Christmas Traditions

For the past several years we have gone to see The Nutcracker.  It has been a fun Christmas tradition for our little family.  

This year we changed it up and went to see Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Sprint Center.  It was quite the show!  Mark enjoyed it the most, but us girls liked it too.  

We had fun talking selfies waiting for the show to start.  

Then we headed down to the Plaza to have dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.  We waited...and waited...and waited for 2 1/2 hours to be seated.  Lauren insisted that we stay and wait.  It's tradition.  

It was a gorgeous night, so we walked around for about an hour.  We went to the Russell Stover store and got some chocolate to snack on until dinner.  We browsed through Way Fair and then Barnes and Noble.  

Still waiting...LOL.  Finally at 8:30 we were seated...and starving.  We got a bread basket and an appetizer and we were good! 

Last night I took the girls to Christmas in the Park at Longview Lake.  The girls were sad we missed it last year, but apparently were a little bored this year...so maybe this was the last year?  Who knows! 

Then we stopped at the Magic Tree.

But I told the girls they did not need to bring coats...they were freezing...So we left! 

I love the Magic Tree.  Maybe next year we will bring coats.  

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! 

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!