Christmas Evening

Because of how our Christmas plans worked out, we were going to have already visited both families by Christmas Day.  We decided to invite my family to our house on Christmas Day so that we could also spend time with Bryant, LeAnna, and Emerson since they weren't in Philadelphia when we were.  Everyone was sweet enough to agree to do things a little differently and come to our house!  We enjoy hosting things so it worked out really well.

Emerson and Ellington tested out Ellington's new Tinker Bell walkie talkies.  They had trouble remembering to hold the button down while they talked so they mostly just talked in loud voices to each other. :)

My parents

Uncle Bryant is a GREAT babysitter!

Robert and I were pretty busy in the kitchen.  He fried another turkey and we also did ham, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, and rolls.  My mom brought dressing and LeAnna brought dessert.  It was DELICIOUS!

This picture didn't go so well.  :)  Ha!  This was the best I got.  Finley was the most cooperative out of all 3 kids.

We exchanged gifts with Bryant, LeAnna, and Emerson after supper.

My sweet sister!

This post wraps up a great Christmas season.  We loved having two beautiful girls to celebrate with!

Christmas Morning

Until this year I would have told you, "We don't really do Santa".  I think these pictures will tell you the updated version of the story:

Christmas Eve-

Christmas Morning-

Ha!  It looks like Santa came!  :)  Initially we weren't going to do Santa because we didn't want our kids to be so focused on Santa or think gifts just came from nowhere and you could get whatever you want.  I could go on and on about why we weren't going to do Santa.  But then?  This year?  This sweet little 4 year old girl started talking about Santa and asking about Santa.  And ya'll, I couldn't tell her "Oh, well Santa isn't real".  We didn't talk about Santa a ton and I DEFINITELY didn't use it as a disciple technique (you know...behave because Santa is watching and he won't bring presents if you are bad) but Ellington was so excited about Santa coming and leaving surprises in her stocking.  We put out cookies and milk as well as reindeer food.  It was fun and exciting.  I am glad we went back on our original decision.  Childhood is so short and I think the magic of Santa is a sweet, special thing. :)

Finley's first Christmas morning!  She was the first one up!

The only thing Ellington asked for was a stuffed unicorn.  It was the first thing she ran to and she was SO EXCITED!

Robert snapped this (I don't even remember him doing it) and I love it.  

Ellington kept saying "I can't believe I got a stuffed unicorn.  I can't believe I got what I asked for!"  Love it!

I was so excited about giving her a jewelry box with a twirling ballerina!

What a FUN morning!

Christmas in Philadelphia

We went to Philadelphia to celebrate Christmas at Pop and Grams' house on Monday evening.  I always love their Christmas tree!

Finley had a stocking this year!

I don't do a ton of extra activities at Christmas because I feel like I have trouble just keeping up with the minimum during this season of life, but this is one tiny project we did during the month of December.  We added a cotton ball each day.  On Christmas Eve Ellington got to put the last one on.  She was soooo excited that his beard was finally full!  (And I was thinking...how can his beard already be full?!  We just started!)

My two girls on Christmas Eve morning! 

Reagan's new kitty, Madge, was there too!  

We opened gifts on Christmas Eve morning.

Ellington got this adorable dress up outfit with a matching outfit for her bitty baby!  She LOVED it!

We went to the Christmas Eve service at my parents church.  Finley wasn't really having it so Robert and I missed most of the service.  The highlight was definitely seeing Ellington with her very first candle for the first time.  She was so proud and she was quite the beauty holding her candle and singing along to "Silent Night".  I hope I never forget that moment!

We had a great time in Philadelphia!  After supper we headed back to Starkville with two very tired girls who needed be tucked in to bed so that Santa could come. :)