Christmas: The reason we celebrate!

Sunday everyone slept until 7am!   That is a big accomplishment for our family. Ha.    The girls were in big church with us for our Christmas service and enjoyed popcorn and the movie message!   The girls had been asking to go to see Santa at the Choo Choo so we decided after church to go downtown for brunch and then to see Santa.  Its always so nicely decorated and they are so sweet to give the girls time to visit with him and not rush us through (and Mommy likes that they will email me the pictures with the copy right!).   It was a long wait but probably the best Santa pictures we have AND some good people watching too! 

Sunday Pic with Bella! 

Gracie Mommy picture with our glasses.  

Some days Maggie still needs her monkey and snuggles.  

Lunch at Food Works.  The girls got french toast which Gracie said "this is better than the frozen kind" (so I don't make french toast at home often or at all!)

Chattanooga Choo Choo Santa.  We love going here and do it every year.   

Gracie sharing what she has asked for (iPod Shuffle) 

Maggie sharing what she has asked for (American Girl Doll)

Love all the Christmas decorations at the Choo Choo! 

The photographer has this dog and Maggie LOVED it!  The dog as been there every year we have been going. 

Sweet Sisters! 

Sweet Gracie Bug 

Monday was dental appointments for the girls which is never bad (they do love Dr. Fred) but was nice to get that out of the way.  We then delivered a few Christmas flower arrangements to some special people. 

Maggie has been asking to have “her best friend Joy” (from church) over to play.  So we made that happen.  Gracie was not too excited to not have a friend  but she was a good sport!  We then wrapped Jimmy's presents.  

Maggie wrapped a pair of her scissors to give to Jimmy.  It was so sweet! 

Gracie is learning how to wrap and doing a nice job. 

We had a few low key days before Christmas.   Christmas Eve we always drive around with hot chocolate and see the lights in new PJs.  Christmas Eve This year there was a big light display at Camp Jordan to drive through.  It was set to music and the girls loved it.   Bella even got to ride!  

One of my favorite traditions is the girls (well okay all of us) get new PJs on Christmas Eve.  Up until now I have always wrapped them in these buckets, however as the girls get bigger Jammies don't fit as well in them.  I am on the hunt for new ones.  The girls begged for days to get them early!   They were so excited.   

We did pink this year!  I love these smiles! 

The girls said we should have gotten PJ's for Bella…ha!

Cookies for Santa! 

Christmas morning started at 5:30 with sweet little girls and a puppy ready to jump in the fun!   We had a great morning reading the last advent day before we did gifts.   Yes, Jesus is the best gift, the forever gift the all we need gift!    

We loved doing Christmas in the keeping room.  

Up bright and early!  

First reactions!   

Gracie has asked for a "GIANT" Twix bar!   Luckily Santa had a helper that was able to find this!  

Gracie was so eager to get her iPod Shuffle loaded with her songs! 

Love this reaction!   I'd say she was happy! 

Helping Daddy read what his gift was!  

The girls were so excited to give Daddy an experience to drive a real tank and an excavator this summer sometime with Papa, Uncle Joey and the boys!   

Priceless!  Maggie's reaction to her very own Pandora bracelet!  

Showing it to Sis.  Her first bead was a heart that read "my sweet pet" with paw prints for Bella.  Gracie got a puppy bead to add to hers as well. 

Love these blessings of mine! 

Daddy was showing Gracie how to use it and make sure her playlists were how she wanted them. 

This is how we spent Christmas afternoon (once our final tradition of getting all the Christmas decorations down was complete).  

So the girls big joke all Christmas season was that I needed antlers and a big red nose for my car.  So anyone that knows me clearly knows that I avoided this at all costs!   So christmas morning when I went out to my car this is what I saw…the girls won!  ha.  I agreed to drive it one day with it on.  They thought that was soooo funny!  

The girls always get new games and books for Christmas.  It was fun to learn this one!  We love it.  

Maggie played doctor and with her American Girl doll ALL DAY!  

Sleepy girl!  

Silly girl (but also sleepy girl)

Then we shared love and gifts that express this.  The girls were sweet saying over and over “this is the best Christmas ever”.  Which made this Mommy’s heart warm as we really tried to not overdue it!   O how much more does our Heavenly Father love to give gifts to us!    The pictures will capture the sweet moments and funny moments too!   

Friday Mommy was under the weather still and Ellie had been sick so instead Mommy took a sick day and chilled with us.  We did get to see Ellie for lunch and give Uncle Gabe hugs before heading home to relax more.   Over break Bella has gotten quite a bit of loves!  

Bella loves! 

Move Bella loves!