Christmas Day

We told the girls that we didn't want to see them until 7 a.m. on Christmas morning. I knew we were in trouble when I heard Jillian up in her room above ours at 5:15. I got up to go to the bathroom and laid back down, trying to fall back asleep, unsuccessfully. At 5:45, Jillian politely entered our room and said she had tried and tried to go back to sleep, but she couldn't. So I just asked her to get up with me and help me with breakfast. The little bit of noise in the kitchen woke Adrienne and by 6:15 everyone was up and at em. We opened stockings, then ate a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon around 6:30 before settling into open the gifts around 7:30.... bed head and all. 

Later in the day, the girls dressed in their new outfits "like Mom's workout clothes" and then we played some games as a family. The new playing card holders really help them out.

We had a bunch of appetizers for dinner, then celebrated Jesus' birthday with ice cream sundaes. We used to make a cake, but last year I discovered that using leftover chocolate fondue made a great chocolate sauce for ice cream. Add some crushed Oreos, whipped cream, and sprinkles and you have yourself a proper celebration, no cake required. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was relaxing and special. The girls were involved in singing with the kids at church, and I was part of the worship band for the first time. I can't describe what a wonderful experience this was for me, and I am so grateful I was invited to participate. I look forward to singing more as needs arise. I had to leave early for another rehearsal, so I did the girls' hair and it was then up to Matt to get them dressed and to church on time for their rehearsal and the first service. I was proud of him for remembering to snap a picture before they left.

Kids on stage. You can see Adrienne goofing it up in the front, and Jillian's face just behind her and to the right, smiling. Apparently Adrienne got hot, because Matt has a video of her unbuttoning her sweater and holding it out to him to take from her mid-performance.

Rare family shot before Matt and the girls left and I stayed to also sing at the second service.

After I got home, we had our tradition of cheese and chocolate fondue for dinner. I'll give you one guess which one Adrienne preferred...

The girls opened their presents to each other (I seem to have no pictures of this, but it's one of my very favorite moments) and the obligatory jammies. Man, how I adore Hanna Anderson nightgowns. May my girls never outgrow them!

Another of my favorite moments is snapping a pic of  the tree in the stillness of the night before Christmas, with my Santa duties done and awaiting the eager children of the next morning.

December Rewind

It's now a new year, all the holiday bustle behind us. But, I'm going to rewind and catch up on December (and date this post as such for record keeping purposes and coherency in the annual blog print out book). This post will take us up to Christmas Eve....

On December 7th, Adrienne had her preschool Christmas program. This was our last darling Christmas program for a preschooler in our family. Tear. After 5 years of preschool between the girls, this will be it! Adrienne was VERY excited about her big night. So excited, in fact, that she hastily buttoned her sweater all crooked and I didn't even notice. Love it. 

This picture is my favorite. Jillian insisted on getting in a picture, and Adrienne wasn't too thrilled about her big sister getting in on her time in the spotlight.

Enjoying obligatory refreshments in the gym after the performance

The following week, Adrienne had a long-awaited play date with her new friend Paige. Paige is in one of Adrienne's preschool classes and also goes to our church. These girls had such a wonderful afternoon together at Paige's house. I literally had to drag Adrienne to the car to go pick up Jillian at school, and she shed huge crocodile tears as we drove away.

Jillian asked to write her own card to accompany her teacher's Christmas gift. She loves Mrs Davidson (and so do I)!

Another performance 'last'....Adrienne singing for the moms at Bible study with all the preschool aged kids

Matt and I went to two holiday parties for work. We never get pictures together just the two of us, so I demanded a picture before the second holiday outing. I impatiently waited for him to join me...

I realized as I counted backwards that this is in fact our 20th holiday season together. To throw it wayyyyyy back, here are a couple of 18 year old kids going to a dinner in KC for Matt's college student council during the holiday season of 1996. Ha!

We finally decorated Christmas cookies on the 19th. I got smart this year and just made a small batch. We each got 6 cookies to decorate and then eat as we saw fit. This means no grown ups were forced to consume a cookie that had been decorated/licked/glopped upon by kids. Excellent.

Adrienne came home from church on the 20th with Baby Jesus. Making Baby Jesus out of a sock was a new idea to me...

On the 22nd we headed to church so the kids (and later myself) could rehearse for singing on Christmas Eve. This picture sums it all up--Adrienne was a total charming ham, and Jillian was uber serious and focused about the task at hand.

Finally, on December 23rd, we got a little bit-o-snow! The girls were elated and promptly ran outside to make a snowman. They did really well--no adult help on this one!

Forms of Mary

The girls seem to have a hard time with Mary derivatives....

1. We have had Miss Marilyn as our piano teacher for over 1 year now. Jillian still calls her Miss Maryland. It's suppose it's slightly confusing when your piano teacher's name is very close to the name of the state in which your grandmother lives.

2. Adrienne was very excited about a Christmas picture she drew. "Mom! Here is Joseph, and Baby Jesus...and Maryam!" I asked her to repeat it no less than three times. Bet you didn't know that Baby Jesus' mother's name actually was Maryam, now did you?

In The Spirit

We enjoyed a fun weekend of holiday events at the country club to help get us in the spirit. On Saturday, we attended the family gingerbread house making. It was an exercise of restraint for all--for the kids to not hoard/eat all the candy, and the adults to not lose our minds managing the chaos! We enjoyed a delicious pasta buffet as we decorated our house, and chatted with the Tauntons who were seated at the table next to us. I love the idea of making a gingerbread house, but hate the mess it makes, so I was elated to walk away from it when we were done.

And today, we headed back to the country club after church for the annual Santa Brunch. The theme this year was 'princess and superheroes', so the kids were invited to dress up as either. Santa was of course there, and the bonus (for Adrienne especially) was that Elsa herself was at the brunch! She read stories to the kids, and even signed autographs. The food was amazing (so much to even think to list) and we all enjoyed really fun family time. They also had a horse drawn sleigh ride going outside, but it was rainy so we skipped out on that.

Our youngest princess just as we were seated.

Princess Jillian dressed as the Little Mermaid

Santa came for a chat. He reminded the girls that he likes cookies and milk, and put Jillian in charge of milk and Adrienne in charge of cookies. I am sure they will not forget.

Queen Elsa reading her story

After story time, we finally hit the dessert table. Man, oh man, did we have some fun. Adrienne devoured a huge piece of yule log cake and a cookie.

Jillian was excited about her Gingerbread boy cookie

Daddy went straight for the giant iced sugar cookie

And I....well, let's just say I took just about one of everything. Flourless chocolate torte, turtle brownie, carrot cake, mini cupcake. If the creme brulee hadn't been gone when I was up there, you can bet I would have nabbed that, too.

Following Elsa to get her autograph...

I am sure we will have this napkin forever!