When we were kids, it was our tradition to open one gift at 1:00 PM on Christmas Eve.  Ryan and I would study the wrapped packages, trying to determine which one would bring the most holiday joy (meaning not clothes, until I was a teenager and clothes were the ultimate in awesome).  It was a great tradition, and probably gave my parents some peace knowing that there was a timeline to our whining.

I have not been quite as firm, and I know that comes as SUCH a shock.  We've been very lucky to have received packages for the kids over the past two weeks.  I decided to let them kids open them ahead of Christmas, which means that the real gift has been for me, because it's helped us to get through some of the tricky parts of the past few weeks. Marty's healing + preparing for Christmas + it's too dang cold to go outside = stir crazy kids.

I am always thankful for my friends and family, but was really thankful to receive some distractions in boxes.  The movies, baby toys, notepads, fancy necklaces, pots and pans, lebkuchen, cool shoes, party dresses, dinosaur games, toys and books have helped us pass the time with pleasure.

This tiny kitchen has kept Sophie busy for days.


Here is Sophie trying some lebkuchen sent to us from Mr. & Mrs. Bulut in Turkey.  They are so good to us and send such thoughtful gifts to the kids, thinking of this one after reading about holiday traditions from when I was a girl.


And maybe her very favorite thing - new shoes.  So far, she's gotten three pairs for Christmas.  Little Christmas Imelda.