Ben's first Christmas festivities began when Meemee arrived Wednesday afternoon. Neighbors Bruce and Cheryl stopped by in the evening to exchange gifts and enjoy some goodies.
We spent Thursday doing last minute grocery shopping and planning Meemee's bathroom renovation at the HD and Lowe's. Ben actually slept through the whole thing-yep-four hours! and of course finally needed to eat just as we were leaving the hot mess called a grocery store the day before Christmas. Nothing a little Starbreak couldn't handle :).
Friday we relaxed and waited for Tante's arrival. We were unable to go to Mass on Christmas Eve as even 15 minutes early there was NO room at the Inn. We headed home where friends Rob and Lynn joined us for dinner and merriment. We were all asleep by 10 with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads.
I got up at 4:30 to finish my Santerly duties and Mom and Molly were awake shortly after 5. We convinced Ryan to get up and open adult stockings as we waited and waited and waited for Ben to awaken. He finally did shortly after 6 and the real fun began. The biggest surprises were Molly's unexpected snow shoes that Santa set up and even set on snow for display purposes, and the TRAIN! Yes, doesn't every 4 month old little boy need a real deal Lionel O gauge train???? Meemee says it was as much to vex his parents as bring him joy and I think she's right as I've already asked Ryan to build a platform and begun dreaming of the adorable town I can create in the center. We enjoyed prime rib, au gratin potatoes, brussels sprouts, and salad for Christmas Dinner along with a delicious Beaujoulais (thanks Rob and Lynn.)
Sunday included some post Christmas shopping and our first movie in a theatre since Ben's arrival. With Meemee babysitting, Molly, Ryan and I saw Little Fockers, which was just as hilarious as expected. We celebrated being together one last time at Lucciano's on Sunday night, (thanks again Mom.) Ben was great at dinner and really loved the live music and smiled adoringly at the keyboard player.
Mom and Molly headed home Monday and the preparations began for Nana Pat and Grandpa Jim's arrival on Tuesday......
Getting a little more in each day!
The jumping, too has improved immensely in the last week.
Family pic-thanks Molly for the matching PJ's.
Tuckered out after all those gifts.
Max the Grinch dog has become "the one."
Opening the first present
Ben's overflowing first stocking
With the train
Holy Moly!
First Family Christmas
Ben's first Christmas sounds perfect! What a blessing. Love all the photos, but especially the family photo at the end. SO happy for you all. Oh, and that Laugh and Learn Kitchen is the bomb diggity. Ella got one and I was playing with hers all night on Christmas Eve. I think Cadyn might need one too :)
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