Samantha's first blog

Posted By pamelamyers on December 26, 2017

Christmas is finally here! We had such an amazing day. It was the most relaxing and fun Christmas I can remember having in a long time. We didn’t have a lot of running around to do, so we got some time to chill out at home and really enjoy opening our gifts, and then had a great homemade pasta dinner at Krista and Adam’s house.

Here is our tree on Christmas morning – Santa left Sam all those gifts wrapped in blue! She is one lucky kid!

Penny wanted to make sure there was something for her under the tree (there was!)

Zach was just trying to escape – this cold weather keeping them off the porch has been hard for the kitties.

The stockings were stuffed to the tippy tops! Sam was worried that her new stocking was so big Santa wouldn’t fill it, but he did!

Zach seems to be saying, “Get on with it, already! It’s present time!”

It kills Sam every year that Mark won’t let her go downstairs until he goes down and lights up the tree and gets his camera ready. This year, she sort of went halfway down the steps though and peeked! Here she is, finally getting to really descend the stairs (with a very half-asleep Mommy behind her!) It was so early! We made Sam stay in bed until 6:30, but she had me awake at 5:00 a.m. I slept in her bed because she thought that might help her stay asleep, but as soon as she woke up and looked under the little tree in her room and saw that Santa had left a gift, she screamed at me, “Santa’s been!” and that was it. No more sleep!

Sam always makes a beeline for her stocking before opening any gifts, which I think is really cute. She was so happy to get a Pikmi Pop.

Sam’s new stocking this year is extra big and Santa still managed to fill it to the tippy top!

Baby Ann’s stocking came next. She got the cutest little princess crown from Santa…

…a new hat and scarf…

…and some itsy bitsy fidget spinners! Sam loves her fidget spinners and couldn’t believe that Baby Ann got her own.

Sam can’t ever forget her bestie, Boo Boo, who got some new clothes in her stocking.

Sam quickly found the Bitty Baby she wanted and couldn’t wait to cuddle her up.

Santa always comes through. She got her brown horse!

Grandmom came over pretty quickly and Sam got to work opening the gifts Grandmom got her. I think her favorite was this kitty unicorn.

The rest of us did get some gifts, even though the day seemed to be all about Samantha. Mark got me these amazing icing piping tips. Sam can’t wait to try them out with me!

Grandmom got some new pajamas…

…and Mark got a mug that he spied and liked in Bethlehem when we went to the Christmas markets.

We weren’t sure if Santa would actually bring the gripper robot, but of course he did! Mark and Sam can’t wait to get started.

There are always some fun things under the tree that Mark and Sam enjoy doing together, and although this gift was for Mark, I know Sam will be ready to help him build this monster!

I think the best gift we bought Sam that Santa didn’t bring is her FitBit. Sam has wanted one for so long, and now she finally has one. Count those steps, Sam!

We gave Grandmom a gift from Bella, an ornament with her new Christmas picture on it.

One gift that I was especially happy to give Sam were these Shutterfly books I made her. I have been accumulating all of Sam’s artwork since she was old enough to hold a crayon and, since you just can’t keep everything, back in September, I took a day and literally spent 6 hours taking photos of everything and cataloging it by date. I had to spend a few more hours on other days catching up because Sam is pretty prolific with her art, but I managed to finish and made her four books containing photos of all her art worth memorializing. This way, she will always have the photos, even if we don’t have all the actual art. I kept the best pieces, but this way, we can have them all. I am very proud of her artistic nature, and I want her to know that we value the art she makes.

There are books for “The Early Years,” “The Preschool Years,” “Kindergarten,” and “First Grade.” Sam loves them! It’s like having coffee table books of her own artwork! It was more work that you can imagine (you have no idea), but it was totally worth it.

Sam had painted this cute little picture for me and Mark.

And I got a new Pandora charm! Sam loves picking out my charms.

Sam made Daddy a Shutterfly book all about their electronics and robot making projects. He loved it.

Sam helped the kitties pick out my gift…

Ta da! Look cozy? Sam said Zach and Penny liked it because it is a mouse.

Here we are in what has become a new tradition – family pajamas, two years in a row.

Zach and Penny had a good time with their toys. Zach loves ripping up pom poms and this jumbo sized one was just what he needed!

My poor new coat, all covered in cat fur before I even get to wear it.

The little goofball all ready for Aunt Krista and Uncle Adam’s house.

Thankfully, cooking pasta is pretty low key so we had time to chat and relax a bit.

Ryder loved his puppy. Sam knew he would.

Sam made Loretta one of her wooden snowmen. She loves giving gifts to everyone, almost as much as getting them!

Bitty Baby! It’s not appropriate to drink wine!

Dinner is served!

After dinner, Mark played his saxophone and the kids joined in for some Christmas carols.

And a few of the adults. 🙂

Merry Christmas!

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