Christmas 2011

Here we go...lots of pictures from our Christmas celebrations! Charlie and Lily had a great weekend and were spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. ;) We kicked things off on Friday the 23rd with a visit from Daddy dressed as Santa. Each year Joe buys them each a special gift and brings it to them dressed as Santa. This year, however, Lily has entered her "scared of Santa" phase and was not so happy to see Santa Daddy walk into the room. (When Joe went and changed out of his Santa suit, causing Lily to proclaim, "Oh good! Daddy got changed!")
Charlie thought it was a fun game, though!
Both Charlie and Lily loved their special gifts, regardless of their feelings on Santa Daddy. Lily got a Dora the Explorer backpack complete with Map and Boots.
Charlie got a big firetruck. And I got a gift too! Charlie and Lily went to Build-a-Bear (with a little help from Daddy and MomMom) and made me a polar bear. When I press the bear's paws I hear recordings of Charlie and Lily singing "Jingle Bells" and proclaiming "Merry Christmas, Mommy!" It's pretty awesome. After spending some time with their presents, Charlie and Lily painted the salt dough ornaments we had made earlier in the day, and then we went to our favorite restaurant for dinner before driving around to look at Christmas lights.
Christmas Eve was spent at Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike's house. Charlie and Lily kicked off the night by seeing Santa come by the house on the fire truck and then munching on the candy canes he gave them.
After dinner it was time to open Santa gifts. Charlie was much more interested in handing out the gifts and seeing what everyone received than he was in opening his own presents.
Oooh, Uncle John got a pie plate!
Lily was so excited that she just had to dance!
They both also enjoyed spending time with family. They were happy to see their great-grandfather, "Big PopPop."
When we got home from celebrating Christmas Eve, Charlie and Lily made sure to leave out some cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer before going to bed.
Then it wasn't long before Santa came!
Gifts were opened on Christmas morning while wearing our awesome matching pajamas made by my friend Amber (go to Facebook and "like" Piper's Closet for more info).
Santa left Charlie and Lily a special letter along with their gifts.
Lily was very excited to see her new doll house.
And they both really liked the double-sided easel. Charlie's big gift was a workbench complete with tools.
But the little light-up marble racer cars were his favorite gift from Santa.
The books were well received too!
Once the presents from Santa were opened, it was time for our families to visit. MomMom, PopPop, Uncle John and Aunt Bec arrived first with lots of wonderful gifts. Uncle John and Aunt Bec gave Charlie a fire truck and fireman's hat, and Lily received a new doll stroller and an Abby Cadabby doll and book. MomMom and PopPop spoiled them as usual with clothes, an Alphie, a music learning tablet, a Let's Rock Elmo with all the pieces to form an entire band...and that's just to name a few things. They also received some great gifts from their great-aunts and cousins. Next, Crackers, Grandad, Nana, Aunt Jill and Uncle John arrived with MORE gifts. There was a Thomas train set for Charlie and a Minnie's house playset for Lily from Aunt Jill and Uncle Aaron, great V-Tech number and letter writing toys from Nana, and a fun Fridge Phonics set from Crackers, along with a train table for Charlie and a baby doll care station for Lily.
After a (all too short) nap, it was off to Nana's house to visit with Aunt Diane, Uncle John and cousin Adam and to get some more gifts. Diane, John and Adam gave Charlie and Lily Magna-Doodles, Memory, Puppy Bingo and great animal-themed hat/glove sets. They also gave each of them a personalized Santa hat, which Lily insisted on wearing the rest of the evening. Finally it was on to Uncle John's for Christmas dinner. At this point Charlie and Lily reached an over-stimulated, over-tired high that left them giddy and racing from room to room of Uncle John's house. The fact that there was a bowl of M&Ms left within their reach also added to their wackiness.
But there are much worse ways to end Christmas than with smiling, chocolate covered kids :)