Christmas 2011

Whomever said December birthdays are the pits failed to consider how much brighter it can make Christmas!  Celebrating her own birthday just over a week before gave Emmy such incredible perspective on the importance of Jesus' birthday celebration!  In the days leading up, we kept busy with lots of fun Christmas activities (tree-trimming, decorating Rice Krispie houses, baking cookies, touring nearby neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights, hot chocolate and the drive-through nativity at a local church, Christmas shopping and crafts) all of which gave way to fantastic conversations about the reason for the season.  Needless to say, Emmy knew that Jesus has the biggest birthday party of all and was super amped for the holiday!

Being unable to travel this year given Hannah's rapidly approaching due date made for an easy decision as to where we'd spend Christmas.  With family traveling in for or after Hannah's birth (not to mention Nick's parents' and brothers' trip to Brazil for Ben and Eliana's wedding,) we knew it would be a low-key holiday with just the three of us.  It was no-stress and jam-packed with playtime in our pajamas!  We loved every second and couldn't have asked for more!

Emmy received a very special video message from Santa on Christmas Eve, which confirmed her place on the "nice" list.  She hung onto his every word and confirmed that she was a good girl with lots of nods and a big, "yeah!"  We must've watched the message nearly a dozen times. :)  We changed out of our jammies in time for the Christmas Eve service at church, where we got an incredible reminder that God so loved the world that He sent His only son to pay for our sins.  What gift could top that!?  Just when it seemed that the service couldn't get any better, we were so lucky to run into so many of our wonderful friends!  Such a special way to kick off the night!

We raced home so that I could put the finishing touches on our Christmas Eve dinner.  The menu (which held great tradition from my mom's side of the family) included: a green salad, cioppino, fettucine with white truffle butter sauce, and a fruit and jello mold.  Emmy had some spaghetti, or as she likes to call it, "pastas."  After dinner, Emmy opened up the first Christmas gift, new jammies for everyone and Fancy Nancy's "Splediferous Christmas!"  Not long after that, we snuggled in to read a Christmas classic, "The Polar Express."  All the while, Emmy gripped her jingle bell.

The next morning, Emmy's gift to us was the ability to sleep in...until 9!!! That NEVER happens!!  We were shocked when we saw the time!  After her late wake up, we hurried into her room to retrieve her from her crib.  I think Nick and I were even more excited than she was for all the fun that was to come, perhaps because she'd forgotten what day it was.  When we asked her who had come to our house while she was sleeping, she said expectantly, "Annie and KK (Andy and Clairey)?"  We let her down gently by reminding her that Santa had come instead.  Once she saw all the presents under the tree (and ate Santa's cookie crumbs), she was back in the Christmas groove!  Emmy was responsible for unwrapping each and every gift that was under the tree this year, no matter if it was for her or not.  She became pretty overwhelmed by the windfall of fun toys and it wasn't until later in the afternoon, after breaking in her new snow boots from Mimi and Papa outside, that she settled down enough to start enjoying all of her new loot.  We lucked out with a phone call from Nick's Brazil-bound family and Skype calls with Mimi, Papa and Jamie as well as the Sacksteder crew.  One of my favorite memories of the day was Emmy and Clairey's virtual jam-session, where Clairey sang jingle bells and Emmy offered the beat-box on her new keyboard, from their respective living rooms.

We had the traditional Odell family brunch and Christmas Day roast for dinner.  We finished up the day with a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" cheesecake (Nick's favorite.)  Not once did any of us get out of our pajamas the entire day...It was glorious!!

Making Rice Krispie "houses."  Emmy ate all of her allotted candy instead of affixing it to her house.  Surprise, surprise...:-P 

All dressed up for the Christmas Eve service at church!

This is what I get when I tell her to "smile big."

Or this.

Finally, a natural smile. :)

My loves.

Such a pretty pair. :)

Emmy was very excited about her new coat.

Nearly killed myself in heels.  Not my best plan ever.

The first gift of Christmas: Jammies for everyone and Fancy Nancy's "Splendiferous Christmas!"

Reading "The Polar Express" before bed while Emmy clings onto her jingle bell.

The cookies Emmy carefully selected for Santa.

Santa arrived!!

Lookin' good! I don't think she could quite see with them on, though, because she got up about an inch away from my face saying "Yook, Mama!"

It's hard work unwrapping every single gift under the tree!

Modeling the apron I made her, so grateful it fit!

Breaking in her snow boots from Mimi and Papa.  She ran laps around the backyard enjoying the gorgeous weather. 

"Colorin' piture" on the awesome easel from Auntie Kristi, Uncle JP, "Annie," "KK," and Baby Jacob.

Loving the ladybug pillow pet from "Jamie."  Apparently, they are on a first name basis now, he's lost his "Uncle" title. :-P