Monday, December 25, 2006

Christmas Day 2006

On Christmas Day ToddlerJi let us sleep in – a bit – then we did a house cleaning before Dad did his pancake breakfast.

After breakfast it was time to check to see what Santa had left for us.


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We were all spoiled – ToddlerJi especially.
Wow did that girl rake in A LOT of loot!!


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She had seen a Christmas tree last year but had no concept of its meaning. This year there were presents under the tree but before this morning she had NO idea that these could be opened and that there were things inside of them.
And what grand things there were!

I was actually very impressed with her present opening skills as these were her first wrapped presents ever.
Must be something that all kids have built into their genetic code – the unwrapping presents gene.


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She was so overwhelmed with cool gifts she didn’t know what to do with herself. Most of them I didn’t even take out of the boxes. All the part are destined to be scattered and I would rather they are scattered in our own house and her own room so I at least have some vague idea as to where they all might be. As soon as we move she will have Christmas all over again.
One toy a day sounds like a good idea. Or one a week, hmmm.
It is too much all at once otherwise.


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Li and I gave ToddlerJi a giant Curious George doll (basically a body pillow as it is almost as big as her) and she just Looooovvveeesss her monkey. She doesn’t call him George, she calls him monkey. I also got her a Curious George toothbrush, holder and cup. She thinks that is totally cool and teeth brushing time is fun.


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You see ToddlerJi LOVES Curious George.
Every morning her daycare lady turns on the morning cartoons to that crazy monkey and ToddlerJi races over to the TV in the morning, with a backwards wave to us, pulls us a cushion chair for her Teddy and another for herself. God help the other kids if there is not a chair left for Teddy. She has a hissy fit I tell ya. And then she sits and watches Curious George.

Someone put her little toy slingshot monkey into one of my step mom’s plants and ToddlerJi points up at it all the time going “ooohhh pretty monkey, hehehe funny monkey.”

After opening presents at Dad’s it was off to moms for brunch and more presents. This was a smaller affair I am happy to say and mom doesn’t have a Christmas tree set up, just a Christmas plant, so ToddlerJi headed straight to her toys room and was very happy to find even more toys to enjoy.

Her crazy Grandma bought her this grass skirt, a green rocking horse thingy and an MP3 player!!


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Not a real MP3, it is plastic but contains almost 300 songs on it. Crazy. She was having a great time trying to figure out all the buttons. Grandma also gave her a whole pile of books and puzzles so there are a ton of toys to keep her occupied for many hours to come.

My aunt gave Li and I this seashell looking glass dish that is just lovely, and mom gave us this lovely wood spinney platter thing that sits in the middle of a table and can hold cheeses, deserts, chips just about anything. It is very pretty. She also gave us a rosemary bush to put on our front porch.
Cool.
Our front porch is covered and faces south so it will be a very happy plant.


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We didn’t really do presents this year. We had a very limited amount of money and a large number of presents to find. We decided that instead of buying ten dollar meaniless gifts that would most likely be chucked we pooled all the money together and donated it to World Vision. I donated a bit over $200. I wish we had more to give but maybe next year we do. We put the money towards medical supplies for a clinic, school supplies for a classroom and clothing for 25 kids.
It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside and still does as I type this. I got a phone call from them the other day thanking me for the donation. That made me feel good as well.
I may do that next year as well as some more local stuff. This Christmas season I started putting change into the Salvation Army box and bought the Children’s hospital teddy bears at the liquor store (both teddies). At work my boss sponsors about 6 third world kids and I was asked to respond to all of their Christmas letters. That really changes your perspective on things. One of our vendors at work also did a large donation to the Children’s Hospital rather then sending gift baskets what most people don’t eat.

After that I brought ToddlerJi home for a nap, her daddy stayed with her, and I headed over to the new place to macktack our pantry shelves. The stuff I found matches the whole decor of the place so well it is almost scary. I put it into the pull shelves of the kitchen as well. I need to head back to that store tomorrow after work and grab some more to put in to the drawers. It is going to make cleaning so much easier.

In our family Christmas Eve has always been dad’s side of the family, Christmas day a personal family/relax day, and boxing day mom’s side of the family.


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Most people, when they get married, need to find time in there to fit their spouses side of the family and god help them if their spouses side is divorced as well. It turns into a scheduling nightmare. I am blessed with in-laws who live in another country and come from a country that doesn’t celebrate Christmas.
Let me tell you I am thanking my lucks stars and am quite aware of how fortunate I am.

I hope all the rest of you out there had a wonderful Christmas and found some time to yourselves to have a Peaceful Jouyous Christmas.


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Posted by (Top)Andrea::12/25/2006 :: 3 Comments:

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