Here’s the entire photoset from Christmas, and here are my favorites from that day:

Spiffy new lens filter!

Alyssa and Ryan made out like bandits not only from us, but from their relatives (can you believe that Dan’s aunt spent several days visiting stores, calling stores, and checking online before waltzing into a Toys ‘r Us and managing to find not one but two Fijits?!). From us (I probably missed a few things):
Alyssa: room decor (fuzzy rainbow pillow with a big sparkly “A” on the front, and one of those hot pink gauzey bed canopies); a unicorn/pink castle Happy Napper; a Hello Kitty stationery set; an iPad with a hot pink cover (yes, really); rainbow soccer ball (from Ryan); Angry Birds game; messenger bag decorating kit; dessert maker; FurReal Friends playset.

Ryan: Zhu Zhu pets; Legos table with Legos (well, the generic Target version, but whatevs. For all intents and purposes they’re Legos. If it walks like a duck…); a 34-piece animal set featuring dinosaurs, large animals, trees, and mountains; a small wooden treasure chest; train track with mountain set; suspension bridge that is compatible with his train tracks; Angry Birds Bean Toss game; bouncy ball creation kit; Spongebob Chia Pet; today’s cheap-o version of the original Marble Works (I had one as a kid – back in my days they were actual glass marbles, not cheap plastic balls!).

My brother: Nintendo 3DS; Video Game Rocker (technically shared with Ryan since they share a bedroom, but Ryan isn’t interested in it); USB-powered electronic keyboard/piano; Battleship game (also shared with Alyssa and Ryan); Wipeout 2 for the Nintendo Wii (also shared with Alyssa and Ryan); leather bomber jacket; Nintendo controller t-shirt; Playboy cologne; new stereo-quality headphones; some cash.

I gave Dan a wool pea coat with a coordinating cashmere scarf, a cute little “You are awesome!” calendar, a 9-pc sample cologne set from Sephora, and a Mr. Beer Deluxe Beer Brewing Kit (that didn’t arrive until today). Dan gave me a nifty 8-light-point star filter for my camera lenses, a cute blue winter hat with little pom-poms on either side, a Scottish cashmere scarf, a spiffy lime green scarf, Victoria’s Secret’s Dream Angels “Halo” lotion, a gorgeous sterling silver, diamond and ruby necklace that says “I AM LOVED” (and the “O” is a ruby!), and the best gift that’s unfortunately on back order and thus won’t arrive until the week of the 9th – a Nikon D7000. From Dan’s family he and I received Lindt chocolates, gift cards ($75 in Applebee’s gift cards alone, eesh!), and an awesome heated shiatsu massage pillow that Dan has promptly commandeered (considering he’s the one who had a broken neck, I can’t entirely blame him, heh).

After cleaning up the 2011 Christmas Morning Explosion and feeding the kids breakfast (thawed and microwaved pancakes instead of waffles because I realized at 10:46pm on Christmas Eve that I had no eggs, maple-flavored sausage, and cinnamon rolls), we relaxed for a few hours, then headed out to visit Dan’s aunt and uncle, C and B, and exchange gifts with them, and with Dan’s brother K and his wife L, and Dan’s other brother C. We picked some really awesome gifts this year, and got some really nice ones in return!

Alyssa grabbed a quick cat nap during the car ride.

My sister-in-law, L, and I.

I just want to squeeze the cuteness out of them!

My new favorite photo of Dan and I.

Cue more heaps of toys for the kids:
Alyssa: Hello Kitty cosmetic set; Fijit, necklace; bubblegum-scented stickers
Ryan: Spiderman Walkie-Talkies; Fijit; remote-controlled ATV & driver set; remote-controlled Thomas the Tank Engine
My brother: Gift cards; thermal shirt; awesome chocolates (which I may or may not have snagged a few of, heh)

Last but not least, we made our way to Dan’s aunt N and uncle T (we were part of a 3-car convoy, since his brothers and L went too), where we also met up with his two sisters, his uncle B, and his cousin A. Sadly we didn’t stay very long (no more than an hour or so) and I don’t remember a lot of details, nor did I take a lot of pictures, because a very excruciating attack of abdominal pain came on, right after I drank about a third of a glass of super yummylicious (note to self: buy some!) chocolate wine, of course, so empty stomach + wine (even a small amount) + 1/2 of a prescription pain pill = ultra out-of-it and woozy Jenn. It was bad. We left, Dan drove us home while I was half-gasping for breath and half wishing I would just die already, and then he put me to bed, where I laid, miserable, for a good half an hour until I was able to fall asleep.

Anyway! Back to the good: more food, more presents, more awesome loving family. ♥

And another small heap of toys for the kids, of course:
Alyssa: one of those overpriced walking/yipping stuffed dogs
Ryan: a really neat rounded lime green remote-controlled car which is clearly his favorite of the three he received for Christmas
My brother: gift cards

And then we came home, as I said above. And when I woke up yesterday, I had three hours worth of toy un-packaging, assembling, organizing, and cleaning up after to face. Oy.

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Some pictures from yesterday (early dinner & gift exchange with my mom and other brother), and from tonight (stockings! Christmas tree! Bokeh goodness!):

I’m off to take a shower and get in bed, because Christmas morning is going to come bright and early (or just early, if Ryan throws us all out of bed at 6am). Goodnight everyone! Merry Christmas!

Thank you for subscribing to Jenn.nu's RSS feed! ♥ Jenn | Flickr: kiss-my-kitty | Twitter: @kissmykitty

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real all the way! Needle shedding can be a pain, but some types of trees are better than others.

3. When do you put up the tree?
For a while we were doing it the first weekend of December, but now I’m all about doing it the weekend after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?
The first weekend after Christmas, though we’ll usually try to leave it up until New Year’s Day. By then I’m just done with Christmas and I want to rip it all down, haha.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Nope. But in eggnog’s defense I haven’t tried any since I was a child, so maybe I’ll give it another go.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Barbie roller skates! I still remember going out skating in them on Christmas Day.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Ryan. And we not only have to think of gifts for him for us to buy, but we have to give ideas to family members and friends, too.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
Alyssa. She’s such a girly girl and she loves typical girly girl stuff.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
No.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail. When it comes to holiday cards, email is just tacky.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
One of those $5 beauty baskets from Walmart.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Home Alone. :D

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Summertime, heh.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Ham. I really hope one of Dan’s aunts makes it tomorrow!

16. Lights on the tree?
Oh heck yeah! The more the merrier.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Third Day’s version of Do You Hear What I Hear is amazing (though it’s hard for me to listen to it without crying, because I played it a lot during the week that my grandmother was dying). And Sarah McLachlan’s The First Noel is just so beautiful… it seriously brings tears to my eyes.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
In the past I didn’t mind running around all day to visit relatives, but now that we have kids and an exhausting Christmas morning to get through, I’m all for staying home whenever possible. We did last year, and it was awesome! This year we’re going out, but only to two places.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Cupid, Comet, and Blitzen. Is that all of them? LOL. And Wiki Answers says yes!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star. And a sparkly one at that!

21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning?
This year we started giving the kids and each other stockings on Christmas Eve, but we save the actual present opening for Christmas morning. I can’t imagine doing presents on Christmas Eve and then doing nothing on Christmas Day, when the entire world is exploding in wrapping paper and toys and squeals of delight!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Last-minute shoppers who give the poor, haggard retail store employees a hard time. Dude, it’s not the checkout girl’s fault that you didn’t start your shopping months or even weeks ago.

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color?
Rainbow. :D Though this year I’m rather partial to pink. ;)

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Ham, scalloped potatoes, and a green bean casserole.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
A Nikon D7000.

Thank you for subscribing to Jenn.nu's RSS feed! ♥ Jenn | Flickr: kiss-my-kitty | Twitter: @kissmykitty

Hot chocolate, egg nog or mulled wine?
Sugar-free hot chocolate with a splash of Godiva’s white chocolate liquor, and extra miniature marshmallows.

When do you put your decorations up?
The weekend after Thanksgiving.

What are you having for Christmas dinner?
I’m not sure yet, since we’re eating with Dan’s aunt and uncle, but when I find out, I’ll let you know.

What’s your favourite Christmas tradition?
Picking out a Christmas tree from a Christmas tree farm, then hauling it home and decorating it.

Have you ever gone carol singing?
No, but we’ve been the recipient of carol singers, which is pretty cool!

When did you discover the truth about Santa?
To be honest, I don’t remember. I do know that by the time I was seven or eight, I knew it was my mom that gave me presents, and not Santa Claus.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
We use 4-5 strands of lights (starting next year I want to load it up with ten or more!), 5-6 strands of garland, and a variety of sparkly, shiny and matte ornaments (balls), along with a few homemade ornaments from our kids. We usually go with a color-based theme. Two years ago we did blue and silver, last year was rainbow (seriously, it looked like a Skittles factory threw up all over our tree), and this year is pink, silver, and white. Next year we’re going for blue, green, and silver.

All I want for Christmas is…
A Nikon D7000.

Thank you for subscribing to Jenn.nu's RSS feed! ♥ Jenn | Flickr: kiss-my-kitty | Twitter: @kissmykitty

Today is December 23rd, and the seven year anniversary of my grandmother’s death. I miss her so much… I sat in my car this morning at the post office and cried for a good ten minutes before I was able to compose myself and drive home.

On top of everything – work, sick kids, various appointments for various kids, my grief – there’s been the madness associated with preparing for Christmas. For the second year in a row Dan sprung the need for a bazillion dozen cookies and half of a bazillion dozen treat bags and a half of a mere dozen gifts for people he works with. Fsdghfsdgs!@##!#!@ So help me God next year I will take care of the bazillion cookies and half of a bazillion treat bags and half of a dozen gifts myself, weeks in advance, and come the day he needs them, I’ll just prep him on what “he” got for people.

But Christmas, oh Christmas, my beloved Christmas, we are ready for you! BRING IT!

Thank you for subscribing to Jenn.nu's RSS feed! ♥ Jenn | Flickr: kiss-my-kitty | Twitter: @kissmykitty