Christmas 2012

Charlotte wrote out a long list of questions for Santa to answer.  She was so excited to find that Santa had responded Christmas morning.

Charlotte doesn't go for the boring "To" and "From" on her gifts.

This is one of the most magical moments of the year for me. 

Charlotte's leaping for joy.

Evan got the "big kid" scooter he's been wanting.

Charlotte got the doll house she asked Santa for.

The elves did such a great job with this doll house.  It even came with a full house of furniture.  I saw a doll house with furniture just like this at a consignment sale a few months ago for $32!  I didn't buy it since I figured the elves would be working on Charlotte's house.

They also got floor scooters from Santa. I used to love using these in PE class in elementary school.  We're going to take the kids to the high school tomorrow so they can really zoom.

Fern and I enjoyed the present part of the morning from the big couch.

She found Christmas morning to be a little overwhelming.

I got a bunch of knitting books and my favorite food book, Omnivore's Dilemma. 

Jon surprised me with a beautiful stoneware baking dish from Le Creuset.

I surprised Jon with a popcorn popper, a case of popcorn, and 5 different seasonings.

Wiki sticks

Evan got this set of tangrams (is that what they're called?).  I don't think Santa brought them a single toy that required batteries this year.  Go, Santa!

I knit Evan a big, blue blanket....

...and I knit Charlotte a shawl with fluffy pink trim.

My Chocolate Kugelhopf turned out beautifully this time thanks to baking it longer.

We had Chocolate Kugelhopf, sausage, and scrambled eggs for brunch.

Nana and Grandpa got Charlotte a husband pillow and some chapter books. 

Evan got a huge bucket of interlocking gears that he loves! 

Days of the week undies from Santa.

Nana sat down to play with Charlotte and her doll house.  Charlotte was introduced to the way that Nana plays with dolls.  Can you see the baby in the picture?  It's head is in the toilet. My mom and I agree on many things and one is that playing with dolls/Barbies is boring.  We spice it up any way we can.  Charlotte was in fits of giggles and jumped right in to perch her doll house people on the roof, in the fireplace, and to have them fall from high places.  We were all laughing right along with them.  We have warped senses of humor around here.

Grandpa and Evan built with Legos.

I browsed through some new knitting pattern books.  So many possibilities in those books.

Jon put together Charlotte's new princess puzzle.

A pork shoulder roast.  It was a delicious change from the usual Christmas poultry.

I love cooking Christmas dinner.  It was made much easier due to my prep work the day before and because Mom brought her amazing rolls (that I burned. Boo.) and bacon wrapped asparagus.

Mmmm... bacon.

We had mashed potatoes, gravy, candied sweet potatoes, and corn too.

Remind me to get some pretty Christmas placemats and decoration next year.  We don't stand on ceremony around here but I'll see if I can dress it up a bit more for next year.  Jon covered his puzzle in progress with a towel for dinner.  It added to the ambiance.

We played "Spot It" and "Connect Four Launch" after dinner.  I highly recommend both games.  Super fun and all age groups had fun playing. 

The few of the living room after a full day of Christmas.

I forgot to take a picture of the wonderful apple dumplings Mom made for dessert but here's the pumpkin pie I made (mostly for Charlotte since it's her favorite).  I wish there was more left since I could go for a piece right now. 

It was a wonderful Christmas and I'm already sad it's over for this year.  We're trying to stay in that cozy, new toys mode for as long as possible.