes!

After Santa leaves we always have the kids open gifts first, one at a time. Once the kids are done, Laura makes her monkey bread and Bob makes his Bob McMuffins. Once we're all fed it's time for the adults to open gifts, one at a time. Love this. THEN, once the adults are done opening gifts Bob gets his pizza fixings out for an afternoon of make-your-own personal pizzas. We stay in our jammies all day long. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Our twin nine year old nephews got a paper guitar and Mike learned all the chords for all songs on the play list. It was hysterical; we could hear Mike jamming away all morning long and he'd occasionally come around and play for us. He was very proud.

Bob & Laura got all of the grandkids their own personalized chef's hats and aprons.

The girls loved dressing up

So cute and ready to bake

Bob & Laura heat their (cleaner-than-most-peoples'-homes garage) and open it up for use. This year they set up a kids' height table for making pizzas.

Izzy was very into this (she gets a lot of practice pretending to bake in her play kitchen)

Sunday morning we headed back on the road to Michigan to visit my family. This is how Izzy rides these days. Laid back. With her mind on her movie and her movie on her mind.

Izzy was excited to see her cousins!

And I was excited to see family: Uncle Jeff & Aunt Celeste

Mike thought it was funny to take pictures of Izzy amidst one of her many three year old tantrums. We have an entire series of this particular meltdown. I'll spare you.

Grandpa Tom & Buggy

This was definitely a princess Christmas for Iz (several crowns, a magic wand, dress up clothes)

Grandma Anna & Iz showing off their manicures a la Aunt KiKi

We went to our favorite Mexican dive with Aunt Carla

Cousin Taylor

Aunt KiKi

Sisters

And one of the best gifts ever: my Grandfather got the great grandchildren a recordable book of 'Twas A Night Before Christmas with his voice as the narrator. Brought tears to my eyes. What a special gift!

Adorable Iz

Taylor and Grandfather

KiKi and her nieces

Reading a new book

Sisters again

Tuesday we left Michigan and headed to Toledo to see my cousins and pick up my mom. We drove back with my sister, her kids and my mom. We've been hanging around the house all week playing dress up:
Baking LOTS of cookies and crafting:
Playing more dress-up
And hanging out with Roo.

More pictures to come of NYE...but this post took about an hour to complete. Must catch the end of the Rose B.owl. Go Bucky!