normans’s blog

Christmas Album

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:18:04 -0330

2008 Christmas

Click on the picture to the left for the photo's I've uploaded of our Christmas.

This main photo is of Sarah Christmas morning before my family showed up. She likes to hang out in the kitchen and demand food while someone is cooking. This time she took the stool, brought it to the counter and trying to take what I was preparing. So I put a few Cheerios on the counter to reward her quick thinking! :)

She looks so sweet in her Christmas PJ's and hat!

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Christmas 2007

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 00:11:47 -0330

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Dressed in their holiday PJ's, the kids descended into Christmas like a storm. Alex was the only one who understood want "Santa is Coming" really meant and he was up about 4am telling me "Mommy, I think I heard something... I think I heard a jingle bell downstairs". After some convincing he snuggled back in with me and slept till 6am. Then he laid awake untill after 7am when his sisters start to wake up. He was wired - it was adorable.

He went specifically looking for the things on his wish list. He nearly had a fit when he saw the milk and cookies were gone. Samantha adored her slide and wouldn't get off of it to open anything else. Sarah quickly fell in love with all the Backyardigan's toys and I swear she is still carrying them around singing "treasure, treasure..."

This is a picture of the livingroom after Santa delivered the presents but before the kids came in :)

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Reviving Tradition

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 23:43:35 -0330

Mom used to have a big boxing day meal for the Byrne family when we were still the "kids". We all still poke fun at the "kids table" that most of us sat in well into adulthood with some hope of eventually graduating to the "adult" table.

This year my cousin Jennifer and her family have abruptly moved home (much to my glee) and the tradition saw a comeback at thier spotin the East End. Three of the Byrne "kids" were in attendance (Jennifer, Brian and Frank) and Nancy called while we were there. Ed, Jon, Ken and Sharyn, some friends and relatives from the Byrne side. Mom, Dad, Dan, his lady friend Leanne and her son Ryan all went. Also, instead of one or two cooks this was a potluck and there was some damn tasty food!

Sadly Joe missed out on the event. He spent most of the day at the hospital about his bad back and I suggested he stay home to rest it up. It was hard trying to get through the day with the 3 kids, feedings, baths and trying to cook for the potluck on my own. By the time Joe got home and I got to Jennifer's I was almost 2 hours late but it was well worth it! Joe was asleep when we got home and well.. he still is! He has definitly beaten our record hours of sleep since the girls come home. I'm jealous :) There are a bunch of Photos of the gathering posted. Thanks Jen and Derrick for the hospitality!

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Alice's Wonderland

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 16:28:21 -0330

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Christmas Day we were late to reach the Norman family gift giving and meal at Alice's but they still waited for us (thanks folks). Sue, Jen, Don, Adam, Alyson, Alice, May - it was especially nice to see Tracy and the kids again. Joe too off early to get some medictation for his back but the kids and I stuck around until after dinner (mmm turkey). The Norman's have a "Santa Bag" tradition and you've never seen such a mess until you've seen Alice's room covered in wrapping paper and Santa Bag presents. I've also never seen a mess like that cleaned up so fast and replaced by a supper table. Wow.. just wow.

There are a couple of photos of Jonathan and Andrew playing with Alex in Alice's hallway that are very cute. I also managed to snap some awesome shots of Alex "hiding" with Aunt Sue under the dinningroom table. Merry Christmas and Enjoy!

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The Cookies and Milk are Gone!?!

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 07:00:00 -0330

Poor Alex didn't quite grasp the tradition of "daddy" going downstairs first and him having to wait until Daddy was ready for the kids to come down (aka turn on the tree and get the video camera). The poor child almost started Christmas morning crying! When he reached the livingroom and saw the train set Santa left for him, he was so excited he couldn't get past it to any of the other presents. We have it on video which I will post but for now I'm just going to get some pictures up.

A surprise treat was Sarah's reaction to the train. She'd stand by the train station watching as the train did the track and everytime it stopped at the station and made the associtated noises, she's go into fits of laughter. It never got old for her or us :) After we opened our presents, Kathy, Mike and Dan came over so we could open those we had for each other. You'll see a walking toy that both the girls are playing with from Kathy and Mike and a VERY LOUD tractor and dump truck they gave Alex that dad is playing with.

Unfortunatly Joe seems to have done something to his back and he thinks he might have a muscle in spasm (yuck).

PS: Sarah has a tooth!

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Santa's Wee Help

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 11:17:22 -0330

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I couldn't resist dressing the girls up for some photos. Alex and I got our cameras and did a photo shoot while the girls sat in front of the tree in our livingroom. What can I say, these two presents are the best gifts we got this year and Sanata hasn't even come yet :)

Joe and I put together the table for Alex's train set last night. His "big" gift from Santa. I can't wait till he sees it!

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Oh Christmas Tree!

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:22:57 -0330

Samantha and Jen

Alex

After a successful hunt, we let the tree dry overnight and stuck it up the next day. Stewart, Jen and Don came over to help decorate it. Alex has been pretty good with the tree so far but Samantha rolled until she got under it and managed to pull down 3 ornaments!

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Annual Hunt!

nobody@vox.com(Deanna) — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 14:22:04 -0330

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For many a year my family has been doing our Annual Christmas Tree Hunt. I remember when we used to hike to the old scout camp and spend the day hunting one down, drinking hot chocolate, singing christmas carols and dragging the darn tree back to the truck. How many times did we pick out a HUGE tree and hear dad say "sure, if you carry it back yourself..." or "the trees are like that (shaking hand) scared to death..." This era's quick jaunt to Hodgewater pond, driving over a snowplowed road right to the door of the "cabin" and walking 5 mins to find a tree almost feels like cheating.

I love this tradition which usually also falls on my brothers birthday. Last year my folks brought me back a tree. This year we snagged a beauty (good eye Kathy) even if it is the smallest one we've had in this house. All these milestones to Christmas are really starting to get Alex hyped up. It is so much fun :) I'm even pulling the "now Santa is watching and he only brings presents to good boys...." which actually works sometimes!

Here are a few photos of the outting. Dan and Joe cutting down the beast and some spectators :)

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