We had a wonderful Christmas this year, stretching out over the span of 2 weeks, including celebrations with both families. Because we would be spending Christmas in Appleton this year (and Katie and Brian would be in Omaha), we celebrated with the Giese side of the family a week early. Juliana was in GREAT spirits and really enjoyed the gifts (from passing them out, to tearing off the paper to reveal the surprise!) She REALLY loves her gifts from Aunt Katie and Uncle Brian: a baby doll high chair, swing and pack n play! Babies are her life right now, so it is great to have more "accessories" for her to act out real life:) Her other real fascination is doing puzzles, so she really enjoyed her 2 new puzzles (a bus and a fire truck, no less!) from Grandma and Grandpa AND a place to store all these puzzles! She entertained us all with carols throughout the evening and also loved watching the fire "go pop!"
Me and Grandpa G. (don't I look old?!)
Hmmm....what could be in here for me?
Wow, a bed for my baby!
These Christmas friends kept me company at dinner:)
A big family picture (notice how I am the CENTER of everything?!)Then we headed up to Appleton to visit with the Filapek side of the family for several days. We enjoyed lots of quality time together with a Christmas Eve dinner and gift opening at Julie and Steve's, a Christmas day brunch at Laurel's and then a visit to the Marcos Lane theatre at Jim's place, complete with concessions:) Juliana LOVED following around her older cousins, Lily and Sylvia and was especially pleased to get to sit at the "big girl's table" for meals this time! She and Caroline also had a great time sharing toys together. She got some really fun presents, including a Barbie tent and birthday cake and pizza play food sets! It was a great visit and we can't wait to see everyone again soon.
Santa did manage to find me in Wisonsin to bring me a stocking full of goodies! He even gave me 1 little train with a note that he left a BIG surprise at my house!
The big girl's table at last!
The big girl's table at last!
Movie time at Marcos Ln. theatresThen after a long day of driving , we celebrated our own Christmas at home. Guess who came while we were gone? SANTA!! Santa came through on Juliana's wishes, but it wasn't the big train set that first caught her eye (how could she miss that?!!!)....it was.....well, why don't you watch it all unfold for yourself:) Again, it's the little things right?
She got tons of presents from us (well, you know me....I tend to go a little overboard!...but I got great deals on all of them:) and it was great fun to watch her face light up with each present she opened! She got a tea set (with really annoying music that we may just have to disenable!), a Little People amusement park (which might be her favorite gift!), some lacing beads, a whole dress-up trunk (she could care less though after all my hard work gathering it all....maybe next year!), lots of books and a few other smaller things. One of her favorite parts was seeing what Santa had put in her 2 stockings!! Joe says we need to throw away half her stuff because it's embarassing how much she has! Of course, I say that there are lots of kids who have much more;) At least we have a basement to store it all in (although there is NEVER enough room!) Here are just a few pictures of our family celebration.
Look what I got in my stocking!
Wheeeeee!
...and this is only part of it!For Juliana, it really was all about the little things: the wind-up Santa, the cupcakes, some stickers and some colored pencils! We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas yourselves and that YOU were able to sit back and enjoy some of the little things. May 2010 be full of happiness and maybe a few surprises for us all:) Happy New Year!
Love, Beth, Joe and Juliana
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