Christmas with the Family

Friday we headed to my parents to celebrate Christmas with the family.  It's always crazy having all the girls at Gramps and Nana's house, but it's fun for sure!

Lauren assumed her duty watching and playing with Sophie, and Addison and Claire took off to play right away.

My Mom let  the girls open gifts from Santa before dinner.  

I begged for a good picture of the 4 of them before they could open presents.  This one turned out great!

The girls enjoyed opening their gifts from Santa and their stockings full of treasures. 

Addison and Lauren both got salon chairs for their American Girl dolls, which they loved. 

Then we had dinner before opening the rest of the gifts.  Sophie decided to cuddle with Uncle Mark for a while after dinner.  

Another great shot of the 4 girls (except I cut off Sophie's head a little...)

Then these 2 were doing their own thing, posing like crazy, so I zoomed in on the two of them.  They are a hoot and have so much fun together. 

Addison was just a little excited to open more gifts after dinner. 

Lauren was too.  She did a great job handing out all the gifts. 

Then if was a free for all opening gifts.  

I have no idea who bought what for Lauren and Addison.  

I have no idea what Addison was so excited about, but it must have been good! 

Claire enjoyed the Monster High Dolls that we got her! 

One last crazy one of these cousins.  It was a great day celebrating with family.  Merry Christmas everyone. 

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning I was up before the girls.  Honestly, I always am.  I am just as excited as they are for Christmas morning.  Plus, I have to get the monkey bread in the oven and ready for breakfast.  

Addison woke up first, then she woke up Lauren and they both woke up Mark.  We headed downstairs to see what Santa had dropped off.  

A horse and stable for Addison and Saige.  

A bed for Lauren and Julie.  And a small puppy.  See that puppy laying next to Julie in her bed?  Yep, that's the puppy Lauren got.  She has asked Santa the last 2 years for a puppy for Christmas.  I hate to break her little heart again, but no puppy for us! 

Santa also brought the movie Mr. Peabody and Sherman and a few family games. 

I just love this picture of Addison...waiting patiently to open gifts. 

Lauren has her stack of presents.  Want, Need, Wear and Read.  She got several Dork Diaries books to enjoy and read. 

The girls also got gifts for each other.  Addison got Lauren a pencil box and Lauren got Addison Shopkins!  Both were very excited. 

Addison wanted a wheelchair for Saige and I also got her some new smelly markers (since she is always stealing her sisters!) 

I took the girls to Potter's Haven to make Christmas ornaments for Mark.  He loves hand crafted gifts from the girls.  (Sorry Mark....your eyes are closed :() 

The girls got me a new coffee mug and a new water bottle!  Thanks girls.  

Lauren got a box full of new clothes from Justice and Addison from Children's Place.  Both girls seemed to really like their new clothes.  

Addison needed new PJ's and slippers, tap shoes and a new dance bag.  Lauren pretty much got the same thing for her need gift.  

She has carried around this dance backpack almost everyday since Christmas.  It is filled with all her dance shoes, and several other treasures she needs at dance class (candy, chap stick, a good book to read, and a notebook to draw in.) 

Here are a few of Addison's books.  

Then Mark had one last gift for the three of us....

Tickets to One Direction when they come to KC next summer...

Thank you Daddy...best present ever! 

Here is Lauren enjoying her want gift...new head phones.  She loves to listen to music and pretty much had her head phones on the rest of the day listening to music and dancing.  

Mark and I also follow the Want, Need, Wear, Read when we exchange gifts.  I wanted Ugg boots (gray ones!) I needed new work shoes.  I got a new KU sweatshirt and some socks and underwear and he made me a calendar (like he does every year) to read.  

Mark wanted to go to a World Series game, which was game 6 back in October.  He wanted needed a sound bar for the TV in the basement.  He got a new NWMSU sweatshirt to wear and a new president book to read.  

Christmas day was wonderful.  Gramps and Nana stopped by in the afternoon to look at all the girls gifts and visit for a while.  The girls played all afternoon with their new stuff and we enjoyed a dinner cooked by Mark!  It was a wonderful Christmas.  I hope yours was wonderful as well.  

Christmas Eve Traditions

Well, Christmas is over, but now it's time to look back at what we did this past week.  It seems to fly by so fast, but is always so much fun!  

Mark always works Christmas Eve, so it's always just the girls and I.  Our morning started very early (6:00) with Addison waking up...so we started the day.

Sugar cookies for Santa were first. 

Next up, was chocolate chip cookies.  Santa loves both! 

Addison did a great job putting the flour into the mixer. 

I snapped this picture of Lauren from across the room and I love how it turned out. 

Then it was time to ice the sugar cookies while the chocolate chip cookies sat in the fridge for a few hours.  Yes, Lauren is in her dance clothes.  In between cookies and cake, she was dancing the day away.  

We baked a cake for Jesus also.  A new tradition that Mark and  I started with the girls.  They really love it, and it helps us remember the meaning of the season. 

The girls looked gorgeous as we headed out for church. 

Addison, always willing to pose...usually in some kind of ballet pose.  

Then we had to say goodbye to Zac.  He always leaves Christmas Eve night after Santa drops off the gifts.  We had fun with Zac this year. 

Cookies are ready, and notes for Santa.  

Oatmeal and carrots for the reindeer.  

Like always, Christmas Eve was wonderful.  I love Christmas Eve almost more than Christmas Day.  It is a day the girls and I spend together, then when Mark gets home we head to Church.  Dinner is always at my Grandma's house and has been for years.  The girls get their Christmas PJ's and we always enjoy a nice dinner at my Grandma's house.  

Although, Christmas morning in our new house was pretty awesome.  Stay tuned!