The Umstead Update: Something Shiny

What a perfectly wonderful Christmas we had this year! It was so amazing seeing the wonder and awe in Lexa's little face throughout the holidays. A few nights before Christmas, when Darcy woke Lexa to go potty, this is the conversation they had:
Lexa (whispering the the dark bathroom) "Mommy, I heard ringing"
Darcy "Was it the telephone?"
Lexa "No, it was something shiny"
Darcy "Shiny? Did it sound like bells?"
Lexa "Yes, I think it was Santa and his reindeer"
Darcy "Do you think he was checking on you?"
Lexa "Yes, to see if I was being good and sleeping"
Darcy "Oh yes, it probably was Santa and he was checking on you and you were being so good"
Lexa then gave big beaming smile at 11 pm at night in the dark bathroom.
Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year, especially when you have a 4-year-old.

We were lucky enough to have Grandma, Papa, and Sammi come up to spend Christmas with us and they arrived the day before Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve the Surratt Pack joined us to celebrate in our usual tradition, Chinese food and presents. What thoughtful and exciting presents from everyone. That night, after setting out cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph, Lexa went straight to sleep without a peep.
On Christmas morning we were woken by Lexa loudly exclaiming "Rise and Shine everyone, I got presents!". We barely had enough time to get out of bed before she was ripping through the gifts. Santa was really good to everyone this year but the big present was that Daddy was home for Christmas. He was scheduled to work overnight Christmas Eve (and there is no getting off on such an important holiday, even if you request a year in advance) but they sent him home early (10 pm) and he was able to celebrate Christmas morning with the family.
Christmas afternoon we joined Bebe and Honor at the Surratt home for Christmas dinner and more presents. Tracy and Eric cooked a delicious dinner to die for (really, the beef was so good we ate it like we have never eaten beef before in our lives).
Friday night we had another full house. Cousins Courtney, Greg and Ian, along with Betsy and Bob came over for dinner and some extended family time. Congratulations to Courtney and Greg who are expecting baby #2. We can't wait to find out if it is a boy or girl. The Surratt Pack also joined us too although Tracy and Eric had another dinner party to go to so they left early, but Riley and Kyle had their first sleepover at our house. The girls did not go to bed until after 10:30 pm and were awake bright and early around 6:30 am. Amazingly they were in good moods all day with probably less than 8 hours of sleep.
Saturday Shawn and Cory came over to celebrate Christmas and for a light lunch. It had been a while since Lexa saw her big sister and she really missed her. We will be celebrating Christmas with Lexa's other big sister, Brandi, in two weeks, when Mike is off work again.
Sunday, Aunt Maryanne and Uncle Jim drove down to visit and we spent the afternoon at the Surratt home watching football and playing outside in the 70 degree weather. Tracy and Eric cooked another scrumptious dinner for everyone and it was wonderful to catch up and hear about all the cousins.
Monday, Lexa spent the day with her cousins and Aunt Tracy took them to the mall in the morning and then to Romp N Roll in the afternoon. Today, it was back to school for one day and then tomorrow back to cousin Riley's for a day at the Children's Museum and then a sleep over at Riley's where Grandma and Papa will be watching all the little kids while the big kids go out for New Years Eve.
There are many, many pictures to show how wonderful our Christmas was, so enjoy.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! WE HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL 2009!