We haven't posted much this month as there hasn't been too much for us to share. We've spent a lot of our time just catching up with ourselves and getting healthy ... which is exactly what we were, finally after a month and a half, in the few days before Christmas. The perfect Christmas present in itself!
On Christmas Eve we chilled out a bit, had some lunch out, did some last minute preparations and Mark and Abigail decorated our alternative 'Chocolate Christmas Tree' Christmas Cake ... which as we've had one for the last 3 years has become one of our family traditions now!
Another tradition we have started the last two years is opening one present on Christmas Eve which is one special ornament each for the Christmas tree. Ornaments are BIG in America, so I guess we picked that idea up while we've been here!
On Christmas morning, we started off with stockings in bed. Abigail came running in to our room and completely missed the stocking by her bed. When we sent her back in to see if Father Christmas has been, she was so excited she came back with without the stockings the first time!! After that we enjoyed a first breakfast and then read The Very First Christmas together ... a sticker storybook that we had been working on throughout December (see The Christmas Fairy).
Then the BIG present opening session began!! As you can see Abigail took the lead and showed Naomi how it was done ... after all it was her first Christmas. It didn't take long for her to pick it up though.
The first Christmas we were in America, Abigail was spotted crawling under the tree hunting for pressies ... as you can see, this year was no different!
Naomi really enjoyed the paper and the colourful presents ... we're pretty sure she had no idea what was going on ... but enjoying every minute of it!!
Abigail loved every minute of it and for the first year really has understood every aspect of the build up and the Christmas weekend. She really enjoyed her Chef's outfit ... and Naomi's ball popper ... and everything else that anyone received!
After the present madness we enjoyed a second bigger breakfast of bacon, eggs, sausage and hash browns. There were then a few hours of getting showered and dressed, playing with toys and getting ready for our good friends the Gettles, another MMS family, who joined us for a delicious Christmas feast and some fun and games.
Today, Boxing Day, something the Americans don't recognise when you mention it to them, we have been really chilled. Playing with pressies we got yesterday, building pink foam castles and pink lego houses, playing hungry hippos and snakes and ladders, painting, colouring ... and other silliness. Naomi has been on her feet more and more and today has been no exception.
This afternoon, the sky was blue and beautiful and although a little fresh we decided to bundle up go out for a walk around the neighbourhood. It was nice and peaceful and we ended up at a nearby playground which Abigail loved!
We have really enjoyed our long weekend and are looking forward to having the rest of the weekend together as Mark won't be in the hangar until January 2nd!! We hope you all had a good Christmas too.
