Our First Family Christmas

This was our first Christmas as a family of 3! What a difference Colby made to the holiday. We actually had 3 days of Christmas and are just starting to get back to our routine. It certainly has been a whirlwind of fun, toys, food, hugs, and lots of laughter.

Christmas Eve we celebrated with Mike's family. We went to his parents' house around 3. Thankfully they live right down the road, so no travel. We had a small gathering with his parents and Mike's brother David, his wife Jocelyn, and their baby Lizzy. She is only 6 months old so it was thier first family Christmas too! Mike's sister Trisha and her husband AJ were the only ones missing. They live in Ohio, so Mike's parents left to visit with them on Christmas Day. After opening gifts and relaxing we all went to Mike's grandparents' house down the road. They are Mike's dad's parents and family. We had a big gathering there and enjoyed some appetizers and lots of goodies. Colby received a Hess car, some puzzles, a dump truck, and some great photos to hang in his room. Mike's Aunt Jo took pictures of Colby's stuffed animals (Pooh, Mickey, Goofy, Tigger, and more) and used those pictures to PhotoShop into some landscape photos she had taken. So Mickey is now fishing, Pooh is holding sunflowers. They came out great. Colby needed some big photos to decorate his room. Colby also got a trailer truck, bulldozer, and road grader made just for him by Grandpa! We didn't leave there until aroudn 9 so we had one tired out little boy. Thankfully we did get him to take a short nap before we left.

Christmas morning Mike and I were wide awake. We were like little kids on Christmas, both so excited. I was ready with the video camera as Colby opened his presents. He was so excited with the small drum and percussion set Santa brought. He also loved his 2 John Deere tractors and dump truck. We had to play with all his toys before we left for my parents' house. Until this year, we always celebrated with my mom's family at Mamie's house. Unfortunately, we lost her this year so everyone decided to have their own family celebrations and then get together on Saturday. So we went to my parents' house to celebrate with my brothers and sisters and their families. Not the usual 40 or so people but a respectable 16 people. We did miss my nephew Teddy though. He was with his dad. A wonderful meal and even more goodies to eat. And of course, more presents. Colby got a John Deere bank that light up and makes noise when you put money in it. He also got a new Thomas train piece, some great books, a few shirts, a race car track, and letter blocks that Mamie had already bought for him. I also received a beautiful silver necklace from Mamie. It is a heart with a mom holding a baby. It is so sweet and very special. No nap and a long day, we went home and relaxed watching Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas.

Saturday we had one more Christmas celebration. We went to my Uncle Lou's to celebrate with my mom's family. Not everyone was there but we had a great time. Cloby loved playing with his cousins again along with my cousins children. There were kids everywhere! More goodies to eat and even more presents. A few more books, a wooden tool box, some Legos, and we all received a ornament from my Aunt Linda with a picture of my grandparents on it wishing us a Heavenly Christmas. Uncle Lou lives next door to my grandparents house so we did go over there to look through some things to see if their grandchildren wanted anything. I took a few things, mostly cooking stuff, but it did give a bittersweet taste to the day. Boy do I miss them both. I just wish Poppy could have met Colby and that both he and Mamie could have spent one Christmas with us. Christmas was such a special time for Poppy. I hope that I can pass on his love for giving and the sense of joy he gave to everyone.

We spent Sunday relaxing and playing with all the new toys. We did go to Mike's grandparents' for a special dinner. It is his grandpa's birthday so Aunt Marie made home-made ravioli. Yum yum! Ravioli and ice cream. A great way to end a busy weekend. Now we are looking forward to New Year's Eve and my Aunt Doone's, and next month we are having dinner with a few of our fellow adopting friends. We met through our agency and through our blogs. I can't wait for all the boys to get together. It should be a lot of fun!