Christmas at Grandma's 2019

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's is always so good. I'm still surprised every time by the sunshine and the perfect weather and citrus season but I never complain! The kids love being with their cousins SO MUCH and pretty much disappear into play until it's time to eat one meal or another. I love that Christmas at the grandparents' is the perfect mix of going out and about and keeping very busy having fun and down time to sit and talk and laugh. Always laugh.

I decided about three days before we left for Orange County that I wanted to make matching cousin PJs. I don't know why I figured that was a good thing to add into the preparations but I had fun and barely made my deadline. The kids were good sports and wore them happily. They were really cute, although better suited for Norway with the cosy and warm flannel. Next time maybe I'll re-do with a light cotton. Ha!

Grandparents gave the gift of a Disney day but crazily the children begged not to go but to play with their cousins with their Christmas toys so (most of) the adults--and Henry!--went instead. It was probably one of my favorite Disneyland trips ever. We ate the most amazing food and weren't hurried and got to shower Henry with all the attention when he wasn't asleep in the stroller. It was a great day. And it was Collin's and my anniversary (which number??) and it was interesting to think back on all the times we've been together since our dating days. I never would have thought that place would be such a part of our story. 

Our gift to grandma this year was fancy tea at the Langham hotel with just the girls. It was so yummy and elegant. 

Christmas (At Home) 2019

 

No matter where we spend Christmas proper (with one side of the family or the other, or traveling, or otherwise) we always want to spend a weekend in December or January doing our own little family traditions. This year we got to welcome the Dollahite grandparents into the festivities. Nana taught Eliza (and retaught me!) how to make Pulla *Finish bread*. We had our 'Nephite' dinner on the day we marked for Christmas Eve, then dressed up and acted out the Nativity. Davy even accompanied some of our carols on the piano. Eliza had a few extra scenes she wanted to add to the play--a dramatic angelic rescue of the baby for one. Eddy was dignified and focused as both a good king and a bad one. Henry was delighted by all the costumes and swapped between lamb, king, shepherd, and who knows what else with great determination. We opened presents next morning on our own personal early Christmas. Father Christmas humored us and came, bringing a wished-for board game for Davy and Eddy, a doll for Liza Bee, and some cars for Henry. It was a happy, simple affair.

Eliza had quite an exciting Christmas season, as she lost both her two front teeth right in time, as well as played a part in the ballet studio's Nutcracker performance. She loved being on stage, you could tell. The whole time she was beaming.

Christmas Video from 2017

Found in the deep recesses of my files. I think I was thinking to send this out as part of our holiday greeting in 2017 but never got around to it. Originally it was just under a minute and mostly generic clips of kids hands playing with nativities. Sweet but not too special or personal. Then I started watching all the clips of the kids talking and I realized there were too many gems to ignore. And the remnants of their accents?! Too cute. I'm feeling nostalgic and wanting all the memories, so here is five minutes of time from a couple years ago. I think it will just get more precious to me the further away from that time we go. I almost cut out all of the parts with my voice asking questions. I decided to keep them after all, realizing that probably most of what my kids will someday have is this. My image shows up rarely in these kinds of things but they'll have my voice--sometimes strained, sometimes laughing. 

Family Pictures 2019 (Standford)

I keep trying to exchange favors with a friend for family pictures before Christmas but so far it hasn't worked out. Cue the handy dandy tripod and off we go for an adventure in self timers. We hit up Standford one Saturday evening for their pretty arcades and gardens. We were in and out in 45 minutes and had a shot or two for the Christmas card we wanted to send. That deserved a stop at Yogurtland on the way home for sure. 

Christmas 2017, take one

We celebrated Christmas early at our own home with some of the Dollahite/Lambourne traditions that have become important to our little branch of the family.

The decorations in this home were fun!  We have generally eschewed a traditional tree for garlands (all the better to display those ornaments).  We were able to take advantage of the high ceilings and drape the garlands from the full window on the main floor to the balcony at the landing.  We filled up the garlands, too, after collecting so many travel ornaments the past few years!  We do have a silly little dowel tree for the kids to arrange and rearrange all their ornaments as well.

The costumes for the nativity scenes we act out were interesting and fully kid created.

Early-Christmas Eve preparations.  Father Christmas came with some treats for the stockings and a few things under the tree.  Mostly under the tree were gifts from my grandparents, whose estate was dispersed.  My grandmother had been a great collector of toys (and lots besides).  It was great to see some vintage treasures that my cousins and I played with bring a few hours of joy to these kids too.  A Fisher Price zoo, post office, Playmobil made in West Germany, metal wind up toys, Cabbage Patch Kids plus a million outfits, an old coin collection.  It was an awesome blast from the past.  The only things I spent money on were food treats and parachute guys to launch over the banister from the landing.  Thanks, Grandmother and Grandpa Kimball!  (And Aunt Janeil for the wrapping paper!)

Early-Christmas was great!  We did our usual meals and the special things that our kids (mostly me) associate with the Dollahite-Lambourne holiday. 

Then it was waiting for real Christmas at Grandparents and regular life for a few days.  We had fun at Primary with the nativity reenactment, Rudolph noses at toddler music class, Eliza and Mommy Nutcracker outing, all the good stuff.