Sunday, March 20, 2011

Christmas 2010 - Christmas Eve

Christmas was a little different for us this year because of Casey's Grandma Tanner being sick.  She was in the hospital all through the holidays and wasn't expected to make it, but she did and is now doing pretty well!  Definitely was a good lesson in trusting that things are not in our control...not even doctors and nurses!  We took Elly up to the hospital Christmas Eve morning so she could open her presents from Grandma Tanner in front of her.  She was off the vent at this point and was pretty alert so she enjoyed being able to see Elly.

This was Elly in the waiting room playing with her new baby from Grandma Tanner!  She loves that baby!

Because of Grandma being in the hospital and Debbie staying at the hospital round the clock, we decided it would just be easier if we hosted Christmas Eve at our house this year.  This was the first big holiday meal we had ever had at our house and being decided less than 24 hours in advance, it was kind of thrown together but I think it turned out good!  It was nice to have everybody over and it was nice for us to not have to get out...especially since it was snowing! This was Elly before everybody got there trying on her new hat, gloves, and scarf from Uncle Steve and Aunt Gayle.  I love how she looks like she's saluting! 

Here's all the food set up in the kitchen!
And the dessert table!

Uncle Steve reading the Christmas story from the Bible

And then we had a visitor!!  Elly wasn't too sure what to think!  She loved "Ho Ho" this year as long as she wasn't too close.  She would wave and say hi, but didn't want to sit on his lap!

We finally got her to sit beside him...we even tried telling her it was just Papaw but it didn't matter!

Family picture with Santa!  Even Lacey got in on it!

Casey's family always does a white elephant gift exchange and his brother got this wig and pom pons this year.  He graciously gave them to Elly!  She was hilarious dancing and shaking them!

After everybody went home, it was time to get ready for bed and for Santa to come.  This was our first year leaving cookies and milk for Santa!  Elly didn't quite get it...she just wanted to eat the cookies!

Then it was time for The Night Before Christmas...this was always a tradition for me growing up...my Dad would always read it to me before bed on Christmas Eve and now Casey reads it to Elly and I.  In fact, when I got married, my Dad gave a copy of it to Casey with strict instructions to read it me every year! 

And then a little snuggle time with Mommy!

After Elly was in bed, Casey and I exchanged our presents from each other.  We normally do it Christmas morning, but thought we'd try it this way this year and it worked out great.  Christmas morning is always so crazy and I knew it would take Elly forever to get through her gifts so this way it elminated a big chunk of time.  And we got to enjoy some alone time that night and allowed the next morning to be all about Elly!!

After we were done, Santa came!  This is all Elly's presents set up and ready to go!


Yes, we know she is spoiled and we wouldn't have it any other way! 


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