Christmas Eve.

We always spend Christmas Eve with Nene and Duke...This year was no different.  There was a lot of family and a lot of little kids.  The best kind of celebration if you ask me.  Oliver was sleeping before the fun even started.

 Duke and Hady looking festive.

 There were presents.  One of my presents keeps coming all year long...ZOOBOOKS!  I can't wait for my first one.

 Hady got her first real barbie and check out that purse that carries the goodies.

 Minus Ollie.

 Dino checkers were a hit even with the big guys.

 A few of Santa's elves...Ali and Noah.

 Our attempt at a family picture...not. too. bad.

 And home to bed but first reindeer food has to be spread.

 And milk has to be poured for Santa.

 And cookies need to be placed by the fire.  But we can't leave the fire on...Santa would never make it down the chimney.

More preparations...

Christmas is coming and what better way to celebrate than with friends...we made gingerbread houses and reindeer food to get ready for the big day with some of our favorite friends.  Gingerbread houses are all about the candy if you didn't know.

 Oh, and reindeer food is all about the food and sparkles so reindeer can find them.

 Then, on Christmas Eve day we had to decorate cookies.  Santa likes cookies at each house he visits and we had to make ours special.  Hady thought that meant colorful icing and lots of sprinkles.  I agreed.

 Then they had to be taste tested.

Christmas round one...

We celebrated Christmas a little early at the lake.  It is always fun.  Lots of people and lots of cousins all together for a before Christmas celebration.  It is like a pre-party!  Gearing up for the big day.

 There was sledding at the lake...sledding with and without snow gear.  This was without.

And from the porch...

Sledding with snow gear came later.  And boy did we get wet but it was so fun.

 

Next, celebration was Christmas at Grandpa and Catherine's....Oliver is always there but sleeping most of the time so here is a picture to prove he is around.

 Presents all around...

Smiles for a good night with family.

 And mommy's very favorite photo from all of Christmas...taken on her iphone but still captured three perfect smiles.

Celebrating the season.

We have a lot to catch up on...always seems like we do.  Towards the end of the holiday season things get busy and I forget to keep my loyal followers up to speed.
Here are our letters to Santa...and this year he even had time to write back.  Oliver even got a letter.

 Then Hady had a Christmas program for preschool.  She got a brand new sparkly dress.  Of course, she had to have some pink on too.  I think she would wear this dress every day if she could.

 She knew the arm motions and everything.

 Brought back memories of my first music program at Faith....ahhhh.

 And a few of her admirers.

 Later that week, we were off for our adventure on the Polar Express.  We boarded the train in French Lick on a cold, snowy night.  I got to leave school early so we could make the train departure on time.  Of course, we had to wear pjs...new Christmas pjs that mommy picked out special.  Oliver even had a pair with Santa.

 All aboard.

 The elves were Hady's favorite.  The dancing kept her busy on our long trek north.

 Then, Santa appeared.

 Ho. Ho. Ho.

 Every train has a conductor.

 And at least three elves.

 After going to the North Pole, we went back to our room and got room service.  Only thing missing was a root beer.  The next morning, we got to walk around the hotel and saw the biggest tree ever!

 A gingerbread house.

 And the reindeer stable.

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We are definitely gearing up for Christmas!