After weeks of preparation by Mommy, Daddy and Uncle Rin, everyone came to the new house in New Jersey for a Christmas celebration. The dining table had to be expanded to fit twelve (plus three babies) and Mommy scrounged to find every Christmas decoration she’d ever accumulated over the years. Mommy and Daddy decorated a tree, cooked tons of Indian food (Aloo Pronti, Chicken Tikka, Basmati Rice), and even rush ordered suede furniture for the living room.
One little …
two little …
three little …
four little cousins sitting on the new chair.
Here are the guests listed in order of arrival (not that we’re implying anyone was several hours late): Lucinda, Davinder, Austen, Uncle Beerinder, Uncle Tod, Aunt Holly, Morgan, Grandpa Earl, Uncle Mark, Aunt Jen, Emma, Erin, Great Aunt Janet, Great Aunt Heather and Zack. Opening gifts took a while. Little hands move slowly.
Cousin Erin got a big box of baby toys from Aunt Lucinda, Uncle Davinder and Austen – plus a new playmat/tunnel.
Emma showed off the bike she got from Santa, who ran out of pink bikes with horses.
Grandpa Earl got a sweatshirt from Austen that read: “Four Granddaughters? I reckon.”
Daddy made mosaics of all the kids. See the blog entry entitled Mosaics – Christmas 2005.
Aunt Janet finally completed Mommy’s 2004 Christmas gift: homemade mittens and scarf made with wool from Wales.
Mommy got a Coach purse to match her shoes and a clock radio hookup for her IPOD – not to mention a beautiful letter from Daddy which Mommy will be putting in Austen’s baby book.
Daddy received a basketball game and pants by Kenneth Cole. He seemed to prefer the former and disappeared into the basement for the half the evening … but I digress.
Everyone watched as Austen’s face lit up when she first sat in her exersaucer. (This photo is from a few days later; Austen is wearing a Christmas gift from Auntie Heather.)
Some assembly was required.