Santa Came!

Christmas is great.  I love the awe and excitement of everything around this time of year.  The girls make this holiday worth every minute and all the fuss we make over it.  I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a wonderful husband who does what is needed to help out around the house, whether it is working a ton of extra hours to pay the bills, fixing things around the house that break, or even helping to clean the house and wrangle the kids.  He also has blessed me with two marvelous little girls who, although drive me crazy sometimes, are absolutely the greatest things ever.  I wouldn't trade anything about my life at this point for anything (well, except maybe a few less bills!)  

 Santa came! 

 The girls looking at everything.  Santa left all kinds of stuff in our stocking.  We had to check our goodies out.  Jocelyn on the other hand, was very intrigued by the two cars. 

 Our little astronomer was so excited about the telescope.  She wanted to take it out as soon as she saw it.  Too bad the sun was coming up. 

 Jocelyn was trying to figure out how to ride the big wheel.

 Ooh, what is this?  A present from Jocelyn?  It's a Barbie Car!

 So excited about the marbles

 Opening up presents.  Such concentration.

 We went from lap to lap opening presents. 

 Alright! New books!

 Yay! a new train!

 Squinkies!

 Again on the big wheel

 Crayons!  I love that tongue :)

 What do I open?

 Yep, we love the riding toys

 Look at me mom!

 Yippie! Princess and the Popstar movie :)

 Dinosaurs mom!

 ooh! more crayons and stickers, and all kinds of cool stuff!

 Christmas morning breakfast yumminess!

 Oh it was sooooo good

 smiling cheeser eating oranges

 oh goodness at the attitude.  I plan on putting her into a convent by age five. 

 Someone snuck into Paw Paw's room and got his bag of peanut M&Ms.  Chocolate was everywhere.

 A new book to read and coloring book to destroy!

 We have used this already several times.  Good investment Shannon.

 uh oh, a Furby

 We got our favorite movie...the sound of music on blu ray.  Someone can sing every song and say just about every line in the movie.  The other night we watched it, and I really thought she wasn't watching it at all.  All of a sudden, she looked over at me and started lip singing exactly what was on the movie.  It was amazing.  Not quite sure if she completely understands what is going on, but by golly she enjoys it. 

 Hurry up Brian, you have got to get this thing working!

 Talking to Furby.

 Getting ready to open their big present

 wow! a new play house!

Someone was pretty sleepy after all of the festivities.  We brought a pillow into the kitchen where it was quieter and was laying down.  It was too cute.  The girls definitely had a wonderful day filled with excitement and love. 

Gingerbread House Making and Christmas Eve...

We have had a many fun days leading up to Christmas.  We made ornaments, we had Tiff and Joe come to our house, we played and played and played.  We went to lunch at Dos Amigos with Tiff and Joe.  Then we made cookies (I have pictures on my phone that wouldn't come off right now) that were melted snowmen and ninjabread cookies.  We decorated the melted snowmen, but the ninjabread cookies didn't turn out as awesome as they looked on the box.  We also went shopping for a bit, where Daphne picked out a present for Jocelyn and Jocelyn picked out Daphne's present.  Tiff bought Jocelyn a new baby doll like the one she loves, and she got Daphne a Brave doll.  They really enjoyed all of their other presents from the two of them.

 The girls wanted to make a gingerbread house after spending the evening with Bryson at Hickory Dickory Dock for his birthday.  They had a fun time there, playing with games and winning tickets.  It took some time to get the house to stay upright, as I had some wonderful helpers. 

 We have the front finished. 

 Both of the grubby fingers kept picking off pieces of the house as we put it together.  They did most of the decorating.  I was in charge of putting icing where they both pointed. 

 Even Jocelyn had to get in on the action. 

 Ta Da!  Finished product. 

 They are so proud of their creation!

 Uncle Brian, Daphne, and Jocelyn on Christmas Eve

 Jocelyn and Paw paw

 Daphne and her new Brave doll from aunt Tiff

 Paw paw trying to fix the police car to make it move.  Jocelyn has to play with it every time we come over to Brian and Lauren's house.

 Baby goes everywhere we go.

 Ornament thief steals off of everyone's tree, not just ours :)

 Playing with our new bus from Tam Tam and Alan.

 Ooh, a remote control Strawberry Shortcake car!

 Yes, Brian is down there playing with the car also. 

 Paw Paw and Daphne played Trouble together.  They are both sore losers.  Daphne actually got in trouble because Paw took several of her pieces and put them back into home.  She got mad and threw her pieces and said she wasn't playing any more.  After some time out, she learned a good lesson on being a good loser, not a bad game player.  Eventually she did end up winning the game.

 Jocelyn had to help pop the dice a few times. 

 Christmas Eve is ready because we have set out milk, cookies, and carrots for the reindeer. 

 After Daphne went to bed, Jocelyn was just not ready for bed.  She was too excited because she knew Santa was coming soon!  Of course, we were trying to ride in the bus some. 

Wide awake at 10:00.  Waaaaaaay past her bed time!