Christmas!

This was the first year that I had to deal with not having the girls on Christmas Day.  I wasn't sure how I was going to manage not having them around, but since I was able to get the judge to allow me to keep the girls on Christmas Eve until early Christmas Day, Ken and I decided that we would have all of our celebration on Christmas Eve.  The boys were told our plans, and they decided to join us.


Ken and I planned our supper:  glazed spiral ham, garlic and lemon green beans, garlic mashed potatoes, corn, and sweet rolls.  I also couldn't wait to try the Carina Cellars Grenache Blanc with the meal.  


We spent the morning just relaxing and enjoying ourselves.  I started cooking at 1330, and they boys showed up a little before 4pm.  It was a complete miracle, but everything was ready within 5 minutes, and supper was served.

Table is set and ready

(once again, I am behind the camera and not in the picture)

I am pleased to say that I received many compliments on the meals.  Ken couldn't believe that I was eating green beans, but they were really good.  Everyone was sufficiently full, but there was still plenty of food to enjoy throughout the night.

The boys did the majority of the cleaning - what a Christmas present!

The evening plan was to read The Polar Express, watch the movie, and then play the game.  Unfortunately, Jordan was starting to get very sleepy after the movie, so we decided to open gifts before midnight, and the mele began:

Handing out the gifts

Zoobles from Grandpa Koehler

Addie was enthralled with the entire process.  She was amazed and very well behaved.

Jordan was cold all night, so she kept the hood up.  Here she is with a Zooble from Grandpa Koehler

Taylor and Mandy both received these from Ken and me.  I'm looking forward to quiet car rides in 2011!

The boys holding their gifts

The girls got Ken the rifle case he wanted

I couldn't find a bottle of Very Old Bardstown, but I found Bourbon glasses for Ken

Jordan got Ken a Santa mug complete with hot cocoa packet and marshmallows

I got a wine glass with some very fragrant potpurri

No, I don't think I got one picture of Justin with a "normal" face

Ken reading his Date of the Month Club gift from me

Teapot for loose leaf tea!  Yes!!!

Recurve bow case

The aftermath

The family gift was the Kinect for the Xbox.  This was a purchase that we made not knowing how it would be.  Ken and I had heard so much about it, and we had chosen not to get a Wii, but the Kinect uses the whole body in the game rather than a wand.  None of the kids seemed totally excited about the Kinect, but we didn't set it up for them either.  


(We did get a visit from the Sheriff's department.  Apparently, the girls' dad didn't pay attention to the minute orders from the last court date, so he had driving up here in Holiday/Vegas traffic for nothing.  It was an interesting time for our holiday celebration, and I couldn't help but giggle.)


At midnight, we celebrated Christmas with glasses of cider for the children and champagne for Ken and me.  The boys helped out with some final preparations for Christmas morning, and then they left to get some sleep.


In the morning, the girls woke up and found that Santa had arrived.  Santa was only able to deliver one gift for each girl at our house since he was delivering most of the gifts to their dad's house. 

The girls weren't able to open any of their gifts since they had to get up early and get to the meeting place to see their dad.  However, the girls said that it was really kind of cool because they got to their dad's, got to open more gifts and play with them and then come home and open all of the new gifts with us.


With the girls at their dad's on Christmas Day, Ken and I were able to get the Kinect and their handheld games set up and ready to go.  We also were able to get headphones for their handhelds so we wouldn't be subjected to the sounds.  


All in all, this was a great Christmas.  Ken was so happy to have had all of the children with us, and he loved spending some alone time with me.  We enjoyed our Christmas Day alone together and made the most of our time.  The Kinect kicked our butts, but we had a great time playing it.  Actually spending time with each other was nice, and we had a very relaxing day.  This was an amazing Christmas, and we are so thankful for each other and our children.  What a blessed life we have!