We are enjoying the lull between Christmas and New Year's after a few busy days of seeing family and celebrating the holidays. On Christmas Eve, Boomer and I snuck in a matinee movie just the two of us to see Spider Man. He was very excited about the latest Marvel movie...and I was very excited about popcorn and a date. After the movie, we came back to my parents' house where the kiddos were hanging out. The Houstons joined for our usual Christmas Eve hors d'oeuvres, and we watched the Jim Carey version of The Grinch. The adults got to open their presents, and the grandchildren got to open one present from Grammy and Grandpa. Each of them got a framed Bible verse to hang in their rooms. The biggest excitement of the evening came when Emmy lost her first tooth! A couple of weeks ago, I noticed an adult tooth poking through behind her baby tooth. I contacted the dentist because I was concerned about overcrowding in her mouth. The dentist said not to worry and to keep watching the tooth and gums. Sure enough, a few days later, the tooth felt loose. However, I didn't think it would happen so soon; I thought I still had a little longer before having to play the Tooth Fairy. Boomer took her to the bathroom to wiggle it some more, and it wasn't a few minutes later that Emmy came back with a tooth in her hand and a space in her smile. Boomer said she was so brave and didn't even shed a tear. We hustled home to prepare for both Santa and the Tooth Fairy.
The Tooth Fairy must have hitched a ride with Santa because on Christmas morning, Emmy found money under her pillow - a whole dollar! After putting her coins in her piggy bank, we then went downstairs to see if there were any other surprises. Santa gave Emmy a Starbelly, a light-up stuffed animal that projects stars onto the ceiling in the dark. Eli got a set of blocks and more "zoom zooms." Santa was very practical with gifts in their stockings: character Band-Aids and toothpaste. After getting dressed, we headed over to the Houstons' for breakfast and more presents. Santa visited Grammy and Grandpa's house, too, and filled their stockings with goodies. In addition to the frames from Christmas Eve, Grammy and Grandpa also gave Emmy a personalized memory set, notebook, and placemat, plus a Paw Patrol board game and daily kids devotional; for Eli - also a placemat, Hot Wheels cars, a Christmas book, a football, and a little brother shirt.
A little before noon, we left Kernersville to head to Star. We had some downtime with Paw Paw, Granny, and Kyle before the rest of the Kennedys arrived around 3:30PM. When they arrived, it was an epic marathon of present-opening. Emmy loved her very first gift, a Barbie camper. She liked it so much that it was hard to get her to stop playing to open another present! Uncle Goosie helped put all the stickers on it. From Granny and Paw Paw, Emmy got a personalized pillowcase, a Christmas doll, and Magic Ink coloring books. Eli got a magnetic drawing pad, more Hot Wheels with a carrying case, and a Paw Patrol towel set. After all the presents were opened, we had a big meal of steak, chicken, and cocktail shrimp with all the side dishes. We stayed a little longer, but then it was getting late. I had packed the kids' pajamas so that we could change them before driving back home. Both kiddos fell asleep along the ride, but before falling asleep, Emmy insisted on using her Starbelly, which lit up the backseat like a disco!
We've continued to work on potty training. I would probably not recommend doing this task during the holidays. For most of the break, Eli has been pant-less but in big-boy underwear. On Christmas Day, there were several accidents, wardrobe changes, and deep breaths. I had definitely forgotten how hard this part of parenting is. But then, just when I am ready to throw in the towel, we'll have a success or a sweet moment like this one...
...so we will keep trying and not give up yet! This evening we did our final Christmas tradition of Starbucks and then driving through the Tanglewood lights. Somehow both kiddos ended up in the front seat with us before the end of the ride.
I always like to include the annual Kennedy ornament and Christmas card. Both had a similar theme this year: Disney!
One last final memory from this Christmas season has been listening to the kids sing along to the Christmas carols, especially the ones they have learned at church. Emmy has memorized so many, and Eli in his own way will join in. Hearing their sweet voices singing about baby Jesus is a reminder of the real reason for the season.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
- Luke 2:11
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