Merry Christmas!!

I appear to be on quite a roll, here it is the end of March and I am almost done with December, at this rate I could be finished with March no later than August! Seriously though, it is nice to be getting some of these done, and if everything goes the way I want it to there should be some neat surprises coming up. I am not going to say what they may be (just in case they don't work) because I want to see if you notice what they are. Don't look at this post though because it will just be the standard tedium of my long winded ramblings, preventing you from getting right to the reason you are really here, looking at pictures of Emily. I think that is why Christa always puts one picture at the top, to keep you here long enough to scroll down and see the rest. So where were we, ah yes, Christmas. . .

This year Emily celebrated her second Christmas, and this year she decided that she would do it up right. Emily didn't do much on her first Christmas, in fact she didn't really even open any gifts until the middle of January, so she was really looking forward to celebrating the holiday on the day it was intended. She kicked things off on Christmas Eve with a visit to Great Bob. It had been a while since she had seen him, due to everyone in our little family being sick since just before Thanksgiving. Emily thought that this was a great way to start the day and she was very excited to see her Great Bob, and he seemed equally happy to see her. Emily wanted to make the day truly great so after visiting with Great Bob, we all went to pay a visit to Great Ray as well. Emily had a fun time rearranging Great Ray's living room, and Great Ray had a lot of fun tickling her. After visiting the Greats, Emily had a wardrobe change which included long underwear because our next stop was a visit to the windows at Macy's* (*formerly the Marshall Fields State Street store). Emily was a little disappointed in the windows, and so was I, they have been much better in the past. After looking at the windows Emily hoped to make the most of the visit and see the F.A.O. Schwartz inside. That at least lived up to expectations, and we even picked up something small for Emily. From here it was back to Grandma Kathy's for a nap and some yummy Christmas Eve dinner.

On Christmas morning we all headed back over to Grandma Kathy's for breakfast and presents from Santa. Emily was understandably excited about all of the presents as she had several opportunities to tell Santa what she wanted, and after practicing on her birthday she felt good about her unwrapping skills. In fact she was so excited that she didn't want to wait until the "official" gift opening to start and while breakfast preparations were being finished she started opening presents, not all of which were hers. We managed to separate her from the piles of gifts for a delicious breakfast, after which the gift opening commenced. After what must have been hours and hours Emily finally finished opening her gifts, she must have been a VERY good girl this year because Santa gave her almost everything she asked for. Emily was a little disappointed that she didn't get everything she had asked for because she felt that she had been VERY VERY good, I told her not to worry, I had a feeling there might be more later, and while she was skeptical she knew I was probably right, because I usually am. After some naps and some new toy breaking in, it was time to head over to Grandma and Grandpa B's.

Upon our arrival, Emily noticed another large stack of presents waiting for her here. "Daddy" she said, "once again, you were right, I bet the rest of the stuff I asked Santa for is here." I told her that judging from the number of presents she must have been VERY VERY VERY good and that Santa must have given her stuff other kids asked for in addition to what she had asked for. She agreed, and decided to get started being good for next year by waiting until after the delicious Christmas dinner to start opening presents. We spent the rest of the evening with Grandma & Grandpa B, and Aunt Susie & Carl, and had a really fun time watching Emily play with her new car and other fun toys. Eventually it got late, and it was time to go home. On the drive home Emily told us that she decided that she really likes Christmas and is looking forward to next year.

So there you go, one more blog done and one more week until it is a new year, I wonder what that week might hold? Let's hope we find out soon. . . until then here are the pictures you have waited so patiently for, enjoy.

Emily and Great Bob are a mutual admiration society. The two of them love to just smile and stare at each other. Goofballs.

Emily had a lot of fun visiting Great Ray. She did one of her favorite things, rearrange. She managed to find his shoe horn way under the table. He was very excited because he had been looking for that. Who knew? All it took to find it was one visit from Emily.

I don't think we could fit another layer onto this poor purple bundle. She is wearing a onesie, a pair of adorable pink polka dotted long underwear, a sweat suit, socks, mittens, a puppy hat and this puffy purple snowsuit--oh yeah, there was also a scarf that went on after we put her in her stroller. The poor little girl couldn't move, it was very much like Ralphie's little brother in "A Christmas Story," but it was really cold outside.

When we got back to Grandma Kathy's, we removed everything down to the sweat suit, so that Emily could play and then take a nap. When you're holding Emily, and she falls asleep...it is a foregone conclusion that you too, will fall asleep. Grandma never stood a chance.

Minus another layer of clothes, Emily was happily playing with a paper grocery bag while Grandma prepared our delicious dinner. (I told you that her long underwear was adorable.)

She also decided to taste-test one of the bells on Auntie Mandy's reindeer slipper.

Then she got into the action to watch Grandma make stuffing.

A very hungry, and sleepy, Emily decided to go sit with Auntie Mandy for a little while so that Grandma could make the final food preparations with two hands.

After dinner, Emily went to visit Grandma's "Santa Tree" to say goodnight to all of the Santas. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll be back tomorrow."

When we arrived on Christmas morning, Emily could hardly contain her excitement about what Santa had left under the tree. She had never seen so many presents!!!

Yes, that tall red & white striped one is for Emily. Lucky girl. How is she going to open that present, it is way bigger than she is.

I don't know who this one is for, but it looks fascinating!

"Hello, there are presents in here. Where are all of you?"

"Poochers, I think you look like you need a red bow."

"I'll give you a hug, too."

"Do you mind if I make myself comfortable on your feet for a minute?"

After we all had eaten breakfast, Emily was allowed to open her stocking gifts.

As the gift-opening continued, Emily (and Poochers) became more and more covered in bows.

Emily was very excited about her new car. She was also very excited about holding the two cards that you see in her hands. She would not put them down.

"What's in here?"

"Wow! Pink clothes with ladybugs on them! These will look great with my pink shoes."

"Mommy, this is a nice vacuum. I like that it's pink."

"Look out, Emily! The box isn't that big, honey."

After a wardrobe change, Emily was investigating all of the presents. (And making herself comfortable on top of others.)

This wagon was the mysterious gift inside that giant red and white present.

Emily loves sitting in her wagon, and getting in & out. One of the inside seats has a lid to hide things in. It is soooo much fun!

When we got to Grandma & Grandpa B's the gift-opening extravaganza continued.

She got a new walker/car to keep at Grandma & Grandpa's.

She also had a lot of fun playing with all of the other toys that she keeps there.

"Mommy, Daddy! Look at all the presents in here!"

She took a few lessons from Grandma B about how to guard your chocolate. Unfortunately for Grandma B, the chocolate Emily was using to practice with was hers.

Dessert was Emily's favorite...Whipped Cream! (Well, the rest of us had brownies under our whipped cream. Emily just likes the whipped cream.)

A very long, and very fun day led to a very exhausted little girl.