Christmas 2012

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year and are so thankful Papa and Grandma Sedenko could share it with us. Still, we were very aware of missing all of our other family in California. We hope the many video clips will make you feel a little as if you were here experiencing it with us. Thank You for all of the wonderful gifts that made our girls - and their parents - smile. You brought them so much joy... as you can see for yourself!

Presents waiting to be opened

Allyson and her doggie - ready for Christmas!

We were so shocked at how the girls allowed us to eat breakfast before opening presents!! I didn't think to take any pictures but I tried something new (normally do overnight French toast) with this Croissant Breakfast Casserole. It was yummy and we were so thankful for patient kids who even let us fill our coffee cups before heading into the living room.

When I was younger, my sister, Holly, started a tradition that we said a prayer before opening stockings. This is Nicole's prayer to start off our morning.

Then it was finally time!

One of the first gifts opened was the Cinderella castle from Papaw and Nana. I wasn't fast enough to catch her before it was unwrapped but she LOVED it!

While the order of these videos may not look like it, we did follow the Davis tradition of taking turns, one present at a time. From the first Christmas I spent as a Davis I loved this way of opening gifts. At my house growing up it was just flying paper and bows and my poor mom probably missed watching us open half of what she had worked so hard to give us. (I only took video of gifts from our out-of-town family and some of the other "big" gifts.)

Next up was Nicole: A science book from the Irwin's was a great surprise.

Followed by a science kit from the Gauthier's ... she's had the pieces everywhere since!

Daddy got a shirt from Papaw and Nana.

A Cinderella carriage just about sent this little girl over the edge. Also from Papaw and Nana. She's still loving and playing with it!

Our old DVD player from Papaw and Nana broke and we will definitely need another for any future airplane trips (and sometimes on long doctor visits, etc.) This was to Allyson and Nicole from Papaw and Nana.

Allyson was pretty happy with another gift from Uncle Daniel and Aunt Angela!

Papa Sedenko bought Allyson this incredible dress ... now Allyson can be Belle! (Fortunately he also got her the DVD.) 

You'll see her in this dress from now on. She may get married in this dress one day. :)

Another combined gift was the Polar Express book from Aunt Angela and Uncle Daniel.

Britt's "big"gift was a ROKU box. We haven't had cable for a long time and he's pretty happy watching weird shows on PBS. I usually watch Hulu on the computer while cleaning the kitchen or something. This box allows Britt to watch Hulu (or Netflix, etc.) on the television so he has tons of TV shows and movies to choose from. This was from Papaw and Nana.

Yes, I did get my turn to open, too. But you won't be seeing any videos of it, or pictures for that matter. My no-makeup, pregnant-in-pj's look is strictly off the record. BUT, I was so happy to get my purse from Aunt Dusty. Thank you!

And my Estee Lauder makeup from Papaw and Nana! I was needing this. Papaw and Nana also bought me some Dermalogica skin care which I have been wanting for a looong time! Thank you!!

Not sure if she quite "got" the book from Uncle Daniel and Aunt Angela. But Mommy did and is very grateful. I think it's going to be a fun project for her ... I'm thinking maybe after the baby comes while I'm filling in the baby book or just feeding the baby she can be working on this and feeling a part of it all. Thanks!

Okay, THIS. WAS. BIG. Nicole specifically asked Santa to bring her a stuffed panda. But he didn't need to since Papaw and Nana had already bought one. This is the softest, best stuffed animal ever. She adores it. (She was pretty happy that it came from FAO Schwartz, too.) The day I'm writing this, Nicole had a pajama/show & share day at school. She brought this panda. She has since named it Bambi. But not after the deer. Bamboo.. Bambi... get it? 

She also got a panda hat from Papa Sedenko. She wore this just about all day, every day until school started. Although she did wear it to school today, too. With her jammies and a backpack with a panda hanging out of it. LOL

Another special gift was for me from the girls. They went shopping with Daddy and picked out an outfit for their new baby sister. I absolutely love it. What good taste they have!

The final gift of the day was from Santa. Because only Santa's elves could make something like this... it's nothing you can find in stores, let me tell you! Nicole asked Santa for a toy Chinese restaurant named Mrs. Yen's. (Her favorite restaurant in town is Mr. Yens so, I guess, she wanted the female equivalent.)

Santa sent a picture of it during production. 

 This was the final product. 

She was pretty happy!

Pictures from the rest of our day:

Allyson playing with her Cinderella castle and carriage.

Looks like Daddy is getting a little attached to the guinea pig. He's been named Cookie.

Time to watch Beauty and the Beast. Britt has a new couch cuddle buddy.

And Panda girl... 

Love the back of the two matching heads!

The guinea pig didn't just get to lie around all day. It was time to get to know these kids.

Via stroller.

No worries. He lived. Although perhaps he wishes he hadn't.

The rest of my day was spent in the kitchen cooking. Our official menu:

Turkey and gravy

Stuffing

Homemade cranberry sauce

Broccoli salad

Wilted Spinach Salad

Rolls

Sparkling Cider

Holiday Gingerbread Pudding Cake

Since our formal dining room is a playroom, we moved the table into the living room so we could eat by the fireplace.

Allyson was ready to eat!

Silly face picture!

 Merry Christmas!!