Dec 26, 2014

Joy to the World!

Ryan and I got up Christmas morning and enjoyed a nice cup of coffee by the fire before the twins woke up.  We also had to peak and see what all Santa brought for the twinkies!  They must have been really really good this year because he spoiled them rotten!
 Ellie got a baby, cradle, stroller and some toys and books.  She also got custom pillow and blanket for her baby that matches her crib bedding.  Santa has good taste!
Graham got a train set, fire truck and lots of books and train accessories.  He has been asking for a choo choo for a while now!

Graham was so excited!  He kept starring at his choo choo with his hands behind his back and saying "wow....wow"
This girl doesn't have many girl toys and not a single doll so she was THRILLED Santa brought her one! (ignore our dining table shoved in the corner to make room for toys)
 Once it was time to open stockings they would pull one thing out and were just mesmerized that there was more in there.  We kept saying "what else is in there".

 We got the twins some cute stuff too- Hunter boots, Beaufort Bonnet bath robes, custom board books, monogrammed pillows and a few toys.


G loved his boots!
 Here are the books I made, one with all our family and one with friends.  They love pointing to people in pictures around the house so I knew they would love these books.

 They don't really sleep on the pillows, but we put them in their cribs to get them used to them for when we have to transition to big kid beds.


This kid had us laughing so hard all morning!
We played at home until early afternoon and then headed to Ryan's parents house.....where we ate and drank and opened presents the rest of the day.  The kids got ride along toys that were such a hit!

 We ate Pop's sausage and gravy for brunch/lunch.

 And opened more presents.  This hug me Elmo provided lots of laughs and hugs.


 Around 1 we put the twinkies down for a nap and we enjoyed a few adult beverages and opened some of our gifts.
Then they woke up and we were back at it!
 Ryan and I gave his parents a nice outdoor cooler for their lake house and I told the kids I wanted to put them in it and preserve them at this age for a while haha!
At 5 Uncle Jared and Catherine came over!
 We got some fresh air before dinner.

 And enjoyed more time together opening presents and swapping stories about the past years Christmases.

 Once we got home it was time for bed so we put the twinkies and baby to bed.  What a magical time of year and the joy of children just makes it so much merrier.
I am so grateful for all the videos we took throughout the day so we can relive those moments over and over!

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve started with our friends coming over for PJs and Pancakes.  Our guests arrived at 8:30 and left around 11:30/12.  We fed the kids a quick snack and then it was nap time!  Here are G and E eating amongst all our Christmas cards.   We are so blessed to have so many friends and family!
 After naps we dressed up for our Christmas Eve church service.

 This little girl loves her God Mother Holly.  If she is in the room Ellie will rarely come to me.
 E was so excited about the candle light and singing of Silent Night.
 After church we went down the street to our good friends house, The Toms, to pop some Champs and celebrate what the meaning of Christmas is all about.

 The Toms even had a Nativity cake!
 Right before this pic of all the girls we were all cooking and bumping into each other in the kitchen....just making ourselves at home:)

 Everyone was dying over Chris's moose cup!
 There were kids EVERYWHERE!
 Love these two sweet quiet girls amongst all those crazy boys!
 Singing to baby Jesus before eating cake.

 Every child immediately stuck their finger in the cake haha!

 Ellie didn't want to say buy to Hiyee.
 Once we got home it was pjs, cookies for Santa, reading of the Night before Christmas and bed time!
What a fun day with our "Charlotte family".  We all got a good night sleep before the big day.