Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas. I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday and some time off work. We're still at Ryan's parent's house and having a great time. After a night in the ER and a day at home in bed, Ryan is back with us. Unfortunately, now Lindsay and Jan are locked up in their rooms with the same thing. And I just found out Mandy was sick the same night as Ryan. Something is obviously going around. Hopefully the rest of us stay healthy this next week while we're still all together.

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On Christmas Eve, while Ryan was home in bed, Westin and I hung out with the cousins and got ready for our Christmas Eve festivities with the Richs. Westin loves following the big kids around the house, and I think they're having some fun with him too.

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Grant showing Westin how to play basketball on the iPhone. Lily playing dress up with Westin (pretty sure this was only able to take place because Ryan was 30 miles away and couldn't stop it).
Westin hanging out with Gemma and Miranda
All the cousins (minus Emery): Delaney, Lily, Gemma, Miranda, Grant and Westin Westin and me getting ready for Ryan to arrive and for the evening's fun to begin

For the Richs Christmas Eve dinner, we had chicken tortilla soup (best around), ham, homemade rolls, and some of Doug's homemade appetizers (some roasted tomato thing, and a red pepper dip - both are served with goat cheese on either bread or chips - SO GOOD). Ryan made it home in time for dinner, but didn't really get to enjoy the food as much as he would have liked. This is probably one of his favorite meals and he looks forward to it all year. Poor guy was only able to have a few sips of broth and that's about it.

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After dinner, we had dessert and then a Christmas program. The kids got to bed around nine and then it was time for the parents to finish wrapping presents and get to bed themselves so Santa could finally come. Throughout the evening the cousins kept checking some website that showed what part of the world Santa was in. They loved that. It was so cute to see how excited they got over it.

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Alright, now to Christmas morning. What you're all really waiting for.

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There's no sleeping in at this house. The kids were up at 6 a.m. and we were all headed downstairs by 6:30.

Westin's first look at Santa's surprises

Westin's Santa pile

Ryan and Westin looking at all the fun things Santa dropped off for our good little boy

Westin and his new set of sports balls

Westin checking out his new FisherPrice Learn and Play house.

Westin with Grandpa Rick

Playing with a new puzzle

Westin showing uncle Adam his new Buzz Light Year cell phone

Opening a gift from Grandma and Grandpa (yes, we had to stop him from eating the wrapping paper... several times)

After about 2 hours of playing with Santa toys and then opening all the gifts, it was time for Christmas breakfast - another big tradition in the Rich home. This meal consists of ham, eggs, hashbrowns, chocolate chip scones, and fresh squeezed orange juice. Here's Westin enjoying the chocolate chip scones. It didn't take long for him to figure out that he could pick out the chocolate chips and only eat those.

Later that day I tried giving Westin a mohawk. It didn't really work, but I did get a picture at least.

That night, Ryan, Westin and I drove to Agoura for another one of our favorite holiday traditions - the annual Philpott Christmas is Over Party. I've been going to this since high school and haven't missed a year. This was actually Westin's first appearance at the party, since he was too little to come last year.

Mandy was also recovering from the flu, but you wouldn't be able to tell - she looked fab!

So despite a couple bats with the flu, Christmas was fabulous this year. It was such a treat to share it with Westin. I know that every year will just get more and more fun, and I can't wait!