Christmas 2009

Well, it's pretty dead at work today and it's unfortunate I'm AT work the week after Christmas but this will actually at least allow me some time to update the blog.

Last week was, of course, busy busy busy! Well, really from Saturday the 19th on it was! We had a party that night at our house and we had a lot of fun, but we spent most of the day cleaning and running and cooking. We had a great group of people come and play games with us, talk eat and enjoy each other's company. There were even other little ones for Ben to play with! Here he is with Addison!

Monday Ben wasn't feeling too good and had thrown up at the daycare. It wasn't a lot, he's just been really congested and it was mostly that stuff. Either way, he had a low grade fever so when we got home I sat and held him and he squirmed out of my arms and down to the floor on a pillow and fell right asleep. He slept there for about an hour and then woke up and we took him to my room on the bed and gave him some apple sauce and some crackers and had him take it easy on my bed. He rested on my bed and played and read books while I cleaned up our room. And then he eventually fell back asleep. I mean it's hard not to, our bed is WONDERFUL.

Tuesday was a crazy day. I had a wedding to take pictures at that night, so Ryan's mom agreed to pick up and watch Ben that night because Ryan usually comes with me to help and/or shoot candids if we happen to have an extra camera. Unfortunately because Ben hadn't been feeling good the day before- right about 4pm I got a call saying we needed to pick him up because he had a fever. The poor little dude. Luckily she was able to go get him and he got lots of Nana & Poppy love and broke his fever while he was sleeping and when we came to pick him up he was a sleepy sweaty little balled up dude! After that, besides a littel cough, he's been feeling fine. I still wonder though when those darn teeth are going to come in! And let me tell you what, I will be SO glad when it's all over with! No one really warned me about the kid getting teething for like almost 2 years! I only thought that was a baby thing! UGH!
My parents flew in from UT on Wednesday night. The flight went well for them and they arrived here safe and sound and even a few minutes early! We went straight home, except for a quick stop at Little Cesar's and ate and visited until we were all too pooped to stay awake anymore. Our plan for Christmas was to do a Collier Christmas on Christmas Eve- with our traditional dinner and other family traditions we've done my growing up years, like reading "The Christmas Whale" and the story of the birth of Christ, and opening up one present. Christmas Day we planned to continue the Collier thing in the morning and then all of us go to The Smith's for the rest of the day and have dinner there and open presents from that side of the family. Well, the plan worked out pretty nicely. Christmas Eve I was lucky enough to get the day off, and that morning we had to run some errands and pick up some extra food and then we went back to the house and mom cooked and dad played with Ben lots and me and Ryan helped and just hung out. Ben has a ball with "Papa" (he can't quite say Grandpa yet) and Grandma. Even in their old age (ha, ha!) they can still run around and play with him. They were both worried he wouldn't really know who they were and be standoffish, but Ben took to my dad right away- even the night we picked them up. It's probably because he was wearing a silly hat and Ben digs hats. :) Anyway, Delinda & Jen had come in to town for the Holiday and came over early evening and we ended up eating at around 7. The food was delicious and perfect. I made Cornbread Sausage stuffing for Ryan, which was delicious. Ryan made the reindeer brownies, mom make the Yorkshire pudding pictured next to the stuffing in the oven below, we had roast beef and potatoes and salad and trifle and everything was just yummy. But because we ate later Delinda and Jen had to go to her parents house right after dinner and Ben was pretty much ready for bed after that- so we didn't get around to reading or opening a present together... which was okay. Just missed. We did get to watch a little of the Nutcracker on TV though, and Ben enjoyed it while dancing with his deflated floaties on. So random!This is my cute nativity set I got for SUPER cheap online! Joseph's staff was broken, but super glue came to the rescue!

Christmas morning we opened gifts of course, this really being the first year Ben understood that when he tore the paper there was a treat inside! We had to show him how to do it and then he got excited when ANYONE opened a present and wanted to help them too. I'm afraid his grandparents spoiled him a little, but isn't that what grandparents are for?
This is how excited Ryan was to get Ramen in his stocking... but hey! That's his favorite flavor!Look, I was tired okay?We plan on taking some of the things he hasn't yet played with and storing them away until a birthday or something like that. One little dude who is perfectly content playing with a pitcher and a wooden spoon does not need 100 Hot Wheels and lots of other toys! We really want him to appreciate and respect his toys and his "things" and not to get too greedy. Anyway, after breakfast and playing some Wii (Ryan got me the Wii Sports Resort game that I was SO excited about) and Kidder (my sister's dog) throwing up LARGE amounts on my carpet and all of us laughing about it and all of us almost gagging.... we went to Ryan's parents house minus Delinda. Ryan's sister Kelly and her family were there, along with Uncle Tony as well. More presents were opened, one of which we gave Ryan's parents that turned out to be a tear jerker for my mother in-law! I found a frame that said "Grandchildren are a blessing" and it had 8- 4x6 frames that surrounded the saying and a couple months ago met up with Ryan's sister and her family and took pictures of all the kids individually and together plus a photo of their whole family together and the one of our little family in Chicago. Their family hasn't had a "family photo" since their first was born so it was good for everyone to have! Here Ben is with his cousins on Ryan's side of the family, and then his sister's family.We ate spaghetti and lasagna, Ben even got to eat at the big kid table this year! And then we enjoyed each others company. Ben blew blow fish face on the door out to porch room which was funny. And we even got a picture of our dude with all of his grandparents! Look how blessed he is!
It was a wonderful Christmas and we are very lucky to have had my parents here this year! What a treat for us! It was the best present I could have gotten and did get, and love them so much for making the sacrifice to come out here. They leave in just a few days so we are relishing the time left with them. There will be more pictures to come from the rest of their visit I'm sure!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2010 here we come!