We tried to prep Maddie for the big day. We talked about Baby Jesus and we talked about Santa Claus and we even watched the Grinch on TV. I'm not sure any of it sank in, but she's still young and there is time.
I really wanted to incorporate some of Frank's German traditions into our holiday. I found a recipe for Spiced Mulled Wine (Gluehwein) and we enjoyed it with cheese fondue on Christmas Eve. Frank's family traditionally ate fondue for Christmas Eve dinner. His family also exchanged presents on Christmas Eve, while my family sometimes opened just one. We opened one present each on Christmas Eve this year.
The Gluehwein was amazingly good -- too good!
Maddie's favorite fondue-dipped food was the mushroom!!??
I have been planning for months to give Maddie her first doll. Frank made the doll a wooden bed and I made an attempt to make the doll a matching blanket, pillow, etc. We were pretty proud of our efforts and hope when she gets older, she'll want to pass it along to her little girl (or boy). We wrapped everything except the doll lying in the bed. We were hoping for a magical Christmas moment when she came into the room.
Her eyes lit up when she say the doll and she snatched it out of the doll bed and hugged it and smiled. I'm not sure who was more excited, me or her.
Prompting her to open the other wrapped presents was challenging. What could possibly be better than this bald shoeless wonder in pajamas?? But after a break for sweet potato pancakes and pecan butter -- YUM! -- we "helped" her open the rest of her presents.
Hippo and mouse hand puppets from Oma and Opa were a hit!
Feeding the baby doll.
It's never too early to learn banjo. Now Daddy and Maddie can play together.
Note the way cool doggie sweater!
A cool lap tray from Grandma and Grandaddy. No more lost toys while riding in the car!
Santa was good to all of us, as they say. We hung out at home all day and snacked and played. It was just a wonderful, memorable day. The first Christmas we have ever spent at our house.
On Dec. 26, we headed to see my parents and have our family Christmas with them. We had an awesome lunch followed by the gift exchange.
Maddie's Aunt Melissa styled her hair with too many pigtails to count!
Daddy even made Sillybub, a family favorite. A liquid and foam concoction that contains homemade wine, some kind of whipped topping and ...... I think that's all! He swears he didn't add the homemade wine until after he served Maddie. But from her smile and slurping, it was hard to know for sure....
On December 27, we went to Maddie's Great Grandma's house on our way out of town. We stayed longer than planned, but Maddie was having loads of fun and we don't see that side of the family often. Lots of family stopped by and the house filled up quickly.
Such a warm day that Maddie found her way outside, with Great Uncle Michael. I think he has a soft spot for her. They played in the leaves and played chase. She had a blast!
No child was harmed during the swinging, although we think Janet pulled her back!
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