Brooklyn's First Christmas

Brooklyn's first Christmas was a very hectic one. We had so much family to go visit and see that by the time Christmas was over, we were all exhausted. It all started with Christmas Eve. We went over to her Great Papa's house for daddy's family get together. Everyone was there, but not many people got to really hold Brooklyn. She was claimed early by the arms of her Great Papa as she is every time we go to visit. He sat there and talked to her most of the night as everyone else opened up presents and we played a game of dirty Santa. Brooklyn received some presents of her own. Her Aunt Michelle got her a stuffed Thumper bunny, a baby Minnie Mouse rattle, a Pooh bear, and a really cool car seat cover that keeps her warm and keeps everything inside from falling out. The her Grandma Belinda got her this really neat worm that will teach her colors and letters and how to count and all kinds of neat things. She also got a really sweet prayer bear that will teach her different prayers to say at night. Brooklyn's Great Aunt Laura and Uncle Raymond got her a really cute ballerina outfit and a really cute prayer bunny, and then Brooklyn received money from her Great Papa and Edith. So she made out like a bandit on Christmas Eve.

We didn't get home from Christmas Eve until late, so Christmas morning we slept in. This year, Brooklyn wasn't aware of what Christmas meant, so it wasn't anything too special. We got her a little stuffed hippo and a stuffed penguin, and that was it for this year. Next Christmas will be crazy though and will be extra special. After we got up Christmas morning, we headed over to Grandma Carrie and Grandpa Walt's house for lunch and to open presents over there. Brooklyn's gift from her grandparents was this really neat fish tank that hangs over the side of the crib. It plays music and has lights and bubbles. It gives her something to look at and to entertain her until she falls asleep.

After lunch and presents, we got everything together and headed over to her Great Grandma Betty and Grandpa Jack's house. There we had snacks and yep, you guessed it, opened even more presents. From her great grandparents, Brooklyn received more money and some hats and mittens, as well as a red blanket with teddy bears that her great grandma made her. Brooklyn pretty much slept the whole time we were over there though. She was kind of oblivious to everything going on that day. We did manage to sneak in a four generation picture from my side of the family, which I was grateful to be able to get. (Now we have to get one of her with her daddy's family.)

Anyway, when we were done with the great grandparents, we headed out to her Grandma Belinda and Papa Kevin's house to eat dinner. We stayed out there and visited for a while, and then finally headed home for the evening. On the way home we stopped by our cousin's David and Nina's house to visit them and to see our Godchild Mila. Brooklyn got even more gifts there a couple of gowns and a little stuffed bear.

Needless to say, we had a long and exhausting day, so when we got home, we crashed. So that ladies and gentleman was a recap of Brooklyn's first Christmas. I am very certain that the next Christmas will be 10 times as hectic, but also a LOT more fun because she will begin to understand what Christmas means, which to her, will be a creepy old man in a red suit and presents!!

Love,
Jennifer