christmas 2012. { at rachel's }

Our second day of Christmas celebrations took us to Tyler's sister's apartment in Oak Park.  We typically celebrate Christmas with Tyler's immediate family a day or so after Christmas at his parent's house in Iowa.  This year it wouldn't quite work out for all of us to be in Iowa at the same time so got together in Illinois instead.

Tyler's parents, younger siblings, and his brother Joe and his wife Joy, traveled from Iowa to spend the night.  We still stayed with my dad so doing everything this way meant a lot less hanging out with everyone for us since we had to get back home for Olive's bedtime.

In the future, depending on where we live, we're thinking it might be easier to do Thanksgiving with one of our families and Christmas with the other.  While Illinois and Iowa aren't far apart our Christmas holiday is always rushed and a bit stressful trying to cram everyone in.  It often feels more like a people pleasing trip than an enjoyable holiday vacation.

Again, these photos were not edited.

This is Tyler and his childhood stocking.  Mine is being handed to him.



Olive is admiring her stocking:



Olive is being patient:





A book, from Tyler's parents:



"ooooooooo" a box:







A ukelele!  And a dog!





Another book, from Rachel:



Something tiny:



A handmade finger puppet from Rachel:







For the most part I only took photos of the gift opening parts of most of our celebrations.  I didn't want to be that annoying relative with a camera out alllll the time.  (Please don't be offended if you are that annoying relative.  I'm sure everyone appreciates it.  heh.)