CederBaby: Flexible Holidays

The Rybolt family has always had a philosophy of flexible holiday celebrations. The official rule is that one can celebrate a holiday anytime two weeks before to two weeks after the actual date. This year, Sara & John's Christmas party fell on January 3rd, well within the 4 week span.

Ella started the day with a catnap in the car.

Before opening presents, we enjoyed lunch together.

I was worried that it would be difficult for Ella to eat lunch before opening presents. Just the opposite- she barely glanced at the huge Christmas tree that had sprouted in their living room and she didn't give any of the gifts below it a second glance. She was far more interested in the cats and dogs.

After lunch, we went straight for the stockings. Inside, Ella got two bracelets, a magnet stick (from my Aunt Alice), which she called a "banging stick", and two tiny spatulas (she still calls them shovels) from Sara. She also got one Hershey's Chocolate Kiss. She was in HEAVEN! As far as she was concerned, Christmas was over. She didn't need anything else. In fact, as the rest of us opened presents, she clutched her banging stick in one hand and her shovels in the other and she wouldn't do anything else.

This lightup spinner caught her attention briefly, but she quickly exchanged it for the banging stick (bottom left).

Sara's gift, a doll cradle, caught her attention and kept it. I love this video clip because her little face is so excited.

"Being with my family is so much fun!"

Carole & my Dad got Ella an astronaut jumpsuit and matching NASA bear when they watched the shuttle launch a few weeks ago.

Sara also gave Ella this doll highchair. Ella assumed these were gifts for her baby doll Abby, not her, and everything else she got she piled onto Baby Abby in the cradle.

Here's NASA Bear and Baby Abby enjoying a meal on the plate and cup that Carole's sister got her. The baby bottle has a round bottom and won't stand up so Ella put it inside the cup and that's where it's been ever since.