Christmas Eve at Home

So...we made it home from Newcastle around 7:30 and we told the girls that they could open up their presents from each other.  Well, that turned into wanting to open up more gifts and mom and dad gave in so they opened up one from us too and then Jason and I opened up our gifts to each other too.  It was important to us to have our kids sleep in their own beds and wake up on Christmas morning in their own home to see what Santa left them.  I always remember being so excited as a kid and always waking up super early to get downstairs to see what I got on Christmas morning.  Avery really didn't care about opening up anything, but she did of course want to play with everything Lily got and vice versa.  I love the looks on Lily's face in these pics...priceless.

Milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer.

My new coat from Jason...I was totally surprised and I totally love it!  He did good and he actually listens throughout the year!  I don't have a picture of him with his gift that he snooped and found over a month ago.  He got a new Blue Ray player...that we can't get to work...and a new movie for his Blue Ray player that we can't get to work.  :)



Christmas Eve on the Farm

I have so many pictures from Christmas that I feel the need to separate my posts...so bare with me...again.  On Christmas Eve morning we headed up to Newcastle and spent the day on the farm with Jason's family.  Lily and Avery were so excited to see their cousins and of course Grandma and Grandpa.  We got up there around 11:30 and made it back home around 7:30pm.  It was a quick, but good trip.  We enjoyed some yummy Lasagna for lunch and the girls had a ball playing with their cousins.  It was unusually nice out so Lily even got to play outside for a while.  This has obviously been the most fun year as watching Lily get into the Christmas spirit.  She was so excited to open up gifts, but she also talked about how it was Jesus birthday.  Of course she couldn't wait for Santa to come, but she is also starting to understand a little bit about the true meaning of Christmas.  Avery was napping during the gift opening, so she got to open hers up all by herself and one right after another.  Lily was a little impatient during gifts.  Each child got to open up one present at a time and then go around and let everyone else open one up.  Lily didn't like this, but it all turned out okay.  She was thrilled with all of her gifts...especially her Disney Princess and Barbie ones! 

 Playing with the balls on Grandma Romaine's pool table.

 Big girl standing up!

 Lily and her cousin Mitchell

 Avery and Mommy

 Avery and cousin Mitchell

 Lily and Daddy

 "Is it my turn yet?"

 "Look what I got Mom!"

 Cousin Mitchell in his gift from Uncle Gary and Aunt Becky...he couldn't wait to put it on!

 My baby girl opening up her presents.

 The beads are always a favorite at Grandma's

 Tuckered out from all of the fun!

Mommy and Daddy

Random December Pics

I am a little behind in my blogging this month.  I have a ton of pics to sort through, but some of them don't really go with an actual "post" so I created this random post.  Here ya go...

 The above pictures are from our annual gingerbread house.  Lily and Jason have made one together for the past 3 years.  Avery got to watch this year front the front row of her highchair.  Lily did most of the decorating herself this year.

 This random picture is from a "mini" Christmas that I hosted at my house with my mom, dad, Grandma, brother and sister.  I have done this the past two years.  We baked a ham and had potato soup along with some other goodies.  We enjoy getting together will all of our extended families, but this is a way to spend some time with our "smaller" family. 

 As you can see the above pictures are of our Christmas tree.  I was experimenting a little with my camera.  I have had my camera for 4 years now, and I still don't know how to use it.  Imagine that.  I have been wanting and begging for a new tree for the past two years.  I want a BIG tree...not one that is almost my height.  Jason tells me that it is fine and that we don't need to spend money on a bigger tree while the kids are little and messing with it...SIGH.

 I love my little breakfast buddies. :)

 Jason came home one day and suprised us all during his break.  The girls love when he is home.  He is a BIG KID himself!

 Spending some quality SNUGGLE time on the couch with daddy.  Notice...Avery rarely is without her bunny and her thumb...love her!

This last random pic is the only one I got the night we went to see Santa...because my hubby wouldn't let me sneak outside of Santa's yard to snap anymore!

SaNtA cLaUs

Jason and I took the girls to see Santa last night at Oakview Mall.  I thought that on a Monday night it wouldn't be as busy...I was wrong.  We waited in line for about 30-45minutes (not as bad as years past).  The girls were a little inpatient so I walked around with them while daddy held our spot in line.  I was bummed because I wasn't going pay $25 for a little picture and this year they wouldn't let you use your own camera to take any pics of your own.  The past 3 years I have always been able to take my own pics.  I was going to go around outside of the Santa area and take some pics, but Jason wouldn't let me.  He even said, "I can't believe you would do that."  I was like...this momma WILL have a pic of my babies on Santa's lap and I WILL NOT pay $25 for one!  He won...I didn't get a pic.  That is why there is no picture to go with this post.  It was, however, your classic Santa visit.  Lily was sweet as pie and Avery threw a fit.  She did not like Santa at all and only lasted a few seconds before I picked her up.  I think Lily was in shock because she forgot everything that she wanted to ask Santa for.  He asked her if she wanted a football and she said yes.  Silly Lily!  I may not have an actual picture, but I do have the memory in my heart and that is where it will stay forever. I'm pretty sure  Avery's screaming red face will stay in my mind for a while too!  :)

Avery is 14 Months!

Hard to believe that the time seems to be going even faster than before!  Avery turned 14 months old today.  Avery has really changed a lot lately...I think.  She is getting more hair and her face is thinning out.  She still doesn't have enough hair to put a bow in though...HURRY up and GROW hair!  Your momma has a MILLION bows to put in your hair!  She is not my laid back quiet little girl anymore...at all.  She likes to yell and she likes to fight if she doesn't get what she wants.  She will throw an all out tantrum...kicking, screaming, and throwing her head back on the floor.  She has a temper and she is not afraid to let anybody know.  Avery loves her big sister, but she doesn't put up with anything from her.  Avery may be the younger, smaller sibling, but she can definitely hold her own and she actually ends up winning with Lily.  The two are so cute when the play together and not so cute when they constantly argue with one another.  Whatever one has, the other one HAS to have!  They have matching sippy cups and they could both have milk in it, but they want the other one's cup.  Tonight for dinner they both had fish sticks.  One had 4 on a green plate, and the other had 4 on a purple plate.  They didn't want their own fish sticks...Avery wanted Lily's and Lily...well Lily didn't want any of them, but you get the point.  I'm dreading what it will be like when they are older! 

What Avery is doing at 14 months:

*sleeps most of the night...still gets up sometimes between 4-4:30

*loves to be rocked at night and at nap time

*takes 2-3 short naps a day

*eats like a champ

*wears size 4 diapers

*18 month clothes

*size 5 shoe...if she ever wears them

*can say mama, dada, bop, night, IIIIYYYYEEEE (Lily), up, ball

*has almost 5 teeth

*not walking yet but stands up on her own and loves her walker toy

*is still my little snuggler

*still sucks her thumb and loves her snuggle bunny and blankies

*likes music and likes to dance

Lily's Christmas Program

Last Sunday was Lily's Christmas program at Church.  She has been busy practicing for the past 3 weeks.  She has practiced Sunday mornings in Sunday school and on Wednesday nights at Wednesday Night Live.  She would never sing her songs to us at home, except for a few words of one song.  I would always tell her she needed to practice, and she would always tell me, no, no mom, no.  I asked her how many songs she would be singing and she told me 5.  I think she pulled that out of nowhere, but I think they actually did sing 5 songs.  I wasn't worried at all  that she wouldn't sing up on stage in front of everyone.  Lily is an entertainer and she enjoys being up front and on center stage.  She made her momma proud...she sang like a star up there.  She brought tears to my eyes (does this surprise anyone?).  I think she really enjoyed herself too because she had a little smile on her face.  She sang all of the words and she did all of the actions.  I was up front taking pictures of her and she caught my eye.  I waved at her and her little smile lit up even brighter!  I hope as my kids grow up that I never have to miss moments like this.  They are too important and the time goes by way too fast.  I love the memories that we are making as a family with our girls right now.  If I could freeze the month of December I would!  I love, love, love this time of year!