Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Wouldn't you know it, Abby was sick this Christmas again. This year Tim joined in the sickness fun. Christmas Eve he could barely speak and went back to bed after he got a light breakfast in. Despite the illness surrounding me, I was in good health and pranced my wonderful husband and daughter all over southwest Wisconsin to every planned family Christmas party. I didn't get many good pictures this year, we don't even have a picture of the three of us. But it was nice to be in the moments really soaking it all in. Most of our pictures of the kids are the backs of their heads.



Christmas Eve:


For weeks now Abby's Great Grandma Ruth kept telling me and my mom about how she was getting Abby a boring toy. Nothing with buttons or music. Something boring. Abby loved it. It was her favorite toy that whole night and she even took it to daycare one day where Lori said she carried it around all day. As soon as she opened it she tried to ride it, her first pony. My other cherished memory from this night was seeing the first ultrasound of my future niece/nephew and listening to the proud papa talk about everything that happened at the doctor appointment.




As is custom, we went straight to Abby's other Great Grandparent's house that night. GG has a train that he has been waiting for ages for little kids to come enjoy again. Abby loved watching that train with him. It went backwards and forwards and sometimes would hide behind the tree. Then Abby would say "Where you go?". Everytime it came around again she would shout "Choo, Choo". The other great grandkids weren't into the train. Melted my heart that she had that special time with GG.

Sebastian got the favorite toy that night and reluctantly shared with his two girl cousins. This is the happiest face he made playing with them. Later he found a quiet spot to play by himself but Abby found him again and kept "sharing" with the sad little boy.

Christmas Day:

I was most excited for our Christmas morning just the 3 of us. We decided to do it December 26th but I was too excited so we opened gifts Christmas morning. We still had our big breakfast the 26th and played with all Abby's new toys.

Here's Abby opening her first gift from us.

"Opa" - Abby's word for open

Then she started to get into it.

"Wow". She then precided to ride it around the room.

Christmas Day we spend with the Grutzmacher clan at Mike and Gayle's. We got this dress in a hand me down box and couldn't resist a wardrobe change for Christmas party #5.

Half way through the party she got a fever. This picture makes me smile because even though they both felt awful, they didn't want to miss Christmas. Even if it took all their energy to open one gift. Don't they both look ready for a nap?

Other favorite moments include:

- Watching Kai open the fishing stuff we got for him and his pole from his grandparents. Great to see a big boy smiling like a little boy.

-Hiding from the scary movie with Kayden in the toy closet and playing Iron Man. Later he told me "I like you". Love that little man.

-Seeing Reiland trying to take steps. He's only 7 months old but pulls himself up and can even stand sometimes.

-Meeting the new babies in the family.

Above all my favorite part is the food and family. Hope you all had a great Christmas like we did.