Merry Christmas! - Part 1

Merry Christmas! (Part 1)

This year we celebrated the actual day of Christmas with Nate's family in Portland, OR. (We'll celebrate Part 2 of Christmas with my family on the Tuesday after Christmas.) The day started in a flurry of activity as both Abby and Linda got up at the same time. Abby demanded changing, food, and entertainment while Linda had us bustling with getting dinner started in the kitchen. After a few hours of scurrying bath and forth between the two of them both the babies (as we like to joke) took their naps at the same time and a calm and peaceful feeling swept over the house. :-) Soon enough both of them were up again and it was time to open presents. Yeah!

Abby did pretty much like I expected. A few minuets of having fun then a total meltdown as she became overwhelmed with activity. We set her in her booster seat for some snacks and she became much better munching and observing the festivities while not being a part of them. (When my niece, Haylee, was this age she had a full-on meltdown due to being given gifts and then having them taken away as we gave her more gifts so I was prepared and not surprised when Abby did the same. It's cute how history repeats itself!)

After opening gifts with Nate's parents we boxed up Christmas dinner and drove over to his Grandparent's house. Grandpa and Grandma have been sick with a nasty cough this past week so they weren't up to making the trip over to spend the day at Nate's parent's house so we took the party to them. It ended up being a good thing, too, as we were only at his Grandparent's house for two hours and they were exhausted by the time we left. We did enjoy eating our prime rib dinner along with yummy pumpkin pie for dessert before parting ways.

The end of Christmas day finds us laying around on Nate's parent's bed watching movies and being entertained by Abby. (Abby is shouting her babbles as she talks to us. It's too cute!) This has been a very wonderful Christmas holiday with the Carstens' side of the family. I hope to have a repeat with my own family in just a few days.

Merry Christmas to all!

Abby getting ready for opening Christmas presents with Dad (in her favorite position).

'The Loot'

A family portrait.

Abby starting her meltdown.

Opening her first gift. She loved playing with the tissue paper.

Nate trying to keep Abby away from the Christmas tree ornaments. At home she couldn't care less about the tree and rarely even tries to touch it, but Grandma's purple glass ornaments were too much of a temptation.

Abby with all her gifts - People were VERY generous!

Playing with her new baby doll.

Showing Mom her new baby doll.

Meltdown was averted by a mid-present-opening snack.

The living room after opening presents.

Abby fell asleep at her Great Grandparent's house right as we arrived to eat dinner. 

Two hours later I went in to wake her up. After rubbing her back, saying her name, and brushing her hair we finally just put her in her car-seat asleep. It wasn't until we walked into the brightly lit living room with Great Grandma and Grandpa talking that she finally blinked an eye. I think we're in for a long night before bedtime!