We Wish You a Mary Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Another Yandek Family Christmas has come and gone, complete with all the family, food and gifts that make Christmas so much fun, so enjoyable, and so ridiculously crazy. Libby enjoyed everything about the season, although judging by the gifts she received it was more of a Feliz Navidad than a Merry Christmas! While we encourage Libby to speak American, she really loves Dora and Co., thereby adding a decidedly Latin flavor to Libby's Christmas.
Mary's first Christmas was not as eventful as was Libby's. For Libby's first Christmas, she was able to get around, rip paper, and generally make a mess. Mary, on the other hand, slept, cried, spit up and slept some more. She made out like a bandit in the gift department. Although, regardless of what the gift tags said, all gifts were Libby's gifts.
Christmas Eve began with breakfast with Grammie and Papa Hanna. Mommy was actually off work this year on Christmas Eve, so it was family all day! After breakfast, Uncle Tony and Aunt Nellie came over to cook while Libby and Mom delivered Christmas Cookies and Cheer to some relatives nearby. In the evening, it was off to Grammie and Papa Yandek's for fish, presents and a visit from one sad-looking Santa Claus (sorry Papa!). Christmas Morning was full of presents at home, Mass at St. Pat's, more presents at Grammie and Papa Yandek's and dinner, presents and cousins at Grammie and Papa Hanna's. The Yandek Ladies did so well in the gift department, Daddy actually had to go home and unload the car and come back. Everyone must have been very good this year!
As eventful as Christmas was, New Year's was the exact opposite. Everyone in the Yandek Household was sick with colds, ear infections, etc., so New Year's Eve and New Year's Day were spent at home, in pjs. The only reason anyone actually saw the ball drop is because someone was up crying. It's okay, though, after all the foolishness and mayhem of Christmas, it was nice to have a few (relatively) quiet days at home together. Happy New Year!

Cookies, Santa and Other Christmas Stuff

As the build up to Christmas continued, Libby and Mary had an extremely busy week. In seven days, they went to two different Breakfasts with Santa and met Santa at a family Christmas party. That's a whole lotta Santa for one week. Libby does very well with the big guy, until it's her turn to sit on his lap... When he makes his grand entrance, Libby makes sure EVERYONE in the building knows that HO-HO just arrived. She'll follow him around the room pointing and yelling "HO! HO! HO!" It's as if she's letting the world in a little secret that only she knows!
The first Santa was a lounge singer at Dad's work. He sang songs and read stories. Libby ate it up. When it was time sit on his lap, however, she covered her face and wouldn't even look at him (or the camera). Santa number two was at Mom's family party. This went much better. Libby wouldn't pose for a picture, but she did sit down and have a nice talk with Santa. Santa number three was at Aunt Holly's work. He was kind of creepy, so no one blames Libby for not wanting to hang with him that much.
Mary did much better, getting pictures with Santa on two different occasions. It was probably silly for Mom and Dad to think they could get a picture with both girls. But, word on the street is that Santa is making a cameo at Grammie and Papa Yandek's on Christmas Eve, so one never knows!
The rest of the Christmas season has been spent making cookies, watching Dora's Christmas adventures ad nauseam, and wrapping (or un-wrapping, in Libby's case) presents. Libby definitely gets excited at the sight of Santa and knows something is up. Can't wait to see how she does on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. It should be pretty entertaining. And maybe, just maybe, Mary Frances will be awake for some of the festivities!

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas!

From decorations, to cookies, to outfits, to snow, it's definitely starting to look like Christmas! Libby is loving everything about the season. She got to make cookies with her cousins on Sunday (after a delicious pancake breakfast), she is totally into the Christmas tree, and she is obsessed with the Santa Express Christmas train that goes around the tree.
And did we mention the "Ho, Ho, Hos"? Any time Libby sees anything even resembling Santa Claus, she lets out a lusty "Ho, Ho, Ho." It might be too early to be certain, but it's a good bet that Libby has inherited her Mom and Dad's love of the Christmas Season! Of course, Libby and Mary have their fair share of Christmas outfits (some of which fit better than others!), as well as pretty dresses for all the holiday parties and gatherings.
Speaking of gatherings and parties, Libby and Mary got to celebrate Dolly's birthday on Sunday with a special party at Grammie and Papa's house (Dolly is Grammie's dog). Libby is pretty much non stop around her cousins, while Mary and Declan sit around and drool and smile.
There are more parties on the horizon....most importantly, Libby and Mary have a date with the Big Guy on Sunday morning. Hopefully this meeting goes better than last year's. If not, there will still be plenty of time for Libby and Mary to plead their cases for being on the Nice List!