Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is one of my most favorite times of the year.  The excitement building up to the morning is so much fun with kids to share it with.  Addison was up at 5:30 ready to wake up Lauren and open presents.  We convinced her to lay in bed with us until 6:00 at least, then she woke up Lauren.  Lauren still was not feeling great and still had a fever Christmas morning.  We all felt so bad for her.  

Much to our surprise, Santa did sorta bring us a puppy.  The puppy will be born in the next few days and we will get to pick a female puppy 8 weeks after that.  We are all very excited!  I know the girls will be even more excited when we get to bring the puppy home! 

Lauren still did not feel great Christmas morning, but was a great sport with all my picture taking.  She got a Justice gift card from Santa, a Royals cup, a Wii game (Wipe out), Wreck This Journal, the Royals movie, and Tic Tacs. Almost everything she asked for!  

Addison asked Santa for the Grand Hotel Lego Set and he brought it!  We have already started working on it.  It will be so great once it is finished.  

Mark picked up a picture of Hosmer for Lauren.  By far, one of her favorite gifts.  

That definitely brought a smile to her face Christmas morning.  

Mark bought Addison a Barbie Movie about dogs.  This girl loves her animals.  It's really the simple things that the kids want for Christmas.  

She loved it.

We continued with the Want, Need, Wear, Read tradition of gifts this year.  Addison wanted this puppy from Target that does tricks.  It is really cute.  Lauren wanted a drawing pad, slippers, and ear muffs.  They both needed Chrome book covers and I also got them their own blanket to snuggle in in the basement so they don't steal Mark's blanket!  They both got 3 outfits to wear, mostly from Justice.  They love to shop there and the quality of the clothes makes it work it for me.  Addison has even taken her clothes out of the dirty laundry this week to wear them again. She likes the outfits that much.  They both got several books to read.  Lauren has already finished one and is working on her 2nd book.  I think they had a pretty good Christmas.  

Mark and I also do the Want, Need, Wear, Read tradition.  I got this book for him to read, a Royals World Series sweatshirt he wanted, a winter coat he needed...and a surprise for something to wear!

Mark picked out this cute shirt for me (just kidding, I did!) But he wrapped up and gave it to me Christmas morning, along with a Royals World Series sweatshirt.  

Both girls got these adorable ear muffs.  They love them! 

I needed a new computer and I got one!  So far, I love it!

I surprised Mark with a Royals World Series jersey.  He was super excited to open that Christmas morning.  He is rotten I tell ya, rotten.  

Each year, Mark always makes me a calendar for the next year, looking back on all the pictures I took in 2015.  Zoe was on the cover this year and the whole month of January is pictures of Zoe.  I love the calendar and I miss that dog like crazy every single day.  She will never be replaced, but I am looking forward to having another furry friend around the house.  

Even though Lauren was sick, it was still a wonderful Christmas morning.  I made my best batch of monkey bread yet and we all enjoyed a lot of it Christmas morning.  We watched the Royals movie, played Wipe Out, and enjoyed some lunch before heading out to Gramps and Nana's house for dinner Christmas night.  

Christmas Eve

I love spending Christmas Eve with the girls.  We always make cookies for Santa and a cake for Jesus.  The girls love to track Santa and see where he is at, and we usually have Christmas movies on the TV while we bake!  This year was no different.  

However, Lauren was on the couch sick with a fever.  Poor thing.  She felt awful for 3 whole days, and is still not back to her old self.  She still has a stuffed up nose and is so tired at times.  She was really a trooper through the holidays.  She missed church on Christmas Eve, but still wanted to go to Mama's house to see everyone.  She packed up her pillows and blanket and headed over in her PJ's.  

In between fevers she perked up a bit over the 3 days.  The girls were dying to figure out what was in all their presents.  

Addison looked gorgeous in her Christmas dress.  Her and I went to a 4:00 church service.  Mark ended up going to church at 10:00 that night, after the girls were in bed.  Santa must have come late that night, after Mark got home from church! 

I love that she still loves to get all dressed up for Christmas.  You can't see them here, but she had on some black high heels as well.  She looked beautiful.  

After church, we headed to Mama's house and had dinner.  We visted for a few hours with my grandma, parents and sister's family before heading home.  

Lauren felt pretty good before bed.  Milk and cookies were all ready for Santa!  

Santa had several choices to pick from.  This past week we have done lots of baking.  Our favorite new cookie is the peanut butter cookie with the recess peanut butter cup inside.  Yummy.  It is soooo good.  

Can't wait till Christmas morning.  It really is amazing! 

Santa 2015

Visiting Santa will always be one of my favorite things about Christmas.  It is so magical to see the girls faces light up when they finally get there turn to talk to Santa.  

Although the line was quite long this year, it was well worth the wait.  

Both girls want a puppy for Christmas.  A real puppy.  Not some stuffed animal puppy.  Santa told the girls he has to check with their parents.  He said he just can't drop off a puppy.  That's a good Santa!  Mark and I are hoping for a real puppy too!  We will see come Christmas morning.  

We waited and waited and waited for Santa at The Bass Pro Shop.  As always, Addison can entertain herself with just about anything anywhere.  

Mark and Lauren wandered around looking at all the animals, and Addison did for a little while as well.  

Lauren's list is pretty simple this year.  A new dog (real,) Justice clothes, hand sanitizer, shop kins, Wii games, candy, tic tacs and gum, i pod case, royals stuff and cute shoes...just to name a few!  

Addison has said over and over again a new dog real one, the Grand Hotel Lego set (its over 1500 pieces!) shop kins, Barbie books, and more big eyed animals.  

I can't wait to see what Santa brings Christmas morning!  

Zach, or elf, has been quite naughty this year.  Instead of just hiding all over the house, he has begun doing various things. This is one of the many things I have had to clean up this holiday season.  The girls really seem to enjoy Zach and all his activities each night.  

This past weekend we drove around and looked at lights in the neighborhoods.  This house is really close to use and always fun to go and see!  

Only 4 more days till  Christmas.  I can't wait! 

A Night on The Town

Each year we try to get down to the Plaza to see the lights and enjoy dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  We didn't make it down last year, so I made sure we would not miss it this year.  This past weekend was gorgeous, so we headed down to the Plaza Saturday night.  

It was packed!  But, it was so beautiful outside that it didn't really matter.  

We arrived at The Cheesecake Factory at 4:30 and have over an hour wait.  We did some quick shopping on the plaza before returning back and waiting patiently for our buzzer to go off! 

We waited, and waited, and waited....

As always, Addison photo bombed our picture.  She is sneaky like that! 

Finally we were seated and chowed down on the bread basket brought to us.

We had seats upstairs, which was a lot of fun.  We had a great view of the plaza through a window close by.  

We ordered chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake this time.  It was delicious.  Every piece of cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory is delicious.  

We walked around a little more after dinner and did some more window shopping.  After the Plaza, we drove through the Crown Center area.  There is a huge Christmas tree next to the ice skating rink and so many Christmas lights.  It really was beautiful.  It was a great family Christmas night! 

Random Fun Pictures from my Phone

I take so many pictures and always have.  Most of them are on my phone, since the I-phone takes a great picture!  

I was able to have lunch with the girls last month.  A special treat since I work so far away and can't just drop in for lunch.  

One day, I walked into Addison's room and saw these papers in her window.  They were actually facing the other way (outside) so the tooth fairy could see them.  They say "Please come here tooth fairy.  From Addison."  

"I have a bracelet for the tooth fairy.  Love Addison"  The tooth fairy has still not stopped by to get her bracelets.  

Lauren's Girl Scout troop hosted Addison's Girl Scout troop for a meeting last month.  

Both troops had a wonderful time learning the history of Girl Scouts and celebrating a birthday party for the founder of Girl Scouts.  

We enjoyed front row floor seats at the circus.  The looks on the girls faces made it all worth it. 

My Grandma died recently, and her funeral was a very nice gathering.  Several grand kids, great grand kids, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins were at the funeral.  Lauren immediately fell in love with Matthew, my cousins son.  She is such a good little Mommy.  

Addison and Martin played outside and managed to entertain themselves by tying each other up with a coat.  

Lauren participated in the spelling bee.  We were so proud of her.  She was one of 24 students in the whole entire school.  She made it through round 1, but did get out in round 2.  We were so proud of her.  

Sky Zone just opened in Lee's Summit.  We went recently and had a blast.  

My cousin, Caren, from New Mexico stopped by for a visit as well.  We all gathered at Sky Zone so the kids could play and we could all sit and visit.  A great time had by all!