I woke up on Christmas Eve to this sight:
Cary let me sleep in while he took care of Brylee in the morning. I made the comment just a day or so earlier that it was too bad that she didn't unwrap more presents so we could have layers and layers of paper for everyone to tear up...so Cary decided that he would let her get to it, before we met his family. I got a good laugh out of what I saw and spent some of the morning taping up vital parts of presents!
We got to Cary's parents' house around 11:00 Friday morning, and Chester spent his day outside, loving every bit of the rain and cold the day provided.
Lunch consisted of turkey, broccoli rice casserole, sweet potatoes, fruit salad, dressing, cranberries, and a huge variety of pies and tarts, chocolates, cookies, Russian tea, and a cherry cake!
Present time!
Can you tell that everyone was eager to help Brylee get her gifts together? She is most certainly loved by these people!
Faith and I got matching necklaces! Great taste, Brenda!
I'm still in shock from the gifts I have walked away with. Not shown in the photo is a Roku (Netflix box), a tv device that allows us to watch real-time tv from anywhere, including the phone, and an 'emergency' kit for women, and a Devotional journal from Cary's aunt Peggy. Cary also got a remote airplane.
Brylee loved to sit in her Aunt Faith's lap and look through the books she got. She even managed to forget that she had bows stuck in her hair!
And look at the great gift Brylee got! It interacts with the tv to help teach her music, shapes, colors, alphabet, numbers...she loves it!
A McFadden tradition is to go look at Christmas lights after dinner and opening gifts, so we all piled into the car(s) and headed out! This was the first year we all had to separate, mostly because of Brylee's car seat. But it worked to Brad's advantage because he got to follow his daughter's tradition of sticking her head out the window to see the lights from the best place in the car.
Christmas morning found us waking up early to feed Brylee and open gifts! Santa was very good to Brylee with this bean bag chair that she can sit in, instead of Chester's bed (her choice, not ours!)
One of her gifts from us consisted of a Dallas Stars jersey, which is just slightly too big for her...room for her to grow!
And of course, Chester didn't fare too bad himself!
After Cary, Brylee, and I opened our gifts, we went to my parents' house for the day of Jarvis fun. And again, she made out like a bandit!
Including 4 outfits, 2 little cars, a sippy cup, a cd, and a 'cook and learn' toy pot, she got away with a 'turbo turtle' and a tent with a crawling tunnel!
Our messy den!
This dress is my first Christmas dress:
Uncle Bill spoiling his little niece:
Included in Brylee's gifts was another 'tent', or a pop-up cat that can be crawled around in from her Granny J. We connected the tunnel to it as well, making a big covered up play area for her to wander around in. Her cousin Ashton also loved playing in it (as seen by the hand peeking out)!
And even her teen-aged cousins enjoyed sneaking into it:
Lunch was Texas brisket with mac and cheese, potato salad, rolls, baked beans, chips and dip, and pies. As always, delicious!
The party continued on with mom's side of the family joining us, as well as my aunt's family and Granny J. There were so many gifts to open, so many people to talk to, delicious food, and new games to try out...what an exhausting day!
When I took the pictures of the gifts last night, I did it in a really weird way, so I will see how I can explain them per picture:
The traditional fruit and nuts that stuff our stockings:
Brylee's jersey and books, as well as Cary's and my ornaments/stocking stuffers. On the jersey is a gift I gave Cary: tickets to the Dallas Stars game on Wednesday. All you can eat is included in the price of these tickets...and the best part? (Well, not to Cary...he's pretty stoked about the all you can eat) The tickets are to the Detroit Red Wings game...sure to be a big hit!
The big red bean bag chair that Santa brought Brylee, as well as the adorable pillow that Aunt Amy made for Brylee...she is so talented!
More toys and books that Brylee came away with. Her Aunt Peggy and Aunt Gail were so sweet and sent her books to read. She (and I!) love books and can't wait to read them!
Another picture of the jersey as well as the other outfits Brylee got. She's worn 3 out of the 4 already, and looks adorable in them!
My Granny W made this beautiful quilt for our family. I can say that all 3 of my grandmas have an extraordinary talent, and this is proof of just one!
Shirts that Cary received (3 out of 4); the yellow from my parents, the others from me:
2 shirts and an apron I got from my parents:
The jar full of candy. Let's see how long I can keep from eating every bit!
In this picture, there are gloves and a scarf, which was a stocking stuffer for me from Cary. For those who don't know, I love scarves...I just don't live in a climate that allows for them to always be worn. Also, there is a handmade keychain from my aunt Amy, as well as geocaching supplies for Cary, and the beautiful necklace!
Brylee also got new shoes from Santa, I got a movie from Cary, and Granny J spoiled us with puzzles and Christmas decorations (the angel ornament came from her as well!)
The most fun of Christmas came on Christmas night when we let Brylee get to the tree again to play with her ornaments...and ended up bringing down the entire tree!
**This post is only some-what put together, with pictures missing, as well as more captions. Watch for more to come.
I have so many people to thank and hug, and I don't know quite how to do it. I guess I'll have to do it more than just virtually!
1 comment:
What do you mean she took over the house?! She has had control since Nov 18, 2009.
Post a Comment