Look at all my TEETH!

The most wonderful time of the year.

Christmas 2009

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year! The only thing better than being a kid who believes in all the magic of Christmas is being a parent. Addi was very good about waiting for Christmas morning to open her gifts. In fact, she had to tell her Mom on a couple occasions that we are not to open gifts until Christmas morning. On Christmas Eve we spent most of the day focusing on the real meaning of Christmas. While I was explaining some things to Addi in my "serious" voice, she asked if I was mad. :o) I guess she is used to hearing me explain things in that tone when she is in trouble. We had a nice birthday party for baby Jesus. First we read the Christmas Story. Then we made a nice Christmas/Birthday card for Jesus. Then we made a birthday cake, and Addi said, "oh Baby Jesus is going to LOVE this!" We sang Happy Birthday and thanked him for all our blessings. We talked about why we give gifts, and how the star on the tree is not from Dora the Explorer. All in all I think she understands the meaning of Christmas pretty well for a three year old. When my Mom called Addi on Christmas Eve she asked her, "Who is coming tonight?" and Addi replied, "BABY JESUS!!" Then I had to explain that we keep Jesus in our thoughts but he won't be dropping in for cake. :o) Christmas Eve night we celebrated with our good friends and their son Julian who is Addi's best buddy. It was so cute to see the two kids exchange gifts. They both knew what the other would like and they are just so cute together. We enjoyed a nice prime rib dinner with all the fixins and watched some classic Christmas cartoons from our childhood. Christmas morning we had to wake Addi up because she probably would have slept until noon. She was very pleased to see that Santa brought her and baby brother an awesome train/airplane set and teddy bears. Addison asked for a teddy bear, a yo yo, and Hungry Hungry Hippos which her grandparents bought her. She was as happy as can be and of course got spoiled rotten. We played about fifty games of Hungry Hippos that day. Somehow Addi won every time. Addi is deligently practicing her yo yo skills and has not given up. She had no idea that yo yo-ing was so hard. We shared this Christmas with one of my clients who doesn't have a loving family. We were happy to show her what a normal family Chirstmas is like, and I think she had a wonderful time. She took lots of pictures and gave me several hugs. I cooked a big feast complete with an apricot glazed ham. We watched movies and played with all the new toys. I brought Addi with me to take my client home and we looked at Christmas lights all over Moscow and Pullman. Addi fell asleep before I left my street. When I got home I found out that Tony was sad we didn't have Dutch Honey and Waffles for breakfast. Back in the kitchen I went and cooked him up his traditional Shaffer breakfast, for dinner. Addi was so excited about the waffles I just couldn't stop laughing. She really does act just like her Dad. And that was our Merry Christmas. We played with new Toys all night until we were exhuasted and then it was time for bed. Christmas 09 is in the record books.

Kaden's first trip to the indoor playground!

Happy Holidays!!