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Christmas Day 2010

Friday, December 31, 2010
I wanted to get this posted while it is still 2010 (barely).   Usually, I make a little video of our Christmas season festivities for the kids to watch on New Year's Eve but I have been so lazy and "in the moment" with my kids this break that I have not even done that! But this is a long post so it will probably feel like a 10 minute video;) We have had a very nice Christmas break but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you that I am kinda looking forward to the peace and quiet of Tuesday morning when school begins again!

Christmas Day was fabulous!!!! Harry work up early as usual and he woke up an excited Kate and a grumpy teenager who wanted to sleep in (Will). Look how grumpy he is???  Yup, we have a teen in the house!

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This is them waiting upstairs (above) while I turn on the tree, check to see if Santa came and get the coffee going.

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The annual "coming down the stairs" photos.


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Harry is smart enough to peek around the corner to where the tree and gifts await!

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Will cheered up substantially when the first gift he opened was a sole skate.

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Kate and Harry were excited to see pillow pets under the tree.

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Kate loved some of the lip gloss and pretend make-up in her stocking.  She also LOVED the pink wallet that was in there.

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Harry got some juggling balls in his stocking but Dave quickly absconded them:)
Dave is great at juggling!

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The kids each got Dave a new pan.  Our skillets were in BAD shape.  We love these new "green" pans.

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I love this one...Kate is leaning in to kiss Harry as a thank you for his gift.
He got her a neat finger paint set.  She loves art!

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Here she kisses and hugs Will.  He bought her two new Fancy Nancy books.

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Aunt Dooney, Uncle Moon and Ashton (my sister and her family) got Kate an Easy Bake oven and some accessories.  She loves it.  We plan on doing a lot of easy baking;)

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Harry got an Ipod Nano and a spy video watch.  But I think he liked this soccer shirt that Santa brought him as a surprise best of all.  He has worn in 3 times this week;)

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Dave really wanted an American flag.  He also got a cashmere sweater and two wool sweaters.

Dave bought me an external flash for my camera.  I still have not figured out how to use it yet but I m sure I will love it.  He also got me some J Crew clothes and a replacement pair of Tory Burch shoes since Snickers ate my favorite pair just before Christmas.

We had our traditional breakfast of baked french toast (Harry's favorite) and an egg and sausage strata (Will's favorite).  Then we went out into the VERY COLD weather so Kate could try out her new roller-skates (the only thing she really asked for) and Will's sole skate.

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Look at how Kate is looking up to Dave.

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Kate and Harry did a little baking (in the easy bake oven) while Dave and I cooked a turkey, a beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, herbed green beans, homemade gluten free macaroni and cheese, zucchini casserole,  marinated and roasted mushrooms (they were SO good), biscuits and two gluten free/ dairy free pies (apple and blueberry). There were 11 of us for dinner and it was really nice.

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After dinner, the peanuts had so much fun playing with their college aged cousins...

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Will got a nook and could not resist reading while everyone was hanging out.  He is so much like me.  Reading is my very favorite thing to do and I love my Nook color!!!!

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Kate and cousin Jamie.

Here is most of the gang....

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from left to right
Michael (Aunt Waukita's oldest son), Kate, cousin Jamie, Harry, Scout, Uncle Joe (Dave's older brother), Dave and Snickers, Will, cousin Olivia, Kim (me) and Aunt Waukita (Uncle Joe's wife).
Aunt Waukita's Mom also joined us but did not want to be in the photo. So, she took it for us!

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And our little family!

Two things made me so thrilled on Christmas day that I did not capture here.  One is the gift Harry gave me.  It is a book called "In Focus: National Geographic Greatest Portraits."  I about cried when I opened it.  Harry knows I love photography and he bought this with his own money.  It is a beautiful and thoughtful gift.

Also, at the very end of the day Harry exclaimed, "This was the greatest Christmas!  And not because of the presents (although he did love them).  It was because our whole family was here."

Our whole family was not here.  My sisters and Mom and their families  (they live in PA and CA) were not here and Dave's sister lives far away too (in VA) and was not here.  But I knew what he meant.  He really enjoyed having some extended family here.  It was a fun day.

Thank you for all of the kind and wonderful feedback y'all have given me this year (and for the past 4 years!).  We plan to hunker down tonight playing games and watching TV and making a gluten free -dairy free chocolate cake for NYE.  I wish you all a blessed and healthy New Year.

24 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Kim. Thanks for sharing your year with us, so happy you had a great Christmas.

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  2. Wonderful Christmas! Here's to an even better 2011... Happy New Year!

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  3. It looks like a wonderful Christmas! Happy New Year!

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  4. So nice when they appreciate things like having family around! Pillow pets were a big hit at my house too!!

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  5. Happy New Year Kim...love all the photos!
    xoxo

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  6. What a very merry Christmas you all had. I love Harry's comment about the family. I agree! There is nothing better.

    Happy New Year my friend.

    Jill

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  7. Just looks so fun! Your kids are super cute and that first pic of the grumpy teen up too early is priceless!

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  8. Happy New Year Kim!

    And, I don't envy you with a new teen!

    Our youngest Kate is still a teen and all I can say is, OH BOY! When will it end?

    Lea
    xo

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  9. Happy New Year, Friend! May it be one rich in blessings for you, Dave and the Peanuts:)

    Blessings,
    Kim & Katiebug

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  10. Happy New Year, sweet Kim, Dave and the 3 Peanuts.
    Your Christmas looked wonderful!
    Norah

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  11. Happy New Year to you and your family Kim!!!! Love all the pictures and can't wait to see what 2011 brings.


    Sweet Blessings,
    Robin

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  12. Such a beautiful Christmas!

    Jennifer

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  13. Gorgeous and blessed Christmas!

    I am thrilled you got the external flash! I have it and have no clue how to use it properly, either. If you find a good book or site for learning, please share!

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  14. Happy New Year!
    Love how casual Christmas dinner was...sometimes we don't even get our of our PJs :) Even though we use "good" china and silver...The food tastes just as good and company is just as merry!

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  15. It sounds like a WONDERFUL Christmas! And I so hope extended family will travel to us at some point now that we've decided to stay home. Happy New Year to y'all!

    (And I'm glad you posted a photo of the sole skate. Never heard of it before. I am SO not with it.)

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  16. looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! I enjoy reading your blog so much, great photos. You will love your external flash too! Not sure if you use Nikon or Canon, but I shoot with a Nikon and use the SB 800 for lighting, fabulous!
    Have a very happy new year!!

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  17. What a fun Christmas! Love all your photos! I am way behind blogging and haven't done our Christmas yet!

    Happy New Year to you and your sweet family!

    Janet

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  18. Happy New Year! Your Christmas looked fabulous...You were certainly blessed!

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  19. What a gorgeous gorgeous Christmas! I love the shots of the kids coming down the stairs, they are so sweet!
    So glad to hear that you all had an amazing holiday! You deserve it all and more!:)

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  20. Another great Christmas day.
    I can't get over how much different food you made! It's like two or three meals in one!! :)

    And a very happy New Year to you, too. I hope we get to see and hear about it a lot!

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  21. Chiming in a little late! I've been enjoying the holidays w/family and friends as well! Just wanted to wish your family a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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  22. What a beautiful Christmas, Kim!! Your family always makes me smile and your home is beautifully decorated for Christmas.

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  23. Looks like such a happy and lovely family you have! Your photography is beautiful and Kate is absolutely adorable!

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  24. Is that a Jcrew necklace you are wearing Christmas day? I got the same one! Glad you had a wonderful day.

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