Sasha's Christensen Christmas Celebration

Christmas this year was a two part affair. It started on Dec. 15th with the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa C (Nathan's folks) fresh from a journey to an elder hostle in North Carolina and a visit with Brent and Deanne in Williamsburg. We had planned on having an early Christmas Eve and Christmas over a few days. Unfortunately, their visit was cut down to a 24 hour visit due to Tom coming down with some upper respiratory gunk (yes, a technical term 'gunk' but y'all have had it before I'm sure). We opened gifts on Saturday morning and they departed shortly after.

Sasha or Sasha Claus got several items including a bouncing Tigger from Uncle Brent and Auntie Deanne. He thought it was great and agreed with Tigger when he proclaimed that he was ' a Tigger-ific bouncer'. He really is you know. His other favorite toy was a tiger twice as big as him that he enjoys carrying through the house. (He tried to fit it into his secret cubby on his car, but it just didn't fit.)

Sasha also insisted on buying presents for his grandparents (he's really so thoughtful). He chose a John Deere tractor with sounds of the farm for Grandpa and tried to show him all the special features. He didn't think it was right that the cow couldn't drive the tractor.

For Grandma C. he picked out a xylophone that teaches you how to play and plays melodies on its own. I didn't ask, but I'm sure that both gifts were exactly what Grandma and Grandpa C wanted. They both decided that Sasha could keep the presents here so that they'd be here to enjoy when they returned.

Grandma C. received a bag with five photos of Sasha to make it easier to show off recent photos of her grandson to her friends. She also received a charm bracelet that tells the story of Sasha's journey into our family. I've included the story that's depicted on her bracelet below (there is a charm for each of the captions):

We dreamed of having a precious child in our family. We wanted a Grandchild to share our life with.

After waiting for over a year, we received a photo of an adorable little boy with big blue eyes and blond hair on February 22, 2006. You were so cute.

We loved you from the first moment that we saw you and knew that you were meant to by our Grandson.

We watched the videos and looked at the photos of your parent’s first trip to Russia. You were so precious and we couldn’t wait for you to come home to us.

The wait seemed like it would never end. But finally in June, your parents boarded a plane to Russia to bring you home.

They stayed in Russia a month. They kept sending us photos so we could see how much you’d grown since the first trip.

You were given a Russian Passport and an American visa so you could come back to the U.S.A.

On July 27th, 2007 you became an American citizen at O’Hare International Airport and, most importantly, you became my Grandson—Alexander John Thomas Christensen.

Just the beginning ….

Sasha also wanted his grandma to know how much he appreciates her and included the following in his explanation of the bracelet.

Sasha feels that now is a good time to remember how far he’s come (in all ways possible). He is thankful this year for having such loving Grandparents who like ice cream, sweet treats and have taught him nosey-nose and other important things.

Thanks for loving me, Grandma C. You’re the best!

Love, Sasha

Christmas was so special and Sasha can't wait for Grandpa and Grandma C. to come back and spend more time with him.