We began Christmas this year by putting up our tree the day after Thanksgiving. I always love to do it as soon as possible so we can enjoy it for as long as possible!
They were ecstatic about helping to put ornaments on…and only 5 or 6 broke!
We went for a hike per our usual Saturday routine...
Someone has reached the stage where she wants to wear her princess dress all the time…hence the many pictures of her in it at random times throughout the day.
Just watching a cartoon on a cold and cloudy afternoon…I am already anxious for spring!
Baking Christmas cookies…our annual tradition!
For their Advent Calendar activity one day we went to the Pie Kitchen…I may or may not have had a major pregnancy craving for caramel apple pie...
I hosted a cookie exchange at my house for my mom's group…we had so much fun and I ended up with way too many cookies at the end of the night!
Cold nights equal cozy fires…one of my (only) favorite things about winter!
My mom and dad were headed up to NY to stay with Laura and Josh after the babies were born so we did an early Christmas dinner/gift exchange at their house. This is the only picture I got but I think it fully captures the chaos of opening gifts with small kids!
Andrew's preschool party…they decorated cookies...
After the party the kids sang Christmas songs for the parents…it was of course the cutest!
The morning before church when our family lit the Advent candle…Harper marched down the aisle, refusing to hold my hand, yelling "Let me DO it!" multiple times while Andrew smelled the poinsettias. At least we were entertaining!
Amanda, my childhood friend, brought came over one afternoon and the kids all played together while we caught up!
Christmas Eve picture in front of the tree.
Setting out cookies and milk (and a carrot) for Santa.
Christmas morning was simple and fun…we opened gifts and had breakfast casserole, just our little family.
Nate got Andrew a "real" tool box for all his many tools.
After gifts and breakfast, we headed north to Ohio and got there in time for dinner and gifts.
This crane truck was, by far, Andrew's favorite gift!
What is happening in this picture? Nate is rubbing in the fact that I found the pickle on the tree (first the I beat Joe in 4 years!). Nate's mom does this tradition with us 4 each year and gives a gift card to the winner!
