A Holly Jolly Christmas!

For some reason the holiday season and Ben being very busy at work go hand-and-hand. With more motivation and holiday spirit than time, we decided to catch a quick flight up to DFW the Sunday before Christmas to visit the Cosby family. Our flight left at 8:35am and at 8:20am we were still in line to check our bags. Thankfully to a helpful American Airlines staff and a well-traveled and experienced 2 year old, we were on the flight with seconds to spare before take-off. Isabelle was thrilled to see her Grandpa Van and Grandma Ruth, her Aunts and Uncles and especially her cousins Isaac, Lincoln and Elijah from Nebraska. Our trip was short as we returned home on a late Tuesday flight, but Jelly made great use of her time running and playing non-stop for the next 48 hours. We read stories, played games, sang songs, danced and ate yummy food. We visited the Gaylord Texas Hotel where we enjoyed all of the fascinating Christmas decorations and we read/acted out the Christmas nativity story. Belle loved playing the role of Mary and took her part very serious. She had what she considered a "manger" but she asked her Grandpa Van if he could please build her a quick "stable."

The day we left, we enjoyed a mini-Christmas morning and opened some fun presents from everyone. Isabelle's favorite was her Shiatsu dog in his own carrying case. She proudly carried it through the airport and carefully onto our airplane, all the while talking to him and showing him to others. Meanwhile, Ben was attempting to close two acquisitions and spent most of our quick trip in his dad's office on the phone and computer. He missed the nativity-story as well as dinner and the Polar Express pajama party but either way we were grateful to visit the Cosby's for a few days and share some holiday cheer.
On Christmas Eve Belle decided that she better visit Santa one more time and remind him where she lives and a few more items she forgot to mention on prior visits. We headed down to the North Star mall and bought a few more Christmas gifts before waiting in an unusually long line to sit on St. Nick's lap one last time. We then ate a yummy dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and left for home full and tired. Belle left Santa cookies and milk and happily jumped into bed excited for the morning to come. Ben and I arranged Santa's gifts under the tree, filled the stockings and then snacked on traditional Christmas Eve treats while we watched our annual screening of The Holiday.

Jelly slept until 7:00am when she finally yelled "Mom, Dad, get me out of my bed so we can see if Santa came." The night before I had told her that if she was a good girl all year Santa would bring her a big gift, and vice-versa. I had carefully placed a cute little gift under the small Christmas tree in her bedroom so that she would be surprised when she awoke. When I went into her bedroom Christmas morning she looked at me and said "Oh, I had an accident, so Santa just brought me a little gift this year." Obviously she was beyond joyful when she entered the family room and saw a giant present left especially for her! (Ben and I actually only gave her about half of the gifts we bought as we didn't want to spoil or overwhelm her. The rest we will save for a future holiday.)

Isabelle was surprised with the Loving Family Dollhouse and several of the rooms that accessorize. She also cheered when she opened Hi Ho Cherry-O! which she refers to as "Carmel Apple Crunch." Ben's favorite gifts were his books on CD's that he enjoys during his daily commute and I was surprised with my new HP laptop. We spent Christmas morning lazy in our PJ's and eating Mexican food before getting cleaned up and heading to the theatre to see The Tale of Despereaux. It was a quiet Christmas Day, just the three of us, and I don't think Ben worked much at all, which was a real gift. (By 7:00am the following day he was back on the phone and computer still trying to close the deals.)
A few days after Christmas, we loaded up the car and made the 3 hour drive to Houston to visit the Christensen Family. We were greeted with another mini-Christmas morning, where we were all spoiled with more gifts than we knew what to do with. Belle was very relieved to finally receive Lily Gray,the horse that goes with her dollhouse. She also opened her very own computer and camera and took about 100 pictures in 10 minutes and then asked me to put them on the blog! Luckily she had many willing models who posed for her even long after her memory card was full.

While in Houston we enjoyed jogging together, seeing movies (Belle saw Marley and Me twice), shopping, pedicures and celebrating Grandpa's birthday. We enjoyed dinner at Alee and Nick's new apartment and read books with Aunt Tara. Belle adores her Grammie and Grandpa more than words and Ben and I enjoy them too...especially when we send Belle downstairs at 6:00am and stay in our warm bed a few more minutes. We rang in the New Year at about 5:45pm New Year's Eve with a fire and loud banging of pots and pans. Afterwards, Belle said "that was a great party, huh mom." Once she was fast asleep we stayed up eating all sorts of hors d'oeuvres outside by the fireplace and guessing the answers to some of TIME'S Best of 2008 Lists. I actually was in bed before midnight, but I think Ben may have seen the 2009 ball drop in Times Square.

This holiday season has truly been enjoyable as we have experienced it through the eyes of a toddler. Isabelle sincerely loved driving in the car looking for Christmas lights, baking cookies and delivering them to neighbors, playing Santa's "helper" with some special gifts we wrapped and most importantly singing carols. We have woken up to her singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer many mornings loudly from her warm bed. After many more hours working than relaxing over the holidays, Ben successfully closed both deals by close of business on the 31st and although the break is over, now is in need of a vacation. We are not sad to see 2008 go as this has been a challenging year for all of us. Rather we are excited, motivated and hopeful for a prosperous 2009! Happy New Year!