Actually, this post title is a little bit decieving. The following pictures span from the Saturday before Christmas until the day after Christmas, and unfortunately they aren't in any particular order. It's been a little chaotic here, so sequencing hasn't been my #1 priority.
Here's my dapper and brawny husband on Christmas Eve (wearing his new sweater given to him by yours truly). He's holding the family Christmas gift... the IPAD! EVERYONE loves it, so it was the perfect family gift. Thanks to some money from Shaun's parents that was completely unexpected (because they already spoiled us with other gifts including food storage and a 72 hour kit), and a $100 gift card from Apple that came in the mail, our IPAD came to join our family. So far I think Amelia might have clocked in the most time on it playing preschool games. Now we need to have lots of lessons on sharing, even the grown ups need it:)
Amelia on Christmas Eve, no doubt trying to get into the fridge for something. She is a stinker lately, mischievous, sometimes rotten, most of the time sweet, and ALWAYS adorable. Christmas Eve we took the girls to a Lights Festival in Prince William. We usually go to the temple Christmas Eve, but the weather was really crummy, and we had already been earlier in the season, so we opted for this instead. When Ella's eyes lit up at all the lights in the park and she said, "Is this where Santa lives?" I knew we had made the right choice. It was a wonderful evening, followed by the girls opening one gift from Grandma and Grandpa C (horses... they were over the moon), and then off to bed after reading a Christmas book. While no doubtedly visions of sugar plums danced in their heads, Shaun and I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and finished up all the last minute Christmas prep.
Amelia the Sunday before Christmas. O' she has swallowed up my whole heart, and everyone else's too I think.
Ella the Sunday before Christmas. My beautiful little Elle has been very sweet the past few weeks. Maybe she likes it better when there's less of a demand to be so many different places, but I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with her and spending time with her this Christmas break.
These girls are my whole world.
The girls giving their papa a hug on Christmas Eve. See the gifts from Grandma and Grandpa C in their hands. They were so excited. I think they would have been pleased as punch if that had been their only gift this year. And they adore their papa. He is so good to them.
But then... Christmas morning came! Santa brought Ella a big Merida doll and accompanying Angus horse from the movie Brave. Santa brought Amelia a stroller with a baby that talks to her. I think Santa nailed it this year! These two haven't gone anywhere this week without their new toys by their side (within reason).
Amelia had her baby and stroller upstairs with her during Christmas Dinner. Thank you Santa (and Amazon.com:)
Christmas Dinner with nana and papa. We enjoyed a lovely dinner prepared by them including turkey, rolls, stuffing, green beans, and sparkling cider, but Shaun helped supply the home made mashed potatoes.
The day AFTER Christmas we were blessed with a white Christmas! The girls enjoyed going out and playing in the snow. I love this photo of Ella.
Amelia enjoyed the snow too. They couldn't have been happier to throw snowballs and have a grand ol' time.
The Saturday BEFORE Christmas, the girls helped me make gingerbread men and other cookies that we gave to neighbors. The gingerbread men we reserved for them, for their snacking enjoyment. Amelia couldn't even finish decorating it before she had bitten off some limbs:) Even in the photo she's knawing on the poor gingerbread man's head.
Amelia's and Ella's finished gingerbread men
Okay, now back to Christmas morning (sorry). Ella with her new doll.
Amelia and Ella had new sippee cups, play dough, and coloring books in their stockings from Santa
Then the girls were very good about taking turns as each one opened a gift. Mommy and daddy bought some baby doll and mommy books for Amelia, and Ella got the princess and the popstar barbies from us. They both got movies and books too.
Grandma and Grandpa C bought them clothes, horses, a barn for their horses, and other toys.
My best gift, my girls and the joy on their faces all morning.
Ella with one of her new horses from grandma and grandpa
Cute
Shaun with his girls.
Amelia's new baby stroller and baby.
Nana and papa even got a couple of small things
Grandma and Grandpa also sent cute clothes for the girls. Here they are "modeling" their new dresses from them. I use the term "modeling" loosely:)
Since Christmas, we have enjoyed two holiday parties at friends homes, my mom and I got pedicures, and Shaun and I went to see Les Mis in the theatre. We love the play, but we really enjoyed the movie, in some ways even more because the portrayal of life and the characters was more raw. The singing was less pure, but more gut wrenching if that makes any sense. Like Shaun said, you really understood why it's called The Miserable. It was the best movie I've seen this year, if not ever! Tonight we are having friends Emily and Katie over for Chili, and tomorrow I'm hoping to meet up with Grace for lunch. New Year's Eve we hope to get together with our other friends, the Davies.
Really, as I write about everything we've done and will be doing, it's rather picture perfect. We have done and will be doing everything I hoped we could. The only downside to this holiday is that we missed my niece's wedding in Utah. She got married on the 28th. My parents flew out after Christmas and are there now, but we couldn't afford the 2k it would have taken for our whole family to fly there. We were bummed because we missed seeing my niece on her special day, as well as the rest of my family that was there. Not to mention we could have seen Shaun's family too. We hope to have a reunion with Shaun's family this coming summer. Details still to be determined, but we've talked about getting together in California... FUN!
So to all who may actually read this, I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas filled with love and joy! We are especially grateful for our Savior, and still ponder the gifts we will leave for the Christ child this year. I suppose that's worthy of a post all it's own. But for now, I am just so incredibly grateful for all I do have and am blessed with. There's so much more we want for our family, and we are hopeful and prayerful 2013 brings many of those blessings, but I am also trying to live and be happy in the present! I have a wonderful husband who puts up with my nagging and negativity. I have two lovely and beautiful girls who light up my life. I have wonderful family and friends! I have a comfortable home, and while I hope 2013 brings a home of our own, I am grateful for the nice things we already have.
Merry Christmas everyone!
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