Actual Christmas

We stayed home this year to celebrate Christmas morning in our house. I always loved waking up at my house and running down to see if Santa made it to our house.  My dad would always make us wait at the top of the stairs while he turned on the lights on the Christmas tree, turned on Christmas music, and (probably the most important for him) started a pot of coffee.  I LOVED every minute of it, and I loved that we did it every year (through high school and into college years).  Bret and I are trying to start some of our own traditions, and I hope that our kids love it as much as I do

making Christmas cookies on Christmas Eve

evan loves cookies and this was the first year his enthusiasm and interest level were at the same level.  he patiently cut out all the cookies, waited for them to cool and worked on icing a few.

gracie loved being up with evan while he was making the cookies.   she had no desire to actually make any herself, but she was 100% all for eating the cookies.

Christmas Morning

bret and i woke up to the sound of evan's gate being pushed open quickly followed by the sound of little feet sprinted and then sailing through the air to land on our bed.  without waiting a breath, evan said, "i did go downstairs.  santa came.  he didn't listen.  our presents aren't in our stockings, they are on the fireplace".  and, then we waited.  it was pure torture for evan, but he did manage to sleep until 7:30, so he didn't have to wait too long for his sister who typically gets up around 8.  i have no pictures of evan coming down the stairs or walking into the room because there was no walking involved...it was a christmas miracle that both kids made it down without anyone tripping. 

playing with the kitchen that santa gave to gracie and evan

probably her favorite present...a tunnel

and an evan favorite

hide your eyes!  grace has also learned to id several body parts, but her favorite are pointing to her (or anyone else's) eyes.  so, when bret asked evan to hide his eyes, grace was all over it too!