We had planned to open presents, make Christmas cookies and bake all afternoon, make some treats to take to my grandparents' house, take Max to the kennel, pack, and then drive to West Lafayette the next morning to see my grandparents, parents, brother, and the rest of my family. We were planning on staying all day Sunday and Monday and coming home Monday night. Then my parents were planning on coming over Tuesday and staying a few days.
So that was the plan. Unfortunately, everything changed with a phone call from my mom. They were driving from Arkansas to Indiana when they got a call saying my uncle's house had burnt down. He got out and was able to get his dog and cat out, along with my mom's dog and my brother's dog. He was keeping them while they were up here. Thankfully my uncle and the animals were safe and unhurt! His house is another story, but he has insurance and everything is being taken care of. It could have been SO much worse and we are thankful that it wasn't. However, knowing that a member of your family is dealing with this situation on Christmas Day all alone will make you sick to your stomach. We had planned to open presents after lunch and all I could think about is how we didn't need a single thing under our tree and I had no desire to open a single one.
My parents decided to only stay one day in Indiana and go back home to help my uncle. Therefore, we packed up quickly and hurried over to West Lafayette. We actually didn't forget anything except a bottle brush and Waylon ran to Walgreens to get one. We got to my grandparents' house around 11pm. We actually weren't the last ones to get in on Saturday. My parents had just gotten there and Layne and Paula were already there. My uncle Kregg, Jeanine, Emily, and Steven got there after us. We stayed until after midnight and then went to check into our hotel.
Sunday my whole family (except Kelsi) was at my grandparents' house. All 27 of them. Mackenzie did amazing. I thought it would be too much but it wasn't. She took a few naps on my dad and got lots of cuddles with my mom. She was well taken care of, that is for sure!
We stayed until around midnight and then my parents came to the hotel with us so we could open presents from them (only presents to and from my grandparents are exchanged and we didn't want to be the only people opening gifts). My cousin Emily turned 21 on Monday and Bill went out with them so he didn't join us. He did, however, give Mackenzie some Freudian slippers....
Monday we went back to my grandparents' and spent the afternoon with them and my uncle Layne and Paula. We got a few hours alone with them in the evening, which is rare and quite nice! :-)
We ended up opening presents a few at a time for the rest of the week. Mackenzie loved ripping the paper off! She had so much fun!
So here's the pictures....
Mackenzie's tree...
Baby's First Christmas 2010...I love giraffes!
The topper for her tree is this angel that we had on our tree growing up. During the year my mom would put it on the top of my canopy bed to watch over me. I thought it would be appropriate to go on Mackenzie's tree.
My hope tree
Santa's treats. I shouldn't have bought such a large platter....
Christmas Morning
trying to get into the presents (little does she know that is Max's!)
Max opening his stocking
Daddy wrote cards for Mackenzie and me in our stockings
Looking lovely with no make-up but it's the only picture of Mackenzie and me
In Indiana...
My mom and Mackenzie. And yes, my cousins are playing chess. What you don't see is the person Jake is playing against is his nephew, Miles, who is six. Miles won. :-)
Bill and Mackenzie
Sleeping on grandpa
Mackenzie REALLY wanted my dad's camcorder!
Hanging out with my grandpa (Mackenzie's great-grandpa!!)
Tired Mackenzie sitting with her great-grandma when we got there Christmas night
Eating with Uncle Bill (and wearing the Freudian slippers....)
Four Generations! (and I have GOT to stop sitting closer to the camera than everyone else...)
Playing with her great-grandma's hands!
So that was our Christmas! Certainly not what we expected but one we will never forget!
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