Christmas Fun--Day 1

Okay, finally--finally--we're gonna get to the good stuff.

The Christmas stuff.

The good, Christmas stuff.

And since there's sooooo much to catch up on, I'll tackle it a day at a time, so I don't miss any teeny-tiny itty-bitty, nitty-gritty detail.

So we're starting with the Saturday before Christmas. Also known as Pony Day!

You see that thing in that there corner???

That's a pony.

A beautiful, clydesdale rocking horse, to be exact. That has yet to be named, other than "Pony."

Doesn't it look so Normal Rockwell-esque sitting there in the dining room with the Christmas tree? I assure you--that might be the only Rockwell-esque thing in our home these days, 'cause I don't think spit-up stained hardwood floors and drool-covered furniture qualifies.

But I digress.

The pony came in a huge, tempting box several days before all our family arrived, and I was forbidden to look at even the shipping label, lest the surprise be ruined.

Now if you know me at all, you know I'm the worst at withholding surprises, so it was nothing short of miraculous that I managed to haul the box inside, shield my eyes from any direct line of vision, and scramble around for some wrapping paper to tape to the shipping label before the temptation become too much to bear.

And it did become unbearable--about 20 minutes after I taped the wrapping paper over the label and thought of ripping it off and feasting my eyes on any information I could find. And boldface lying about it when anybody asked me if I peeked. I'm sneaky like that.

But I held fast. And focused on the other ten thousand things I had to do before my family arrived in order to distract my curious (sometimes dishonest) mind.

And this was my reward (on Baby Girl's behalf, since she might be old enough to rip some wrapping paper and suck on some tissue paper, but she's not so great with the box cutters yet).

It was a well-wrapped box. Nice and secure, that pony was in there.

This was about the time I figured out what it was. I may be slow, but the shape was a dead giveaway.

I'll save you from all the seriously obnoxious (and unattractive) shots of me staring at the pony with open-mouthed excitement and admiration, 'cause it just ain't cute.

Instead, let's look at how cute Baby Girl is up in the saddle!

She doesn't know it yet, but this pony is going to be one of her very best friends.

Just as soon as she has a little more control over that cute little wormy body.

And then I suspect her face will always look like this:

She's so lucky to have uncles who spoil her so much.

And we were all lucky to enjoy a fabulous welcome-to-Dallas-for-Christmas meal out that evening to kick off our family fun.

More tomorrow.