Unique Like Everyone Else: Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you!!

We had a lovely Christmas celebration joined by Nonnie and Pop-Pop this year! It was fun being able to introduce them to and include them in some of the traditions we've developed over the years for our own little family, as well as partake in some of the time-honored ones they created for me when I was a child.

For the past few years we have been lucky enough to be invited to a delicious dinner at our good friends, The H.'s, Manicotti Madness Christmas Eve Supper.

They are such gracious hosts and such amazing chefs!

On our way back home, stuffed and content, we drove through one of the most decorated streets in our community. Almost every house is crazily lit up, with lights zig-zagging across the street connecting all the homes, ginormous candy canes flanking the entrance to the neighborhood, and the story of The Night Before Christmas painted on large signs to read as you slowly drive down the road. A feast for the eyes, and a definite dose of Christmas Spirit.

We were all ready to head straight to the "nestled all snug in their beds" portion of the evening when we returned home, but one of Santa's elves had left a couple of packages under the tree while we were out.

New jammies for J-Boy and J-Girl!

Christmas morning has taken on a much more mellow tone now that the kids are older and understand and appreciate the beauty and indulgence of sleeping in. Still, they were up ahead of us and quietly went through their stockings, and helped Edward with his.

We ate a leisurely breakfast, and then worked on a puzzle that J-Boy got in his stocking while we waited for Nonnie and Pop-pop to arrive back over at our place.

After a round of kisses, hugs, and Christmas morning greetings, we introduced them to our new Sock Monkey that Big Daddy had scored at his office party a few days before.

I just love it, and it has become expected that if someone starts up the monkey, it is required that you stop whatever you are doing and come to dance, dance, dance, dance.

Once the House Rule was explained, even Nonnie and Pop-pop were willing to play along!

Many lovely gifts were given and received. Some elicited more excitement and raw emotion than others, but all were good, appreciated, and met with the utmost gratitude.

Dishwasher rinse agent for Nonnie
(Yes, "Really." And, yes, she was happy!
She and Pop-pop are now SoCal residents
and must succumb to the harsh reality of hard water.)

Coconut Soda for Pop-Pop--a delicacy and difficult to come by
unless you know where to look!

One bottle in his stocking as a tease...

...and a box with 8 more! Next time I'll send the stockboy to the back with a cart
instead of just his bare hands with the instruction, "as many as you can carry."

A new laptop for J-Girl, which J-Boy was just as excited about so
his sister wouldn't have to share with him anymore.
In the Spirit ofof the Season, that kid...

A bit emotional...a few tears were shed.

And a dream several years in the making finally came true for J-Boy!

Santa, so wise, brought a board game J-Boy had never heard of, but has been
proving to be one of his favorite gifts in the lot!

And he knew just what to get for his sister to make her smile.

Another neat thing that only Santa could know is that a doll can still make a
girl happy, even on the cusp of fifteen years of age. How does he do it??