Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful, relaxed Christmas at home this year. It was hard to be away from our families in Salt Lake, but we loved being at home in our own house with our own little family. Poor little Sophie was really sick (fever of 104) so it was good we weren't traveling anyway. As long as we kept her medicated, Sophie really enjoyed Christmas. I really enjoyed watching Christmas through Sophie's eyes and setting up our new traditions.

On Christmas Eve, we made Grandma Jane's famous sugar cookies (which Sophie loved to carry around, but wouldn't eat).

Nate read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" to us after dinner. This is an adaptation of a Howell tradition.

We opened Christmas jammies from Grandma Yoj. Once Sophie figured out that those wrapped boxes had exciting things in them, she demanded to open another gift and got this stuffed monkey from mom and dad.

We even did a little sword fighting before bed.

Christmas morning, Sophie woke up early as her fever was back and she clearly felt awful. We let her watch some shows and eat some strawberries (the only thing she would eat). We gave her some medicine and let her veg out until it kicked in. We made crepes for breakfast, which is something Nate and I have done every Christmas we have been home since the first year we were married. Sophie didn't really touch them since they weren't strawberries or tylenol but I love them and we only have them on Christmas. Once we finally got around to opening presents, Sophie was feeling much better. She wasn't interested in actually ripping the paper of the presents, but she loved fetching the presents from under the tree and playing with her toys once they were unwrapped.


She loved her new Elmo Live...

this dumb little drum...

and the dozen or so toothbrushes Santa left in her stocking. She also loved the polar bear from Aunt Kathryn, the musical Big Bird from Grandma Yoj, the books from everyone (she saw Olivia from Maddie and Henry and got really excited about the "piggie"). The doll from Grandma and Grandpa Koplin got overlooked on Christmas morning but Sophie has really enjoyed feeding and diapering her since. I have been playing non-stop with my new nintendo ds and Nate has been practicing cooking so that he'll be ready for his cooking class next month. We were very spoiled this year and want to thank everyone for the wonderful gifts!

Sophie really spent most of the day flopping on the couch, watching her "shows" or snuggling with mom and dad. Luckily, she is feeling much better now and is hopefully over her little virus.