Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning was finally here and Santa came!!  Alan woke us all up at 7:15 to see what Santa had brought us all.  The girls were so excited and loved opening their presents.  Santa brought all the surprises they had requested! 

After Santa left all his surprises!

Stockings first

Hello Kitty treats for Gracie

 and Princess treats for Mallary

Some Highlights from Christmas Morning...

Monster High Doll

 Salon Chair for Julie

 Princess Celestia

 A big one! 

Her new Bitty Baby (which she named Mallary!)

 Her Crayon Maker!!!!!

 Zookeeper Movie!

 Giant Paper Dolls!

It was a fun morning.

Christmas Eve

Every year we make our cut out cookies for Santa and decorate them on Christmas Eve.  It's so much fun.  Mallary really got into the decorating this year and Gracie was very into decorating hers accurately.  And Mommy gets to make some too!

Later that day we get ready for church and enjoy the Christmas Eve Service.  The girls love getting to hold their own candle and sing Christmas songs.

We come home and enjoy dinner.  This year we had a little surprise for the girls during dinner, but more on that later.  Then we get in our jammies, read Twas the night before Christmas,  put our reindeer food and cookies and get ready for bed.

 Time for Santa to come visit our house!!

Gracie's Christmas Celebration

Gracie's class had a fun Christmas celebration.  We started off making gingerbread houses together as a family.  The girls worked really well together and had a lot of fun.  Next - the kindergartners gathered around Mrs. Lindsay and a special Happy Birthday Jesus cake {made by yours truly} The whole cake had 3 different colored layers, white icing, a yellow star and red heart border to represent special things.  Mrs. Lindsay read all the meanings to the children and then they each got candles to sing this little light of mine and Happy Birthday.  They loved it.  After some cake it was time for the gift exchange.  They played musical chairs and when they got out they got to get a gift.  Gracie has a big "fear of the unknown" and always chooses her own gift in these situations.  No surprise, but she is always happy!  Ha!  After all the fun she surprised me with a special ornament that she made - It was so cute!  I loved it!  What a fun morning we had together.

Mallary's Christmas Party

Mallary's Christmas Party at school.  We had cookies and hot chocolate.  Ms. Tara brought ornament kits for everyone to have a project and then we went on a candy cane hunt in the classroom and found all the hidden ones. 

Gingerbread Houses

At our last Church Wednesday night dinner of the season - we have a Christmas dinner and a family activity of making Gingerbread houses.  It never fails to be a fun night and the girls love it.  We shared a kit with Abby and her family and the girls had a blast.  Of course it helps having an Engineer Daddy in the mix to help when the glue isn't quite dry and we have some collapses!

 I think Mrs. Ashley and Daddy are having just as much fun!

 Had to call in for reinforcements to hold it together while the girls decorated

 That cookie was definitely all hers!

 Hard at work!

 The finished product!

Our visit to Santa

The girls were so excited to see Santa again this year.  They were a little quiet in his lap but still told him some fun things they would like to receive.

Ava's 1st Birthday

It's hard to believe that our sweet little Ava is 1 year old!  It's amazing how fast time goes by!!  Elaine had a family/close friends dinner for her on her actual birthday.  The girls had a blast playing with friends and cousins. 

 Her cake!  So Cute!

Letting me hold her for a bit

In true Ava fashion - she would prefer her mom to be holding her!

 Not lovin the whole cake thing.

 Our typical pics when trying to get a group shot!

 Yes, all 4 of them are in this pile.

 You can tell who is really interested in the gifts!

Happy 1st Birthday Ava Potata!