There's always a little sadness when it's time to take down the Christmas tree. The house just loses a little of its luster without stockings on the mantle, lights around the entertainment center, and big red and green bows on all my indoor plants. But I'm very happy to say this has been a wonderful, relaxing, and memorable Christmas! Zaylee would get up in the mornings and point to the tree and say "ights," reminding me it's time to light up the tree. She tried to peek at a few presents that were under the tree early. I tried to explain to her that we don't touch them until Christmas, so then when Christmas finally came, she was totally confused when I told her to rip into them. One of her favorites right now is "uh oh" and she said that a few times while we were opening gifts like we were doing something wrong.
A lot of cool things happened this Christmas that made it extra special. On Christmas Eve, we got a winter storm here in Oklahoma, which covered our yard and made snow drifts up to three feet against our house and fence! Thankfully, Robbie had the afternoon off before the storm arrived, and once it began we were all stuck together inside, playing, baking, and just enjoying being together. That night, right before Zaylee went to sleep, we read the Christmas story together from Luke 2. Zaylee sat on my lap and listened to me read like it was the greatest story she's ever heard in her life. It really touched my heart since this is the girl who rarely sits still for more than 30 seconds, let alone quiet and listening, all cuddled up in my lap. What a sweet memory! After I finished, she was like, "Is that it? Read it again!" I'll have to make more of a habit of reading short Bible stories to her at bedtime. She loved it!
Christmas Day reminded me so much of what Christmas was like when I was a kid - lazy, laid back, and full of fun. We didn't have anywhere to go (and really couldn't go, since the snow still covered the ground), we kept our jammies on all morning, took our time eating breakfast, and then opened all our gifts and stockings with Christmas music playing in the background. Zaylee still wasn't really keen on opening gifts, but I think she really enjoyed what she got afterward - a little basketball, some cute new outfits, and a Little People House. We spent the rest of the day playing with our new toys (Robbie got a PS3) and going out in the snow.
It was perfect weather to go play in the snow - not windy, not too cold, and clear, sunny skies. This was the first time Zaylee had ever seen snow, so she didn't know what to think at first. She had fun slipping on the ice and having mommy "skate" her around on it. Our neighbor boys even came over from across the street and had a snowball fight with Robbie as he was shoveling off the driveway.
Good food, good family time, snow,... I felt like we got the whole package this year. And that was just the beginning of it because our parents would be arriving from Indiana on Sunday and Monday after Christmas. We had so much fun together! Initially, I was a little nervous about being claustrophobic in our little house with 7 adults and a baby, but I now know I had nothing to worry about. We played games, watched Zaylee open more gifts, played the Wii (which was my big surprise!), ate a lot of great food, and just enjoyed our time together. Zaylee got a new little kitchen complete with dishes and utensils, a tent with a tunnel attached, and a little tricycle, among many other fun gifts. By the end of it all, our whole living room had transformed into a giant playroom for Zaylee! We all got a kick out of watching the "grandmas" battle each other in tennis on the Wii. Robbie even got knocked out by his mom in boxing! I pulled off my first official Christmas dinner for the family with help from my mom - honeyed ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, sauteed carrots, green bean casserole, rolls, and pumpkin pie. Yum!
Robbie's birthday was on Thursday (New Year's Eve), so we took him out to eat at Crabtown the night before. Then on Thursday, he opened gifts and got his delicious "funfetti" birthday cake. And then on Friday morning, our family headed home.
I went to bed every night completely exhausted from all the fun we'd had during the day, but it was a really fulfilled, tired feeling. Almost more fun than I could take in one week! ^_^ All in all, it was a very Merry Christmas for all of us!
Two of Zaylee's favorites - her mommy and her kitty!
Wow! Look what Santa brought!
Whenever we tell Zaylee to smile, she lifts up her shirt and shows us her belly - what a silly girl!
Presents on Christmas morning
Zaylee's Little People House
Getting ready to go out in the snow for the first time. Zaylee looks like a big pink marshmallow!
In the snow with Daddy
Pushing Bunny in the snow
One of Zaylee's cute new outfits
Zaylee and her second cousin, Savannah, watching "Dora the Explorer" on their own personal TV (the Colts game took precedence on the big TV last Sunday).
Zaylee and her Uncle "Bubby" dressed up in their Christmas outfits. She loves her Bubby!
I got this precious outfit (shoes, bow, dress, and all) at Once Upon a Child for less than $20! Isn't she a doll?
Opening her stocking gifts at Memaw and Papaw Hudson's house. She loved the pink "puffer ducky."
I think Zaylee resembles her "Meme" a lot in this picture!
Zaylee and her third cousins: Spencer and Vada!
Smile for Santa!
Being silly with Bubby is a lot of fun!
After a big day of presents and fun, Zaylee decided she wanted to "make a bed" in the living room at Memaw and Papaw Hudson's house for herself and her friend, Tigger.
Zaylee and Mommy
Our second week in Indiana brought 4+ inches of fun snow! This is only the second time Zaylee has been in the snow and she LOVED it! We practiced throwing snowballs and making snow angels. She also liked to name the shapes I could make with my footprints in the snow. Such a happy girl!
"Look Mommy, a snow ball!!"
Putting up the tree at Meme and Pappy's house
So far, Zaylee has been a big help this Christmas! She loved helping with the tree, and wrapping presents was even more fun. I would let her pick out and stick on the bows for all the packages, then she would take them and put them under the tree for me. What a good little elf-in-training! 
