"showtime"

Yesterday Chad and I took Presley to her very first movie. We had been talking about it for a couple of weeks now, so she was super excited. We dropped Reese and Addison off at Chad's mom and took Presley to lunch first. She kept saying while we were eating, "I hope they don't start the show before I get there." She was very nervous that we were taking too long. It didn't get any easier when Chad decided to stop by Kohl's real quick before the movie. That got her really concerned.

We kept debating between seeing Tale of Desperaux or Bolt, and in the end decided to let Presley choose. She went with Bolt, so Bolt it was. It was a pretty good movie...maybe a little long for a 3 year old, but she enjoyed it. She kept saying, I wish Addy could see this too. I know it would've been WAY TOO LONG for my 2 year old. :) So maybe we'll try with her when she is closer to 3.

Christmas Day

Christmas morning started bright and early when the girls came downstairs and discovered that Santa had visited again and had filled up their stockings this time along with bringing more presents. As a family we had a lazy beginning to the morning looking through our stockings and playing. Around 10, Chad's family came over for our annual brunch. After a yummy breakfast, we opened more gifts. Again, Reese was ready for a nap just as we were set to start the gifts, so she slept for a bit before I woke her up so she could open her gifts.

Some favorites from today were: a Yogi Bear DVD, p.j.'s, a potty baby, a peek-a-boo baby, a doggie for Reese and a new golfin' game.

Reese also got a piggy bank and a couple of pairs of new shoes too.

I came away with a very nice robe, boots, great-smelling candles, and a book. Chad got some much needed clothes and tools.

Later that night we invited both sides of our family back to our house for a birthday party for baby Jesus. I made a cake, Dad D. made homemade ice cream, Cindy brought an Oreo dessert, and Hilary made cinnamon pretzels. We wanted to start a new tradition with the girls of remembering why we have Christmas in the first place, and we though that having a birthday party would be a great reminder. We sang Happy Birthday and had yummy desserts. The desserts were great, but the games might have been even better. :)
It was another long day but I wouldn't have wanted it any different....surrounded by family.

Christmas Eve

We decided to celebrate our own family Christmas on Christmas Eve morning this year. We told the girls that Santa was coming early to our house because they had been so good. ;) Actually it was just because we didn't want to be rushed on Christmas morning. After dinner we got our bath and then took the girls in their p.j.'s to look at Christmas lights. When we got home we had the girls sprinkle their "magic reindeer food" on the lawn Tuesday night. Reese was already down for the night, so her sisters helped her out by sprinkling her reindeer food for her. After leaving food for Santa's reindeer, we went inside and left a plate of cookies with milk for Santa. The girls slept in until 7:30 and then climbed in bed with us for a little snuggle time before we went downstairs to open gifts. There were plenty of squeals as the looked and saw what Santa had left. :) So fun to hear the excitement. Lots of goodies were left. Some favorites from the morning were: Rose Petal Cottage, Barbie (from Diamond Castle), Handy Manny's Talkin' Toolbox, new clothes, sleeping bags for the camper, and a Puppet Theatre.Christmas Eve afternoon we stopped by Mom and Dad B.'s house to visit with Aunts and Uncles and cousins for a short bit. Then it was back to our house where Nana and Papa, AHildy, AJenny, UMatt, and Reagan and Reilly came over for yummy dinner and presents. We tried to get a cousins pictures, but it was WAY past Reese's nap, so she wasn't having anything to do with it. We started with Reagan trying to hold her...Then we moved her over to Addy so she could comfort her...And also so she could get a better look at Reilly's crazy faces. ;)We put Reese down for a quick nap and started with the gifts. Some favorite presents from tonight were: a washer to go in the cottage, LOTS of great DVD's, pretty clothes, a portable DVD player, umbrellas, Hullabaloo, We got Reese up towards the end so she could open her gifts. After presents we enjoyed Dad (& Mom's) homemade ice cream and other great desserts.

I ended the day with a book of my blog (so excited), part of the Willow Tree Nativity, p.j.'s, lotion, a sweeper (thanks to a hefty discount from our cousin who works at Kohl's as a buyer), and a calendar. Chad got tools, gift cards to Kohl's and Starbucks, clothes, and The Dark Knight DVD.

It was definitely a long day (hence the long post ;) but so much fun too.

fun in the snow

The girls and Daddy enjoyed some fun outside on Christmas Eve. It was Addison's first time really playing in the snow. She was too young last year to go outside for long, so she had a blast eating the snow and making snow angels. Presley took turns pulling Addy on the sled too.