Christmas with Kendra

So this is the first year ever... I haven't had Kendra for Christmas. Lame, unfair, all around awful. I have gone through all of the stages of grief- crying, anger, silence, over sleeping, and now I will spend Christmas morning blogging. I think this should be added to the stages!

Monday night Kendra had her pajamas Christmas party at ballet. She was wonderful! Tuesday night was Zoo Lights downtown. We made the mistake of renting the jeep wagon to pull Kendra and Aunt Abby (7) along. They were too big and it forced one of them to sit backwards on the ride. As Kendra says, "That side is STUPID!" We enjoyed going through the reptile exhibit and drinking hot chocolate.

This year we rearranged our Christmas traditions, nicely I think, to help all of us enjoy the Christmas season a bit more. So Wednesday night we were off to my parents for an early Christmas celebration. We ate dinner as Kendra told us many stories of kindergarten and broke into song and dance on a few occasions. Isaiah tells her she really is a Disney princess when she does this, which of course encourages the behavior. She was very excited to open presents and loved all of her new stuff! She spent the rest of the night zooming around on the scooter from Aunt Elaine and Uncle Ryan. Nana and Papa got her a Fancy Nancy doll that she loves and has carted around the house everywhere. Nancy now has a "spot" at our family dinner table. Ryan and Elaine got Nana a baby onsie that says, "I love my NANA". Kendra was not happy about that. She is super excited to get a cousin, but a little confused that the baby has it's own mommy and daddy but the same Nana and Papa as her!

Kendra is so special, Santa Claus came a night early so she could have Christmas at home also. Everyday since I have put gifts under the tree Kendra has woken us up shouting it's CHRISTMAS!!! So yesterday morning she couldn't wait to open presents. We were able to video tape it all with our new Camcorder (thanks mom and dad!)