This blog post could alternately be titled "how many pictures can one posting hold?" We've had a lot of Christmas around here this week, but I'm going to try to cram it all in one big post!
I intended to get some pics of the house decorated before we destroyed it, but forgot until the last minute, so Travis snapped a few before we did our family Christmas.
We had a tree in the living room and in the front window of the dining room this year. It was fun to have a more formal (aka where the breakable ornaments go) and a family tree (aka the fun tree).
We chose to have our little family of 4 Christmas on the 23rd before Christmas Eve eve service. I loved that Noelle's school church did a service on the 23rd. It was awesome and a lot less stressful than trying to take the whole family on the 24th. Her school has had some great special Christmas services this year and we have really enjoyed and gotten a lot out of them.
Noelle has had a small doll house that I picked up at a consignment and she would play with it for HOURS. So we surprised her with a BIG doll house this year that will hold Barbie sized dolls.
She absolutely loved it!
This sweet boy got an activity garden that he has loved, too!
Poor baby with those red cheeks! He had a 103.6 degree temp that night! Poor thing has been sick for WEEKS. He has been on an antibiotic for a week that he was put on when they found an ear infection at his well check last week and now that his snot and congestion is improving he seems to have gotten another virus and now progressed to a tummy bug. So he was having a pretty fussy first Christmas.
this picture makes me laugh. I pulled out what I thought was a body butter lotion, but as soon as Noelle and I put some on we noticed it was gritty and didn't rub in. It was an exfoliating body scrub. Whoops!
On Christmas Eve we celebrated with my side of the family and did our meals and gift exchange. I didn't take any pics of the food, but we did a fish fry and it was awesome. I think it might become a new tradition!
We were so excited that Grandmother and Grandpa came to stay with us!
Silly girl has gotten a few cute towels from Aunt Bonnie over the last 2 years. She always finds cute ones that are awesome for swim lessons!
Aunt Bonnie with her Home Depot gift card that came with the coolest light up card.
Gramps and Collin opening presents.
Much like this picture 4 years ago:
Noelle "helping" Grandpa!!
My little snuggle bear (eating a tag I'm sure!)
Poor baby was feeling rough by the end of the night.
He did perk up with this cute snowman from Grandpa and Grandmother.
Noelle got a really cool Bible story puzzle book from them that she has spent a lot of time with already.
Gigi and her new watch.
Collin and Grandmother always bond well when they visit!
Noelle had a special surprise from GiGi, Gramps, Grandmother, and Grandpa this year that was too big for the tree.
A new Cinderella bicycle with a baby doll carriage up front!
She has ridden that bike for hours already!
Travis wanted to make gingerbread cookies with Noelle this year. We had NO idea what an undertaking that is!
We had some interesting ones!
Noelle's preschool gave us a bag of reindeer food (Cheerios and oats) mixed with glitter to "guide" the reindeer to our house.
We made sure to put it in a nice clump in front of the steps !
Santa had arrived the next morning!
Collin had fun with the puppies this year.
Sweet kiddos "cooking" in the kitchen.
On the 25th, Travis' family arrived and we had our 3rd Christmas (a certain 4 year old LOVED this!).
She got some fun new dress up clothes including her first Ariel costume.
We learned our lesson the day before trying to do presents with grumpy baby, so this time we did presents while he napped and then he had several to open when he woke up!
Collin and his puppy!
Another fun dress up outfit for Chef Noelle to cook us something yummy!
It's been a fun whirlwind few days. Collin finally seems to be feeling better and is starting to eat again. And the house may take a week to get cleaned up, but it was great to visit with everyone!
