Every year, as Christmas approaches, I decide we're going to simplify. It never really turns out that way, of course. Between being determined to have new pajamas, new Christmas outfits, and wanting to give my children the world (and overgenerous grandparents allowing me to do my best to do so), Christmas tends to go a bit further than what I have written down on December 1st.
We were lucky enough to have Uncle Jon stay with us this week, but he's extremely talented at avoiding the camera and I didn't realize this until we dropped him off at the bus station this morning and couldn't find a single picture when I got home. The girls LOVED having him over.
All in all, the kids weren't too spoiled this Christmas, even if they did get everything they asked for and then some (in my defense, they only really asked for two things each).
Saturday night, we went to see the Zoo Lights at the Houston Zoo. I got two free tickets when I renewed our membership and the girls had developed a recent obsession with Christmas lights, so it was great. We didn't get very many pictures, unfortunately, but the girls enjoyed themselves.
Sunday morning they got their new outfits and shoes for church, which I did not get pictures of, but I'll dress them in the same outfits this Sunday and get cute pictures then. I bought the dresses, but the jackets (for the girls) were bought by their grandma and the shoes were from Grandpa Jim. Cadence's shoes had a little 1" heel on them and when she put them on and walked away I was floored with just how tall she suddenly looked. It was only an inch difference, but oh my goodness...
Monday morning was a special treat. Unknown to her, the girls' grandmother bought them a ticket to go see "Frozen" in theaters. They loved it. They had been seeing commercials and toys for the newest Disney flick for the past few months, and were ecstatic to get to see it in the theater.
Tuesday night, we baked cookies, drank cocoa, lit a fire, and wore new pajamas, then it was off to bed. Even Connor got the memo that Santa doesn't show up until everyone was asleep and cooperated.
We woke up to footprints and stockings and Santa brought our first "family present", a home theater system with blu-ray. It was set up a few hours later, though we did not put a lot of effort into it. With plans to move in a few months, it seemed silly to go above and beyond in setting it up.
After going through the stockings, it was time for presents. It was difficult to rein the excited girls in, but insisting they alternate between opening one of their presents and picking one or two for someone else, we managed to control it. Opening presents only took about twenty minutes and the girls were going nuts over pretty much everything they opened.
So, a quick rundown:
Cadence got a large Merida doll (from us), new sparkly jeans and a pink shirt (from Grandma), a new My Little Pony Equestria Girls doll (Fluttershy, from Grandpa), Snow White (from Lynne), and Candyland (also from Grandma).
Megan got a large Rapunzel doll (from us), her own pair of sparkly jeans and a shirt with ballet slippers on it (from Grandpa), a new My Little Pony Equestria Girls doll (Rainbow Dash, from Grandpa), Sleeping Beauty (from Lucas), and Hi-Ho Cherry-O (also from Grandma).
Connor got a Hulk and Iron Man action figure (from us), new clothes (from Grandma), a toy drum (from Grandpa), and a toy workbench (from Grandpa Jim, since Connor didn't get new shoes).
Grandpa Jim also bought the kids Despicable Me 1 & 2 (conveniently enough the value pack with blu-ray, DVD & digital copy) and Wreck-it Ralph (which the girls have been quoting/talking about nontstop since returning the library's copy).
James and I got a new crockpot, which is useful since the one we bought as newlyweds is way too small for our family now that the kids are actually eating. James got a new flashlight and an ice tray that makes ice in the shape of AK-47 ammo. I got a new hair dryer and hair curlers and James filled a gift bag with Lindt truffles (and I shall not mention how few are left 24 hours later).
Anyway, Christmas day was a blur of kids running back and forth with new toys, never the same one twice. They are in love with all of their new toys. And now, for those who are not on Facebook, pictures (there are a few that didn't make it to Facebook, as well)
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| Evidence of Santa, before the kids saw. |
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| Megan wore this tiara pretty much all day. |
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| The girls were so excited to get new dolls! |
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| Connor loves his new toys too (look, Uncle Jon's elbow!) |
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| The girls helped Connor open his present from Grandpa |
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| Megan was so excited to get Rapunzel |
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| Cadence loves her doll, we just made her stick her tongue out because all her smile pictures looked creepy. |
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| Connor ate his fair share of most of the dinner, but he loved gnawing on the piece of ham we gave him. |
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| The girls picked at a little of everything, but did get seconds of their favorite. |
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| Connor loved his pumpkin pie so much he began growling for a taste of mine when his was all gone. |
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