Unlike last year when Kendall didn't quite grasp the concept of Santa and was still a tad bit confused by all the gifts (at least initially), this year, she totally got it! I have a video of her coming down the stairs squealing as she peeked through the poles and saw everything under the tree - I need to figure out how to successfully post it because my first few attempts failed. Anyhow, she immediately ran to her stocking, then her bike and climbed on!
Then checked the front pouch to see if it had anything in it. Wish I had thought to put something other than markers in there!
Then we got down to business with opening. And opening. And opening.
Ummm, the helmet's backwards, kiddo!
We'll work with her on the helmet!
The fishing set was a HUGE hit! Boy does this little girl like to fish!
And her Dinosaur Train dinosaur collection quadrupled.
Don't worry. She got some "girl toys" as well. Like these cute toy dishes that she
had to have solely because the "Mick Elf" book mentioned toy dishes.
She got two Super Why toys - Super Why, himself, and Alpha Pig. Not pictured is the magical opening of the oh-so-coveted sandwich making kit from Uncle Dan and Aunt Corinna (I video taped that one).
Then it was back to the bike ...
Then back to opening! The Minnie Mouse smoothie set was a big hit, as was the Minnie Mouse shopping cart and food set - all from Uncle Chip, Aunt Debbie, and Cousins Lindsay and Landon.
I must say I was a tad bit surprised at how excited she was over
slippers. But of course they ARE Minnie slippers!
Break time at the stocking/candy table!
Saza and Nana arrived just in the nick of time with more presents. Kendall was seconds away from opening everyone else's gifts under the tree because apparently "there was not enough left"(!)
This is her very own personal "iPad" from Saza and Nana ... aka, a VTech Innotab that works just like an iPad but can survive falls from relatively high places.
And then back to the bike again ...
Kendall did really enjoy giving others the gifts she had made for them at our local pottery painting store!
Daddy's gift was the "entertainment" of the day. (Must be Italian) And is still in my front window!
Time for some fishin'!
Grandmother and Pops arrived with a really sweet Frosty the Snowman book that reads itself to Kendall in their voices! It's awesome and she LOVES it! Yesterday she was listening to it and when they said "Merry Christmas" at the end, Kendall looked down at the book and yelled, "Christmas is over, Grandmother!!" Hilarious.
The Lego Duplo Zoo set from Uncle Brian, Aunt Amy, and Cousins Mason and Maya may be as much fun for me as it is for Kendall. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed playing with my brother's legos as a kid. She also got a great alphabet puzzle from them and I hope she can start recognizing the letters as she sings her ABC's (along with Alpha Pig!)
Not seen in this picture is the new Minnie Mouse "pack pack" from Grandmother and Pops for school. Her first one almost lasted a year ... but not quite. I think this one is even cuter!
And back to the bike ... this time with proper placement of the helmet!
The "fur kids" spent a lot of time closed out of the living room to keep the chaos level somewhat controlled but they pretty much cleaned up in the gift/treat department this year so they didn't much mind!
After Kendall took a THREE HOUR nap and I got the house (and myself) put back together, we headed over to Nana and Saza's house for a
wonderful turkey dinner with them as well as Grandmother and Pops. As you can see below, Kendall was ready to eat a bit before the turkey was ready to be eaten.
Then she was ready for dessert before it was served, but ultimately declined dessert ... until she decided to take it from MY plate.
All in all, it was a most wonderful Christmas day ... and, like last year, I'm only slighly sad that it's over and think that I can officially wait another year to put another Christmas together!
Now for putting the birthday together ....
