This morning we gathered together for my family's Christmas with my folks, my brother, my sister, her husband and son. With our crazy schedules New Year's morning was the only time that all of us could be together to exchange gifts with each other, but it was well worth it and so much fun. The first gift Addison opens is a big one from Auntie Crystal and Uncle Heath...a super huge Mr. Potato Head that was filled with two regular sized Mr. Potato Heads and two baby potatoes and all the eyes, noses, hats, mouths, and more. She also got a super cute striped fleece jacket from them to use this spring.
Auntie Crystal and Uncle Heath got Harrison this awesome Iowa State football jersey. There is no problem getting him thinking about playing at a young age. He also got a Leap Frog Caterpillar from them that Addison certainly liked as well.
Addison's other favorite gift from Santa was Dora Candyland. Santa knew she was a bit young to play the game but knew she would love the little figurine game pieces.
Dad always seem to have fun picking on Mom. He and Kevin have this obsession with rabbit ears in family pics so I guess it is a tradition to do so now so I am including this picture to share. Danny and Min sent loads of gifts for both of our parents and they sent along some Scottish shortbread cookies for mom and dad. My folks are obsessed with these and love to eat them with their morning coffee. In the States they can only buy these types of biscuits at specialty shops and I can get them at Tesco for 60p a packet.
My sister, Crystal, her husband, Heath, and my nephew Bo Preston are such a beautiful family and we love them all so very much. It was great getting to have all of us together for the holidays.
I also made my nephew a quiet book like I had made for my kids. I was so excited to see what my sister thought of the special gift I had put together for him. It was the moment I had waited for the whole time we had been home and it was awesome. They absolutely loved it and it made me so happy that I could make something for my nephew to cherish forever.
I also made my sister a book on our Mac with all the pictures of her in England which was really special too because she hadn't gotten to look back at any of them since she came this past summer because she had baby less than a week after getting back home. Also her husband hadn't gotten to see all the things she did while she was thousands of miles away and very, very pregnant. I also got her a scarf from the Stamford market so she had something "English" to enjoy. We also got Heath some things to take care of his new hybrid vehicle...I had a blast individually wrapping each bottle. He really liked it...they all really liked what we got them that my sister called me the next day just thanking us so much for the wonderful and well thought out gifts.
My dad always comes up with some amazing gifts and most of them come in camouflage. Last year Addison got a full green camo body suit which we got to take some pictures of her and grandpa together in their gear and it did get cold enough in the UK that we got to use a few times. This year she got a full "pink" camo snow outfit. She literally tore through the package and started putting everything on. She absolutely loved it, but I got pretty nervous that she would be able to wear it when we got home. Who knows what the English winter will bring us....let's hope we get some snow.
Kevin had been stealing my Crocs to bring out the garbage so I told mom that a pair of his own would be a great gift and it was. He loved them!!!
My brother is so fun to shop for because he pretty much loves anything and is so appreciative. He also has this thing about gummies candies so had to load him up with some English Haribo "jellies." We also (with the help of Min) found him a proper England football shirt.
Being a recent college graduate and still getting his feet under him, he felt that the was a little strapped for cash for gift giving this holiday, but I told him it's not how much you spend it's the thought and love you put behind the gift you give. So in true Casey form he came up with the greatest gifts. Crystal and I both got empty black frames with a post-it on it that said, "Uncle Casey, Harrison and Addison." He also got us CDs of a great Christian group that he has enjoyed listening to. My brother is so special. He is on a great adventure with his faith right now and it was so nice to get to visit with him about that. He may think that he's short on cash, but he is rich with love!!!
Enough with opening presents....we've got to get to Grandma Lynn's house for the Schafbuch Christmas!
Today Addison's friend, Gwen, came over to spend the whole day with us and the two girls had just a blast together. Holli and I hoped that little ones that these two grow to be good friends. Gwen is about 10 months older than Addie and now that Addie is almost two and Gwen almost 3 the two of them play really well together. Gwen came to be with us for the day because my friend, Holli (Gwen's mommy), was traveling to Ethiopia with her sister to pick up Holli's new adopted nephew. Holli and her husband Andy are also in the process of adopting two children from Ethiopia and we are praying that they should be with them some time this year. They are such a special family so we were so excited to help them out, plus it's always a treat to have Gwen come over to play. 
