Christmas prep

TREE:CHECK

our Christmas tree has been up for weeks (more like a month) and I finally took a picture. It is not that big of a tree and has always looked a little akward or dwarfed in our apartment but we really don't have room for a bigger one. So this year I propped it up and I think it works.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE: CHECK

Riley was not happy to pose for another picture, but she did want to make sure her little gingerbread house made the photo too.

SNOW: CHECK

Can you see all the snow outside? The snow I mentioned in a previous post, was just a skiff compared to want dumped down on Thursday morning and almost daily since then. Wow, maybe we'll finally have a white Christmas.

SANTA: CHECK

We saw Santa at 3 separate parties and the girls sat on his lap every time, but sadly this is my best picture. (We've never gone for the pictures with Santa at the mall, with the long lines and picturesque background and high prices.)

PARTY: CHECKCHRISTMAS SWEATERS: CHECK

usually tacky, I know, but aren't they adorable on the girls? matching, yes, but for $7 each, I couldn't pass them up.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: CHECK

With a week until Christmas, we headed to our parents to spend the holiday (it took forever with all the compact snow and ice on the roads, but slowly but surely we arrived safely). The evening of our arrival, Grandma gets out a special tree just for the girls to decorate and play with (clever ploy, I must say, to keep their attention off the big tree).

KIDS' TREE: CHECK

We've had a blast goofing around and doing all sorts of things to prepare for Christmas.

SUGAR COOKIES: CHECK

Making the family recipe and frosting them with my dad is always a must at this time of year. Riley even got her own little rolling pin from the grandparents.

The crew and final product.

SNOW ANGELS: CHECK

well it just kept snowing, but sun finally came out so the girls, grandma and I took the opportunity to play in the snow.

SNOWMAN: check?

does a snow heap count? The snow just refused to pack and we refused to give up so we comprised I suppose.

SHOPPING: DONE

I starting shopping really early this year in prep for early Christmas, I got almost all my presents before Thanksgiving. I just kept getting the toys, books, etc when they were on sale and hiding them away. I had a hard time stopping when I was finished. It felt weird not to participate in the 'holiday rush.'

WRAPPING: COMPLETED

I really like wrapping presents!!

WE ARE READY AND EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

COLD

day 2: still snow on the ground, still freezing
but that won't keep us from enjoying the holiday festivities

we found a way to get free tickets to ice skating Monday nights, we weren't sure how Riley would do, but for free, might as well try.

our backs are a little sore, but we mostly had fun and even gave Emma a short turn

what a cutie!

We then ventured over to Snowflake Lane and watched the drummers drum and dance. They even made it snow a little from the top of the buildings, which was quite anticlimactic considering there was still a little real snow on the ground. (unheard of!)

snow, Snow, SnOw, SNOW!!

I can't believe it snowed here, last night. Even more unreal is the fact that it stuck around all night long to play with in the morning. So we bundled up and ventured out, briefly...

it was a little cold

but we had fun anyways.
SNOW!
(does anyone else like that song from White Christmas?)

3 holidays in 1 week

does it get any better? birthday cake, pumpkin pie, & Christmas presents in just a few days.

yeah it was a little busy but totally fun. jessica had a birthday that we had fun celebrating, repeatedly (thanks friends & family!).We had 2 yummy thanksgiving dinners and more fabulous pie than could possibly be eaten (thanks mom!).

Riley was in heaven because she got to help, with everything.

All of Michael's siblings joined us for Thanksgiving but will be with in-laws for Christmas, so while we were all together we decided to celebrate Christmas early.
So we decorated the tree togetheracted silly together

opened LOTS of fabulous presents together
took family pictures together
and apparently wore matching outfits almost constantly.
Thanks to our fabulous families for a wonderful Thanksgiving, birthday & early Xmas!!