As Good As It Gets: Christmas Recap

When I was a kid, my family didn't live near any relatives so just celebrated at home every year. It was my favorite holiday. A whole day of pure relaxation and playing.

Now, we live near both sides of our family and have an overwhelming buffet of places to be. Andy and I start dreading the planning as early as August as there are too many places we are "supposed" to be and it is hard to please everyone. Christmas is especially hard on the kids because the celebration lasts more than one day and involves a lot of driving. Nevertheless, it always works out well in the end. Plus, this year we instituted the first annual Heikes Family Pajama Day on December 26th so we can all get a little taste of relaxation and just playing with our new stuff.

We celebrated with Grandma and Grandpa Ed, Big Grandma and Uncle Matt on Dec 17th. They, of course spoiled us rotten. Of course, I didn't get the camera out so do not have proof! We had a lot of fun hanging out. They have a whole new selection of Wii games to play. Caleb's favorite gift was a Lego Star Wars set, which he got to setting up right away. Lucy loved the new ballet dress for her American Girl doll Ruthie. Toby has already killed the batteries in his new digital camera (each of the older 3 got one). Nellie's most used present is her new cloth diaper.

Christmas Eve we went to the Heikes family Christmas Eve dinner. We were especially happy to see Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Grandma Heikes and Aunt Emily. We were spoiled rotten again (and again the camera was neglected). My favorite part of the day was when Caleb opened his card from Grandpa and said, "Money." I asked him to look at it and tell me how much it was. His face was priceless when he saw $100! Although he was disappointed when we told him it had to go in the real bank and not his piggy bank. All 4 kids fell asleep on the way home and Caleb was the only one not carried directly to bed. He counted out 9 carrots for the reindeer, 5 cookies for Santa and even poured the mug of milk all by himself.

Christmas morning everyone "slept in". Nellie didn't get up until 6 and then went back to sleep for a while. Caleb and Lucy were up at about 7 and Toby slept in the latest until 7:30. Since we do not have a staircase to wait at the top of our rule is the kids have to come into our room to wait until everyone is up. They are not supposed to peek, but of course they did. Before Christmas we start making a list of things they are interested in, but each kid asks Santa for one present and the rest are surprises. Caleb wanted the Lego Harry Potter Wii game. Lucy wanted Barbie things. Toby a lightsaber. Nellie enjoyed scooting around after the paper and boxes, she was at such a fun first Christmas age.

After we opened presents we went to Mass to celebrate Jesus' birthday. Our family was asked to bring up the Gifts, which we have never done before. Caleb was so excited, but then got nervous and didn't want to carry anything. Lucy carried the bread. Andy carried Toby and the wine while I carried Nellie who was soundly sleeping.

We came home to play a little and then went over to the Madisons' where we did our gift exchange. Toby was the most excited to give Nadia her present. He checked on it every day after we wrapped it and wanted to give it to her the second we walked in the door. Because of our stop home (Caleb really wanted to play his Wii game) we were the last to arrive, which is usually not the case considering our proximity. We had Christmas dinner at my grandma's house. My uncle has white hair and grows a beard each year to be Santa. He was walking by our car when we arrived and Toby just melted! I mean what 3 year old doesn't dream about eating dinner with Santa. After dinner he changed into his suit for a photo op. I didn't get any pictures of Toby greeting him at the bottom of the stairs but he was just in awe and sang some Christmas carols with him.