Christmas week & photo dump

We went to my parents for Christmas as always.  Of course we had a blast there with all of our family!  My sister and co go too…making for a busy house but man what a blast. I really loved this year as Miss H was big enough to understand more and participate in things.  Our drive there was fine until the last hour… as they were getting snow all day.

However minus the roll over beside us and car sliding around a corner we made it fine.  Plus the snow gave the kiddos great fun the next morning.  This is the 3rd year in a row that it has snowed on Christmas/or the trip there.

After fun out in the cold it was time to warm up.  What better way to warm up than by making Christmas cookies!!!  My sister and I have been making Christmas cookies together since I can remember.  We always went to my grandma's and did it.  This is a family tradition that will NEVER go away! We even use the same cookie cutters and chat about memories from her house.  I can't wait till my mom and dad finish remodeling my grandparents house and move in…then we will be in the same kitchen with our tradition again!

Oh the traditions…they don't end with cookies! Of course we have to have our annual Christmas picture with Santa!  Yes we take a picture with Santa every year, my grandma loved it.  Since her passing we have continued this as well…but now its not just Abby and I! Both our families take the picture together…Santa has to clear a big space for all of us!

Once Christmas Eve arrived all the kiddos were excited! B kept asking all day how long till Santa comes, it was 8 am when he began asking! Having Miss H's cousins there really adds to the fun.  Each kiddo picked out a cookie for Santa.  We left him milk and water (Because Ems thinks he may get sick of milk after all those house).  Then they got the carrots out for the reindeer…and placed them in the driveway!  They also go to open a book and jambes!! We were prepared for Santa and off to bed the kiddos went.  Of course much excitement and giggling went with bed time…needless to say they managed to get to sleep at some point.

The next morning was CHRISTMAS!! Everyone was excited and ready to tear into the living room.  Thankfully we have a little gate we put up to hold the kiddos back till mommy's and daddy's get their camera ready! The joy and excitement went on and on…Miss H wanted a horse and man did she get one plus so much more! 

Needless to say Christmas was over the top as always! We loved spending time with our family and friends.  Miss H is sad to be back home without Uncle B and her cousins…she really loved Uncle B this trip :-)  Hope your Christmas was as Merry as ours! 

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours!!

Breakfast with Santa

Last Saturday our sweet friends Carrie and Mike invited us to join them at a charity event.  They are the best for thinking of us.  Miss H and LK play together a lot so this was another fun event the girls got to do together.  Carrie and I went to high school together so we love that our girls are friends too.  The event was Breakfast with St. NICUlas it was benefiting a local NICU. Of course you know that I have a new found sympathy for any family that has to be in the NICU after our PICU stay with Miss H last January.You can read more about it here.  Needless to say this events donations will help many families who need it!!

The event was amazing to say the least.  There were children everywhere enjoying great music and fun.  We began our breakfast by taking our picture with Santa.  Miss H still didn't want to sit on his lap.  She promised not to cry if I would go with her.  LK also felt the need for her mom to come.  We tried to get a picture of the girls first…then did our family picture.  I am hoping we got a good one but who knows!!

This pic is going down in the books for sure…trying to get both of them to just sit! 

Well at least they aren't crying anymore!

After our picture fun we moved on to food.  That perked Miss H up right away…such a little food lover! The food was wonderful and kept Miss H pretty happy.  She really was loving everything.  After we ate we roamed around doing various things.  You could go to the photo booth, pin booth, decorate a cookie, make a craft, see the reindeer, and dance.

We began with the reindeer.  Both Miss H and LK were in love with Dancer.  I learned a lot of interesting facts about reindeer while the girls looked at it.  H did try to touch Dancer at one point…I quickly explained that it may not be the best idea!  After meeting Dancer we made a few buttons.  I love this one…because how often are there buttons around anymore.  I mean when I was a kid your parent wore your sports button at games and such.  H made a few buttons and loves to look at them!

I took a pic while the button guy was taking his…She had a silly smile!!

While we were there we ran into the my super sweet OBGYN…I adore her! She couldn't believe how big H was…and neither can I.  Then we did some cookie decorating and dancing.

In front of one of the big trees

Oh and did I mention that there were 2 guys walking around on stilts…H was not sure about those guys at all.  I really wanted a pic of her standing by their shoe for a size comparison, but she would not do it.  Oh well such as life.  This was such a fun outing for our family.  We are so grateful that they invited us to come.  Plus Carrie and I will have some great THROW BACK THURSDAY pictures for the girls to use one day! If that is still cool then, ha.