Christmas Day

About 8:30 we heard a set of little excited feet come into our room exclaiming come see what Santa brought he brought stuff for everyone. Matt and I got up and came out as Hallie was looking everything over. We peeked at Grace and she was still out like a light. Hallie wanted to wait for Gracie to open most of her gifts but with some prodding she opened all the gifts in her stocking and liked what she found. 

 We all got headlamps for our side tables for the nights the power goes out

When she opened this Ariel doll she said oh Ariel I have been waiting for you for so long...a little dramatic...I think so.

 After Hallie finished opening her stocking she said oh thank you I got everything I wanted. I guess we could have just filled her stocking?

 And then Hallie took some pictures of us

 Matt and I were content to watch Hallie open her gifts but she wasn't she started handing Matt and I things to open and even wanted to take some pictures of us. Then we decided to take a breakfast break since Gracie still wasn't up. We had breakfast casserole with ham, hashbrowns, peppers, mushrooms, cheese, and eggs. The Gracie woke up and the fun continued.

 Gracie was initially very confused about what we were all doing. And then was more interested in the presents Hallie had already unwrapped. But once she got started she caught on quick.

 My whole world

 We also got some disk guns. They shoot little foam disks Nate had some when we were younger and they were a blast. They are still a blast 15 years later. I think they were one of Hallie's favorite toys.

 Joy was very thoughtful and got us all beach towels since we now have a boat.

 Gracie once again trying to put on multiple layers of clothing

 The steps of gracie opening a gift....open the box and realize there is something desirable in it

 Pull the item out and hug it like its the coolest thing ever

 Then show it to everyone and look like the cutest thing you have ever seen...oh we love this girl

 Gracie also got some Little Einstein Dvds and once she opened one of them she didn't want to open anything else until she had watched it so Christmas was on pause until the show finished

 Our matching coats

 Gracie quickly put her princess brush to use...first victim mommy!

 Im so excited about my new pans I have already used them multiple times

 Then we had an hour before we got to Skype with Nate. As soon as he cam on the screen Gracie and Hallie started talking to him and Gracie kept saying Nate, Nate like she couldn't believe it was him. It was awesome to hear him speak and see how much he has learned and grown. We are so proud of him. Of coarse there was a couple emotional moments like when he bore his testimony....not a dry eye.

 And then we spent the rest of the day relaxing. We had a nice Christmas dinner complete with herb roasted turkey, corn, stuffing, and rolls. It was nice to not have to get ready to go anywhere. The day went to quickly

Merry Christmas to all we are excited to see what this next year brings and feel blessed for the way the last year has gone. We love our girls and the way they brighten our lives and we often wonder what we did without them but are glad we never have to find out.

Christmas Eve

Christmas's are just getting more and more fun the older the girls get but we still aren't sure of what traditions we want to have be part of our Christmas celebration every year. With last year being our last year to travel to be somewhere else for Christmas this year was the 1st year we were really trying to figure it out. This year was also our year for Christmas with the Brower's. We made plans to do dinner at Chuck o Rama but when we arrived they were closed so Joy quickly thought and decided we should see if Texas Roadhouse was open and luck for us they were. I was really glad we had decided to go out since the day had been really busy and I would have been majorly stressed trying to cook for our group. We all had a great meal and great conversation.

 Then we headed off to the Christmas Village in downtown Ogden. The weather was pretty warm considering but the weather that day had been warmer and so the snow had melted and refroze making everything icy and really dangerous. So we carefully wandered around for about an hour before heading back to our house.

 Our little family with big personality we had to retake the first picture since Hallie's hands were in Grace's face....can you see the attitude?

 Once we got home we let all the kids open their Christmas Pjs. The girls were really excited to actually open a present they have been staring at for about a month

Hallie was so in love with her princess pjs and twirled and danced around the remainder of the night

Gracie alos liked her pjs so much she tried to put them on over the clothes she was wearing...lol

Joy also bought the kids pjs Hallie also really liked her Tangled nightgown she got.

 Our girls in their PJs

 All the cousins and their pjs

 And of coarse my girls wanted to do a silly face(we always have silly face pictures after they smile and look at the camera)

 After everyone else headed for home we got ready and headed for bed anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival. The next morning this is what we found.

 Gracie's

 Hallie's

 Mommy's

 Daddy's

 It has been fun to try different things to see what traditions we want to have with our little family as well as with both of our extended families I think we will continue to try thing until we find a few we love. Until then...what are your favorite traditions?