Christmas-a-Monium Day 2010

We woke up at the Annex...
Then went to Feltwell's for pluckets...

Next was presents at Mom and Dad's:

Quinn was on call so he missed Annie opening a few of her presents:
I have been eying this little fish bowl since way before Annie was born.
There's a crab, fish, starfish, & clam inside that all make different noises
and feel different. I can't wait tell Annie figures how to take them in and out.


Mom and Dad got Annie this Fergie Frog rocker.
I thought she wouldn't care about it for a few months,
but I was wrong! She loves this thing and knows
how to make it play music already!

Dad loves babies- especially "his babies."

These two didn't make it to the end of the present opening.

We spent Christmas evening in Hurricane with Grandma Polly & Co.

This pic of Ava says it all: Epic Battle! This year G. Polly started the war with the first throw.

Annie was decked out her Santa outfit and Christmas legwarmers. She loved watching the action.
So did I, especially since we were in Brazil last year and missed the entire event.


We ended the night with a family talent show per request of Kari.



The next morning...

We finally got around to our little family Christmas on the 26th. At least our tree made it. We brought down from the cabin a box of lights and ornaments from New York but neither of us know what happened to it so our tree has no lights and only the few ornaments we bought this year on our SLC trip. Annie didn't seem to mind- she made out with some pretty cool gifts.

...and just because she's so dang cute, here's one more:

I could go for the Blue Plate right about now.

After a few days in Ogden with Q's family, we drove to SLC to visit my family. Q's request was to eat breakfast at his favorite Dives, Drive-ins, and Diners hot spot. We had [what else] the corned beef hash which was terrific. Our arteries are still recovering. Annie stole the show again. We took 2 photos: one focused on the food and one focused on Annie since those are probably our two favorite subjects on Earth.


We stayed with my cousin Kari. I highly recommend her for some sort of hostess award. Check out the decore in the guest bath! She has twins: Where does she find the time?!?! I kept thinking that the entire time we were there.

We had to get the girls. Four cousins right in a row. It's so fun!

Uncle Bob thankfully requested the Anasazi Grill for his birthday dinner.
YUM! We had only been back in town a few hours after the weather kept us in SLC an extra day and it was the day before Christmas Eve so we were swamped with last minute preparations, but you just don't say no to the Anasazi Grill. I always get the shrimp and scallops on the rock.

Christmas Eve:


We spent the evening at my Grandma Metcalf's. Of note is
Mom's new "nativity backdrop" that she's wanted all her life
and is the only thing she wanted to get done (THE DAY OF!).

Obviously, Annie is big on presents already.

Annie has some terrific Aunties. P.S. She was the cow in the nativity.

Momdom

I didn't just make the bed- I disassembled, washed, and reassembled the duvet and duvet cover. We have a California King so this is no small feat. It fact, I worked up quite a sweat. Needless to say, I deem this task photo-worthy!

Annie was fascinated by this candle but I couldn't quite catch her mesmerized by it on film because we have trained her to smile for cameras. As soon as she sees the Nikon come out, she will stop whatever she is doing and grin for the lens, no matter the coolness of a flickering flame. This was one of our amazing late and lazy mornings during Christmas vacation. I got a huge taste of stay-at-home momdom and it is awesome. I need to figure out a way to stay at home and still collect a pay check.... Don't we all? :)

Mom and Dad finally bought a new couch for the cabin. We all wish we could bring it home and put it in our living rooms. Meg and Annie tested it out while Q and I went to the Brand'in Iron Restaurant for his work Christmas party. Thank heavens for Meg, her complete devotion to Annie, and Annie's absolute love of Meg. Built in baby-sitter. Mom was right. When I was a teen and "stuck" watching my little brothers and sister, mom would always say one day I'd be glad I had them to pay me back for all that babysitting. Boy am I ever!

Annie could care less if she matches...
...and I should care less too. Clean, warm, and ready for story time
after a long day of mom gone at work is all that matters.