Christmas 2011

I love Christmas. Even the hustle-bustle doesn't deter me from enjoying this time of year to it's fullest. I really think the "Nesting" urges that have come with this pregnancy helped this year though. I started Christmas shopping in October, and had just about everything done by the time the big day rolled around.

A week or two before Christmas, Santa and his helpers tour our neighborhood, stopping at every star painted on our street. Last year we were just confused by all the sirens that announce his arrival, and we locked our doors tight, thinking the police must be looking for some fuguitive. This year, finally understanding, we rushed out to the nearest star. The kids had a great time telling Santa what they wanted for Christmas.

Abby: "A Rapunzel dress, Rapunzel shoes, and Rapunzel hair." Stryder: " A bell from your sleigh."

"Bye Santa!"

Christmas eve was fun too. Stryder was super sick with a cold, so Abby and Daddy went to Long Beach for the annual Jones Family Christmas Party. The kids got to open one present each before they left: Abby got Rapunzel jammies and a Rapunzel plush, and Stryder got Buz Light Year Jammies and a Buz Light Year plush. They were both thrilled and couldn't wait to wear their new jammies that night for bed.

After Santa came to our house, we snapped a few photos. Here are the highlights:

Puppet show and puppets from mom and dad.

Train table for Stryder from Santa

Barbie doll house for Abby from Santa.

With the new baby coming soon, the theme this year for presents was self-directed play. Granny-K gave Abby her Rapunzel hair, shoes, and dress, and Grandma gave the kids a giant play kitchen to replace their $20 garage sale find from a few years ago.

Christmas Day

Lots of fun! Grandpa gave Stryder his Buz Light Year accessories, and with the jammies, he is just so stinkin' cute!

Abby wore her Rapunzel dress, hair, and shoes for the next two weeks straight. (She hasn't put her dress on yet in this pic.)

Presents were followed by brunch and dinner at our house. We were fortunate to be able to host both sides of the family this year. It was my first time hosting any big event, and despite being sick and wearing a painter's mask so I wouldn't infect everyone, everything went off without a hitch! We definitely enjoyed staying in our own house instead of hauling the kids and presents to two or three different places Christmas Day.

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with lots of joy!