Christmas Eve

This is a part 1 of 2 update about our first Christmas experience as a married couple. It was actually our first Christmas together in general, and our first Christmas away from our parents. It was very different, but still great and wonderful. Since practically my whole extended family lives in the WA area, we spent the Christmas season with them.

Sadly, Gram Bell had a fall a couple days before Christmas and ended up cracking her pelvic bone. She had to spend the holiday in the hospital – the one a 5 minute walk away from us – so we made sure to walk over and see her every day and to try and bring her a bit of cheer. She had fun checking out my Christmas Eve outfit, and looking and feeling my baby bump. Lil Tadpole was dancing a bit when we saw Gram Bell Christmas eve, but she wasn’t kicking hard enough for Grandma to feel her.

 That evening we went to my Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa’s house for the annual Anderson gathering and Christmas celebration. Our family's tradition is that if you are 18 or older, you get to participate in the gift exchange, but if you’re younger, you get gifts from everyone. My Uncle TJ, who turns wood for a living now, created ornaments and other wood objects for each of the kids. And he included lil Tadpole in his giving as well. He told Andrew and me that even though she’s not here yet, she’s still almost here, so she should get a gift too. He created for her what he calls “The Tadpole.” Check out his work in the images below. Isn’t it fantastic? Thank you, TJ!!! 

The Tadpole. Notice it is a tadpole shape. I love it!!!

Check out TJ's handy work

Isn't it amazing! He carved it out!

After all the kids finished opening their gifts, the adults had their turn. It was Andrew’s first Anderson gift exchange, and he drew the number 1, and thus had to go first! He ended up picking a set of mugs that we both like, and was able to hold onto them for the whole exchange. The mug handles are actually hollow, and they each come with a spoon that fits inside. He also got four different types of hot cocoa. 

Andrew figuring out what he wants to open

 I ended up stealing one of those huge cupcake cake molds from my nephew, DJ (it was his first time participating too). I figure it should be a fun cake to make for Tadpole’s first birthday in 2012, and I would have more use for it than an 18 year old young man in the army.

All that to say, the three of us had a great Christmas Eve. And yes, I do believe Tadpole enjoyed the company of family and the delicious food. She was swimming and dancing all over the place inside of me!

Me sporting my Christmas Eve outfit, and showing off my baby bump