Christmas Day

There are 32 pictures in this post. Just FYI.

Here is our annual Bayberry candle. We lit it Christmas Eve and it lasted all night. Here was our little festive area for Christmas morning. We pretty much set it up after Joanna went to bed. We had this little tree already put together in the garage and just trimmed it with ornaments and things we were given this year. My plan for undecorating for Christmas is to put all the holiday things that are out in a bin with everthing else already stored. No sorting, organizing, or labeling. That is for next year. I always keep my decorations up until Epiphany (Jan. 6). It makes me happy. I don't like for Christmas to be over so fast.

Joanna ended up sleeping until about 8:30. After waking up and getting a new diaper, she was ready for the festivities!

She'd already received a visit from Great Grandma and Great Uncle Mark the day before with some goodies -- is this child spoiled, or what?!

"Now which stocking is mine?"

"Hmmmm... I'm sure this one's for me!"One of the first gifts out of the box was a little umbrella stroller from Auntie Kathryn. Joanna has been pushing that thing not stop since. Oooohhhhh, Daddy got a new coffee cup, complete with pictures of his girls!
A pink airplane?!"What's it going to be now?"

We opened A LOT of presents. Between Mommy, Daddy, Auntie Kathryn, Gran, and Nana and Popo, that girl made quite a haul -- and that was just the morning!

I realize now we didn't take a lot of pictures of the middle of the opening process. We do have video though. Anyone is welcome over for a showing of "Joanna's 2nd Christmas."

Our big gift for Joanna this year was a Cabbage Patch Kid. They turned 25 this year, and the company re-released all the original dolls from 1983. Okay, I did spend just a little while trying to find one that looked like mine from 1983, then I gave up and got one I thought was cute for Joanna. And I think her name is hilarious. Here is Jean Imogene:

In hindsight, I would have opened the doll, released her from her shackels, and put her back in the box for easy removal by Joanna. Now I know. She did okay, but she kept pining for her: "Baby, baby!"

That child is wild for her babies. She spent the rest of the day attached to Jean in the stroller. We even had to take her to Mamma and Pop's!

Of course she had to put the dolls shoes on. I am extremely impressed -- she walked like this!She really is a lady!Quite the look:

We finished up with all the presents, straighten up a little, got cleaned up, and headed over to Mamma and Pop's for some family time. Of course they had the train set up, but it really scared Joanna this year. She felt better after Pop showed her how to drive it!

What a pro!The normal tradition for the Pence's is basically to hand out all the presents, then everybody goes after their stack. It's mass chaos but very fun! I always have to have everyone recap for me what they got! This year, we all watched Joanna open hers first though.

Aunt Mindy is who gave me the idea of removing the toy from the box, getting it all freed, then putting it back in for Joanna. She gave her a little school bus, and she had already loaded it with batteries and taken all the twisties off!

The bus is really cute, and Joanna likes it. She'll like it even more after it stops scaring the dickens out of her! I have a video of her interacting with it -- I will post it in a new post. Anyway, after we all ate, Joanna grabbed her blanket and lovey and started to get cozy on the floor. Mamma decided to give Joanna her present because it went along with the nap theme:

She couldn't get it out of the bag fast enough! It's this precious giraffe that is also a pillow and a blanket. Awww... cozy. And that color is GIRAFFE orange, in case you are wondering.

You all know my child wouldn't actually curl up and go to sleep there in the living room, but she sure looked cute!

She kept getting interrupted by people asking her to open MORE presents! She happily jumped up every time, though! She was getting to be quite a pro by this point.

Next up, a giraffe pillow! It's neck loops over and is a handle for carrying it!

Oohhh, what's next, Uncle Mark?

Look closely, you'll see that Jean has been kicked out of the stroller to make space for the new baby!
Getting all cozy again -- will everyone please be quiet?!

"Oh, wait, I can open another present? A drum from Aunt Missy! Um, Pop, can I please have my drum?"

Finally!

A family pic in front of the beautiful Christmas tree!

Next came my attempt to get a picture of Joanna in her Christmas dress in front of the Christmas tree. Um, right.Maybe the baby will sit on the stool and have her picture made.

This one's pretty cute -- I think Pop was making a face at her!

And the real reason we couldn't get a good picture: Look at those tired eyes! She was exhausted!! (Look how tightly she's gripping the baby -- so sweet!)

Getting back into the house at home, she was attempting to carry the new big giraffe and push the stroller. I wonder if she's seen Mommy attempt a similar feat?

To all our wonderful family: we had such a fantastic time with you all, and Joanna has been VERY well entertained this morning with all her new toys, books, animals, and babies!

We love you all; Merry Christmas!