Christmas Time Part 1: Home

One thing Paul and I decided when Addie was born was that we would, if at all possible, be at home Christmas Eve and always Christmas day. We've been fortunate to always wake up (sometimes earlier than preferable) in our own beds on Christmas morning.

This year, my aunt (aka Nana) was able to come a few days before Christmas for a visit. We all loved having her here, but I think the girls might have enjoyed it most of all!

Papa Ray and Mama Pat invited us to spend some time with them in the country at the ranch on Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful night, and the girls loved spending time outside with everyone!

Christmas Eve is traditionally an open most of the presents time for us, so we came home a little early and opened some presents.

I think Anne Perry liked her backpack!

All the girls loved the little girls ride on horses. Some were just more serious about them than others!

And before we knew it, it was bedtime. Everyone jumped in their Christmas pjs, and i acted all crazy (as you can see from Anne Perry and Addie's reactions) in an attempt to get a picture next to the tree. Two days later, we found out Audrey Kate had a double ear infection. It explains a lot about her not-so-cheerful self in the pictures below and otherwise lack of pictures of her altogether because she was constantly in my arms! :(

Everyone headed to bed except mommy and daddy. We got everything together for the girls Christmas morning, our breakfast and breakfast for our neighborhood firemen.

Needless to say...it was a late night.

Addie woke up first Christmas morning (surprise surprise) to find her special gifts. Next year, I'm thinking they will all only get stockings because the stocking contents (for Addie at least) were the biggest hit initially!

Or maybe we'll just get them all a bag of M&Ms and some blue candy canes and call it a Christmas!

Really though, Addie loved her scooter and the little girls haven't gone a day without playing with their dolls and strollers (which i never got a picture of). All three of them love Addie's doll house!

we had a very relaxing christmas day complete with our traditional breakfast casserole brunch and staying in pjs most of the day! i'll have to admit, pretty perfect in every way!