Everyday Eddins: Run, Run Rudolph!

To say we were busy this Christmas season is an understatement! We have been going non-stop since Friday morning! I got all of the wrapping done on Thursday, just in time! I took the day off to finalize everything and prepare for the busy weekend.

Friday morning found my Mom, Terry, Jason, Jen, Celia & Ruby all at the house for our annual Christmas Eve gathering. We spent some much needed time catching up and had a very nice breakfast before the kids dove into the presents!

I should mention, Lila wasn't feeling that great!

Lila got a personalized "Anywhere Chair" from Pottery Barn Kids from my Mom & Terry! She had tried one out at our friends house and didn't leave it for most of the night, so we knew that this had to be on her list! Not only has it been a hit for her, but Baxter seems to think it looks pretty cozy too!

Ruby, our niece, is 3 years old and wants nothing more in the world than to be a veterinarian when she grows up. We got her a vet set that was equipped with everything, including these hilarious glasses...not sure why the kit has glasses, but either way, it was pretty cute watching the girls put them on!

Jason and Jen got Lila some musical instruments to go along with Kindermusik classes that Lila will be attending every Monday morning with her Aunt Jen for a few months! She loved the instruments and we know she will absolutely love the class!

Uh-oh! I think we forgot to open a very special present...

Santa wrapped up Ruby!

After the morning events we loaded up and headed to Monticello to spend the late afternoon/evening with the Zumbach side of the family. We had quite the snow fall on Friday, so it made for a slower trip, but it was so pretty out, so we didn't mind spending a little bit more time in the car!

It is always so nice spending time with everyone as we don't get to see them that often. We always enjoy catching up with everyone and seeing Mike's grandmother. This year was bittersweet as it has been a year since the family lost Albert, Mike's grandpa. All in all the family is doing very well, but Albert's presence was definitely missed.

Alas! Christmas morning was upon us! Mike and I were a bit fearful that we would have to wake Lila up to open presents. She was tuckered from all of the festivities the day before! Once awake, she was up and raring to go! We had been looking forward to opening presents with her for weeks!

We will have to send a note to Santa to not leave a baby doll in Lila's stocking again next year, while it was very thoughtful of him, it was so exciting to her that she really could care less about everything else he brought her!

What's in this peculiar looking package?!

Why, it is an old school shape sorter, just like Mommy & Daddy used to have!!!

Lots and lots of toys, clothes galore and her very own table and chairs and an indoor/outdoor slide to play with...this little girl was clearly on Santa's GOOD list!

Even the puppies joined in on the gift opening! I might have to let Santa know that they are usually more on the naughty side than the nice side! BUT...we love them anyway!

Happy Dogs!

After our morning at home we loaded the family sleigh up with presents and headed to my Dad's house. I am pretty sure they have the BIGGEST tree in Cedar Rapids, no kidding!

They had to saw some of the top off to get it to fit!

Eddins Family - Christmas 2010!

Once again, lots of great gifts from Grandpa and Laura! On a funny note...a very similar baby to the one that was in Lila's stocking at home was in her stocking at Grandpa's house too! Once again, NOT much interest in anything else!

She did get some doll accesories like a high chair, crib, food, etc. that she was happy to include in her playtime up there! But Mom & Dad had to open pretty much everything for her because she was busy!

We had one more stop on our Christmas Day travels, my grandparents in Strawberry Point. We got there mid-afternoon, just in time for presents to be opened. We were thrilled to present my grandparents with a large gift card from all of us to help them put new flooring in their new place in Arizona! It was awesome to see the look of surprise on their faces! They head south the day after Christmas and won't be back until April. We usually see them in January when we head to Arizona, but this year we decided to stick close to home. We will miss them dearly, but will be sure to keep in touch and will see them when they come back home around Easter! And we can't wait to hear all about the progress on their new flooring!

Last, but not least was our Eddins Christmas today! We let Lila get a good nap in to recharge her batteries for our last celebration. We spent the better part of the day enjoying a delicious dinner, opening presents and spending time together.

Considering this was Lila's 7th Christmas in a week, she was still taking it all in stride! She enjoyed opening the first few presents including an International Harvester tractor, just like her Great Grandpa Wayne had on the farm!

It wasn't long though before she had, had enough of the opening and was using the presents as climbing toys! Whatever! As long as she was having fun and had a smile on her face, right?!

This time of year is truly one of my favorites, even though we are so busy. The traditions that Mike and I both have from when we were young, the traditions we have made, the two of us, over the 12 years we have been together and now the traditions we are starting to make within our own little family make all the running around worth it and are what the season is all about. The presents are all wonderful, but at the end of the day, it is the people that you make the exchange with that are the true gifts!