On the 25th day of our 25 Days of Christmas we had one of the most memorable Christmases we have ever had! The day started early, Tricia woke me up at five wanting to open presents. I, like any good mom, passed the buck onto Brad saying it was up to him. So Tricia woke up Brad and he said only if the dishes from Christmas Eve were done. Tricia did the dishes and woke us up again at five thirty.
After making our way downstairs we set the ‘Yule Log’ up on the TV and set up the laptop with Skype to Nanno (my dad- it’s Italian for Grandpa and how Marshall will call him). Marshall was none too happy to be woken up so early after such a late night, but once he saw that we were finally going to let him open presents he perked right up.
Marshall must have been a very good boy in 2012 because Santa showered him with great presents. He was so excited and took time with each gift before we would just have to move it along by taking the one he had and giving him a new gift to unwrap.
After we were done opening our presents and playing with some of our new stuff we all took a family nap. When we woke up around noon I started getting Christmas dinner going and we skyped with Brad’s side of the family. Marshall loved seeing all his Aunts & Uncles, cousins, and of course Grandma & Grandpa Glade. It’s so nice to be able to see family even though we live miles apart.
Some of our gift highlights: Tricia & me crying from excitement/ surprise over Brad’s gift of tickets to meet the cast & crew of Walking Dead (our favorite show); Marshall cuddling his bear pillow pet and ‘singing to it’; and Brad’s surprise over the Android tablet from Marshall & me. We were so blessed this holiday season, blessed with all the gifts from family (thanks Nanno, Grandma & Grandpa Glade, Tricia, and Tammie & Joe), and blessed beyond presents.
We definitely made some special memories and new traditions that we will keep in our family for Christmases to come, as well as celebrating old traditions that have a special place in our hearts. Merry Christmas to everyone! We hope that everyone had a great holiday season and enjoyed our little blog. The Dingmans will be back with 25 days next year!
And now, Photobomb!
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Yule Log going on the TV, Nanno on Skype on the entertainment center and our stockings
(The stockings were to heavy for the stocking hooks)
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| Opening up the first gifts of Christmas |
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| Marshall got Duplo (the big lego style) blocks from Grandma & Grandpa Glade! |
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| Marshall pulling the movie Brave out of the wrapping paper |
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| Loving his movie |
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Marshall hiding his movie so mom won't put it in the cabinet with
all his other movies |
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| Marshall excitedly unwrapping a Zootalker figurine |
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| Mom helping Marshall get his camel Zootalker out of the packaging |
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| Marshall holding his camel while unwrapping another Zootalker |
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| It's an alligator Zootalker! |
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| Marshall waiting patiently as mom gets his alligator free of the packaging |
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Marshall excited over all of his Zootalker figurines
The Zootalker set is visually stimulating to toddlers and teaches animal names and sounds |
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| Marshall opening his 'big ticket' item from Santa |
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| It's the Zootalker Zoo! Home for all his little animals |
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| Marshall can't wait to set his alligator loose in the zoo |
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| All smiles over his new zoo |
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| Let's open this up now!! |
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| Marshall so excited over his special bear pillow pet from mom & dad |
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| He could not stop cuddling and singing to his new bear friend |
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| Marshall is such a sweet, sensitive little guy |
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Tricia excited over her redneck wine glass from her stocking
(a ceramic solo cup on a wine glass stem) |
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| Santa's welcome to Missouri |
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| Opening stocking stuffers |
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| Reading Brad's gift envelope |
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| Reading Brad's note |
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That moment when you realize you get to meet the cast & crew
from the walking dead! |
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So excited to go see the cast & crew of Walking Dead
(Marshall got scared because he doesn't know the difference between
sad tears and happy/ crazy tears) |
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| Marshall showing off the envelope to Auntie, probably trying to make her cry again |
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Santa gave Mom & Dad bobbles in their stockings
The water bottle has a built in filter so we can drink water from anywhere |
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| Marshall trying to run away with his zoo |
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| Opening a present from Grandma & Grandpa Glade |
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| It's a football sweatshirt and pants! Marshall loved them |
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| Marshall helping to clean things up before we go on with opening gifts |
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| Marshall did a great job of taking turns opening presents |
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| Tricia 'ooh-ing' over her new bracelets from Nanno |
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| Marshall taking off his Santa hat |
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| Mom showing off her earrings she was given from Nanno |
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| Marshall running around with his camel Zootalker |
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| Dad & Marshall playing Zootalkers |
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Marshall motioning 'No you come here' as Tricia beckons him
over to open his present from her |
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| He came over once he realized it was his gift she wanted him to see |
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| It's a toddler's size letter jacket from the Heidi Klum collection! |
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| His special present from Godmother 'Bob-bob' |
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| Marshall's 1st letter jacket! Such a little stud. |
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| Marshall modeling his jacket for everyone |
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| Mom loves her gift from Auntie 'Bob-bob' |
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| Dad opening his presents from Grandma & Grandpa Glade |
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| It's a SCSU shirt for this alumni |
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| Marshall's turn to open up another gift from Santa |
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| It's a Kangaroo family of Zootalkers |
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| Mom helping to free more Zootalkers |
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| Marshall opening his laptop up from Nanno |
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| He loves his new laptop |
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| Auntie loving her earrings from Nanno |
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| Being silly with her cheetah print scarf |
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| Mom opening her present from Auntie Bob-bob |
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| Showing Nanno the present from Bob-bob |
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| It's a lantern to start mom's collection |
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| Marshall opening his other gift from Auntie Bob-bob |
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| Auntie Bob-bob gave him a Little People construction site |
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Marshall playing with his new smart phone from
Grandma & Grandpa Glade |
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| Auntie Bob-bob showing off her new cheetah print bangles |
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| Marshall opening up his Spiderman ball pit from Grandma & Grandpa Glade |
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| Christmas. Like a boss. |
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| Marshall decided to block dad's camera shot of Auntie opening one of her presents |
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Marshall's godchild gift (a tradition on Mom's side) to Auntie Bob-bob
a plush cheetah print blanket |
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| Marshall got the 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs' movie |
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| Marshall curtseying with his movie |
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Marshall waiting patiently with his gift as Auntie shows off some more
earrings from Nanno |
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| This one's next guys! |
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| Auntie being silly with her new bejeweled V (for her last name) |
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| Auntie Bob-bob loves her jeweled candle holders from Mom & Dad |
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| Another jeweled candle holder for her room |
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| Silly Auntie trying to smell a DECORATIVE candle |
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| Marshall hanging out with Auntie and watching the Yule Log burn on TV |
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| Marshall got a firetruck from dad & mom |
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| Marshall running away with his firetruck |
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| Mom showing Marshall how to get the sirens on his firetruck to work |
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| Auntie handing Marshall another present while he plays with his firetruck |
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It's the Cinderella Diamond Edition movie set!
Yes, we gave Marsh Cinderella. Anytime we were in the stores and he saw Cinderella playing
on the TVs he would get excited over the little mice. So we got him what he liked. |
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Mom & Dad gave Marshall a drum!
He loves to drum on anything and everything so we got him a drum
so he can really work on his skills |
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| Marshall playing with an ornament he got from Grandma & Grandpa Glade |
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| Auntie Bob-bob being surprised with her full length mirror from Nanno |
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| What other kind would it be? Of course it's jeweled! |
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Auntie Bob-bob excited to not have to go say hello to her mirror in the
store anymore! |
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| Marshall opening his last present from Santa, a Zootalker Train |
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| Marshall got a leopard Zootalker with a book about leopards |
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Marshall opening his last present from Dad & Mom
A Little People's Wheely playset! |
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| Marshall checking out his newest playset |
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| Get this out of the box mom!! |
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| Going back to his firetruck |
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| Dad opening his present from Marshall & Mom |
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| So excited over his surprise |
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| Marshall playing with his drums |
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| Our little music man |
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| Christmas aftermath |
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| Marshall hauling around his Little People Construction Site |
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| Part of Christmas Dinner |
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| Dad carving the turkey |
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| Auntie repping the redneck |
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Mom makes a moist turkey! Dad lifted up the turkey leg and
all the meat fell off it and into the roasting pan |
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| Merry Christmas!! |
