Christmas 2010

Part of our Christmas decorations included an advent calendar and wreath. I loved these two decorations! For the calendar, I got to move the figures from the pocket to their spot on the picture every day before Christmas. This was often a way Mama and Daddy got me to eat my dinner (get clean plate club), as I so enjoyed being in charge of the calendar. The advent wreath was almost as fun, except they would not let me light the candles and I am not completely well versed on how to blow out candles. This, of course, sent Daddy through the roof with worry as I neared so close to the flame.

Mama is teaching me about giving to others. At church, there was a Christmas tree with ornaments on it. They were special ornaments, though, because they had the name of people on them and a few items listed, which were each person’s Christmas wish list. We picked an ornament off the tree and Mama, Nana and I met in Middletown at Wal-mart (one of my favorite Saturday activities) and bought the present. I helped Mama wrap the gift and I got to drop it off under the tree so they could take it to the person. I was not completely sure about how the whole thing worked, but Mama seemed to think it was a big deal, so I went along with it.

We went to Toledo on December 23 so we could spend a few days with Grandma and Papa Larry before the excitement of Christmas Eve. Before we left, Mama told me not to worry that Santa knew we were going to Toledo so he would know to bring the presents to Grandma and Papa Larry’s house. I told her that I would just not go to Toledo then, because I wanted nothing to do with Santa. Mama was a little perplexed, but then assured me that we would call Santa back and he would leave the presents in Cincinnati. It was only then that I agreed to go to Toledo.

Connor Christmas was a blast, as always. I am a big fan of passing out presents and being with my family. I like to open them too, but it’s not the highlight. It’s a bit overwhelming to have all of my family around plus fun presents, so I gotta take it slowly. I went to bed at 10:30 reminding Mama that I wanted nothing to do with Santa. The next morning after I woke up, Grandma told me she found a note outside the door with a few presents. It was from Santa! He said that he did not want to scare me but wanted me to have my presents on Christmas. I was not too sure about this but after we brought the presents in, I opened them and was quite thrilled with my new camera, Skippy John Jones book and third gift that I cannot remember. I am sure it was great at the time.

After lunch, we packed up the van and headed to Nana’s house for the McMinn-Dill Christmas celebration. I was so excited about the trip that I fell asleep 15 minutes before we arrived at Nana’s. Of course, when we got into the house, people started arriving and it sounded fun, so there was no nap for me that day! Leia and Anthony came with Uncle David and Carmella, then Papa, James, Uncle Rob and Aunt Jeannie came too. We had a great time! I opened more presents and played with Leia and Anthony until we were all very tired! It was a very long day!