We have MANY MANY Christmases. For the most part, we celebrate the same way every year.
On Christmas Eve, we head to my Grandma Margaret's house to celebrate with my dad (Papa Steve) and his side of the family.
The kids just loved playing with their gifts.
Papa Steve brought in a big bag and got their toys of it. Just like Santa! (hee hee)
The girls loved their Dora dolls and Crew was PUMPED about his cars.
Baby Millie slept through all the fun. She woke up just as we were leaving!
But then we headed to Mammy and DanDan's house. We usually do Christmas with them on Christmas morning, but work schedules made is where we had to make some changes. It worked out so well for everyone, I think this change is going to stick!
Sitting "patiently"
Even Millie got a seat!
Surprisingly enough, she was really into unwrapping! She loved all the colors and getting to grab everything we put in front of her!
Look at all those gifts!
I love this picture. It shows what I see all the time...Ainsley leaning down to ask her dad something. Not posed....just them talking. I love it!
This is also how I see Daddy and Millie most of the time right now, too!
After talking and enjoying some time playing with all of our toys...we headed home to get ready for SANTA!
Ainsley got new pj's at Mammy's, so she was already dressed for bed. CHECK!
Then to put out the reindeer food...
CHECK!
Ainsley, KK and Mammy made gingerbread cookies for Santa. I told her that Santa ate cookies all night and we should just leave a couple, but she INSISTED we put out all of the ones she brought home.
CHECK!
Santa didn't eat them all...and she noticed. But I explained how many cookies he had to eat and he probably thought her daddy would like one or two! (hee hee)
Now off to bed. And in order for Santa to know you are home, you have to sleep in your own bed...ALL NIGHT.
I really didn't know if that would work-but it did!
So bright and early the next morning....
Santa brought Ainsley EVERYTHING she asked for!!
And Amelia got lots of "necessities".
We got to just take our time, open our gifts and enjoy the morning.
We didn't even have to get dressed.
I enjoyed having Christmas day just for my family. To sit and thank God for everything he has given me.
Ainsley and Amelia got to play with all their toys and Daddy and I got to watch!
The next weekend, we celebrated with Joe's family.
Every year we take pics in front of the Christmas Tree. It's fun to look back and see how everyone has changed from years past. This year we sure changed. The family went from three children to six!!!
So many more toys...so much more noise...so much more EXCITEMENT!