Mom, Anna and I at Hardware Ranch
On the Saturday before Christmas, my mom's side of the family got together for a nice Christmas lunch. That crowd is always so crazy...there are a lot of rambunctious children! It's nice to catch up with my cousins at least once a year, though. I didn't take many photos because it was so quick, but here are my brothers and sis-in-law.
Brandon and Maday were more excited to see Anna than me...rightfully so, I guess!
The next day my dad's side of the family gathered for the annual John family Christmas party. With everyone dressed in their Christmas best, we feasted on homemade soups and salads, as well as some fabulous desserts. Thanks, Randi, for the amazing cookies! (Click here to see her web site. You won't be disappointed!) After dinner, the kids dressed up in costumes for a live nativity scene that my mom organized. What a fun new adventure! The kids were so excited, the costumes were really cute, and the audience was enthralled with the scene. There is nothing more precious than the innocence of youth. My little Anna was dressed as a lamb...definitely one of the cutest lambs I have ever seen!
Daddy had a little lamb...
Hayes and Ruth played a great Joseph and Mary...with baby Grant as baby Jesus.
The entire cast...angels, shepherds, donkeys, and all.
After the nativity, the kids all opened jammies from their Gee Gee (great grandma Bonnie). Then it was on to the adult gift exchange. It gets bigger and bigger (and a little more heated!) every year. We had a great time!My busy week continued with the ballet reunion the next day (see previous post for details). Only a few days left of last minute shopping, baking, and wrapping remained, and then Christmas Eve was here.
Getting ready in her Christmas dress...and momma's shoes...
Anna and I on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve was spent with Trav's extended family. My in-laws had to miss the festivities due to the stomach flu that had hit them hard that day. My sister-in-law actually ended up being admitted to the hospital over Christmas (stomach flu and a kidney infection are not a good combination). We still had a great time catching up with Trav's cousins and aunts and uncles. Anna could have entertained herself all night playing with the animated musical Christmas toys. 
The only sour face she pulled was when we attempted to get a picture of her and the other 2 babies. I guess she doesn't want to share the limelight.
Anna got to open one gift on Christmas Eve...her Christmas monkey jammies!
On Christmas Day we drove up to Logan to spend time with my family. Unfortunately I was unable to enjoy the traditional breakfast of grandma's eggs and mom's sticky buns...I had a queasy stomach that day. We watched Anna get spoiled by each of my siblings and my parents. She loved her new talking Elmo!
We always watch a movie after opening gifts...this year it was Up that Anna got from her uncle Brandon. What a cute movie...kind of sad, though. Laci, Maday and I all cried a few times throughout the show. Anna loves the movie, and even says "Up" several times while watching it, but her attention span is in and out for a movie. I caught Anna and my dad playing on the stairs. She is so cute with her "Buppa"!
I don't know why Christmas is so tiring, but we had the "Newman Nap" going on at my mom's...complete with baby and 2 dogs.
Anna snuggling on my brother's dog Vega. I hope her love of dogs continues.
By December 26th, the Newmans were feeling better, so we headed out to their house to celebrate Christmas. Again we watched as my daughter was spoiled by her grandparents. That entire box of gifts next to the rocking horse was for her. She got an adorable rocking horse, clothes, books, Little People playsets, and a 25th anniversary Cabbage Patch doll. (Made me feel old...I had an original Cabbage Patch doll!)
We watched Transformers 2 on blu-ray while Anna played with her toys, and had a great afternoon. Thanks to my great in-laws for being flexible even though this was their year for Christmas Day.
So what did Santa bring Anna? This darling little upholstered rocking chair with a matching ottoman and blanket. Santa splurged a little, but it sure is cute, and Anna loves it!
Watching a Baby Einstein movie in style!
It was always a tradition to lay out all of our gifts and take a picture with them...I want to continue that with Anna. Here is her Christmas loot...man, was she spoiled! The funny thing about it is her favorite gift of the entire Christmas experience was the four pack of toothbrushes in her stocking. Note all 4 toothbrushes in her hands...silly baby. 
And what did I get for Christmas? A fireplace for my front room (we have ordered it and plan to finish the front room this next year...hallelujah!), a steam mop, cute PJ's, and a very nice leather purse. Last but certainly not least, Trav surprised me with a digital SLR camera - the Nikon D5000! (That might have something to do with why I took so many pictures this Christmas!) I was shocked and thrilled that he did that for me. Thanks, honey! Now I need to take a few classes to learn how to use it...I hope everyone had a great Christmas. I will leave you with the cute pictures we had on our Christmas card this year. Happy holidays!
Thanks for hanging in there...this was a very long post!
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