Sabine and Aspen Source: Christmas Recap

We had a full and exciting Christmas day, but if I don't hurry up and make this entry, it's going to be Valentine's Day, and somehow some of that yuletide cheer will just seem a little...dated. So. Here we go.

Sabine, as I mentioned, woke up very early on Christmas morning, despite having completely forgotten what day it was. Once we reminded her, she went out to investigate the living room. There was a large, stuffed Rudolph waiting for her, which she immediately hugged,

and true to his word, Santa left a Red Present.

We let Sabine open that one while we waited for the rest of the family to arrive, and it was enough to distract her.

Sabine got her own computer (a VERY popular toy at friends' houses)

And Sabine and Rudolph had fun checking it out.

Sabine even encouraged Rudolph to try it out, himself.

Then the best Christmas present arrived--much of the immedate family all at once! Sabine even got to hold her cousin, and she was thrilled.

(He doesn't look too unhappy, either!)

Sabine got some wonderful new blocks from Nana Lin

And played with them for quite a while before she broke into anything else. (Thus giving the adults an opportunity to sip a beverage and get breakfast started.)

New magnetic dress-up dolls from Aunt Dani were another big hit:

We took a break for breakfast, and Sabine drank a lot of orange juice and ate exactly all the icing off the coffee cake...and nothing else.

Back to the presents, a big surprise hit was a Mrs. Potato Head from one of mommy's good friends:

Sabine also got a beautiful rocking horse, but was slightly unsure about all the neigh-ing and tail-swishing it did:

With a little reassurance and enthusiasm from Daddy

and some time, she is growing to enjoy it more and more.

Sabine managed to take a quick nap, and we headed up to Longmont to visit some extended family for Christmas dinner.

(Sabine modeling her Christmas coat from Mommy and Daddy and new purse and accessories from Aunt Dani)

We had a wonderful dinner, and Sabine even helped in the white elephant gift exchange this year:

Daddy's cousin Jed became a new favorite

And was instructed to "SIT HERE. COLOR!" all afternoon.

We then got to have an amazing second Christmas up at Grandmom and Grandpa's house on the 26th

where Sabine continued to make out like a bandit, but somehow I neglected to take any pictures...possibly because I was too busy imbibing some excellent champagne. (Merry Christmas to Mommy.)

We had yet another gourmet breakfast where Sabine stayed consistent in her desire to consume nothing more than orange juice and icing.

And she surprised us by becoming absolutely infatuated with the nutcrackers, carrying them around like doll babies. We are considering renaming her Clara.