Merry Christmas!

I don't think that we could have had a merrier Christmas than the one that we celebrated this year, it was the best!  Christmas has always been my favorite time of year and having a child of my own to share it with totally brings out the magic of the season.  I think that Riley pretty much loved everything about this holiday, the tree, the ornaments, the lights, getting a surprise from her advent calendar each morning, baking and decorating cookies and of course eating the cookies, multiple Santa visits, Christmas books and movies and having a lot of our family around us for nearly 2 weeks. 

We were lucky to have had Ryan and Kelly home from Alaska for Christmas this year and their visit also drew some of our family from Oklahoma out here for a little pre-Christmas celebration the weekend before that actual holiday.  We had my Uncle David, Aunt Judi, and cousins Cydney, Matt and Reece here for a few days and it was great to have them out here to share in the festivities.

Riley and Reece in their new Christmas jammies

Checking out the train around the tree with Bunky Ry

Playing opossum with Nick

Flying with Jordan

Two little cousins in a tub

Riley gave Aunt Phoebe and Aunt Judi a little lesson on cookies...one of her favorite subjects :)

We spent Christmas Eve finishing our Christmas preparations and then we got dressed up for church and a night out with both of our families having dinner at the Brown Palace, a favorite spot for my family at Christmas time that has now become a fave for Kris' family too.  It was great to have both sets of parents and our siblings there together. 

Before we left, Riley wanted to put out her cookies for Santa and sprinkle some reindeer food outside, just in case she was too sleepy when we got home.

Just testing a small one first...

At the restaurant, they have a piano player and Riley could not take her eyes off of him.  She loves pianos and studied the players hands as he played.  We may have a future musician on our hands. 

After a great evening, we headed home to wait for Santa and on Christmas morning he did not disappoint! 

Riley completely bypassed her train table and went straight to the fireplace to see if Santa had eaten his cookies and drank the milk...

She was very pleased to see that he had eaten some of each cookie and drank all of the milk.  Rudolph had also nibbled some of the carrot she left out for him.

After that was settled, she moved on to being very excited about the presents that Santa had left.  She thought her new trains were pretty exciting, but she also really loved the guitar that he left, which she opened and then embraced saying "my very own guitar!"

This was pretty much Miss Riley's look for most of the morning...gaping mouth and big excited eyes

Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Nick came over to spend the morning with us opening presents and eating a yummy breakfast.

Playing her new guitar with Grandma

Riley Roo and Uncle Nick checking out Candy Land

Giving Grandpa a hand with his present

After a morning at home, we headed for Gigi and Popdaddy's for a 2nd round of Christmas fun.  It was a perfect afternoon spent eating chili, opening gifts and playing games. 

Opening presents with Gigi

Smooches from Auntie Kelly

The boys playing with Kris' new toy, a remote control helicopter

Riley was thoroughly spoiled with some really great new toys.  She got a new baby doll from Gigi and Popdaddy that she named LaLa.  This is also the name of her imaginary friend for those who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting her.  I'm not quite sure how we'll tell them apart now that there are 2 LaLas. 

Dancing with her new baby.  She loves to dance her dolls and stuffed animals.

On our way out, she was talking to our neighbor about all of the great presents she had just received and told her that she would play the piano for her sometime (a piano was one of the gifts that she had asked Santa for), then all of a sudden she turned to me with this horrified look on her face and said "Oh Mama!  But Santa forgot to bring me a piano!"  Well as it turns out Santa didn't forget, he just happened to leave a little something for Miss R at Gigi and Bop's house.

She immediately went and got the case from her new tea set to act as her piano bench so that she could play for us.

We had the most perfect Christmas and could not be more thankful for our amazing family and all of our blessings.  Merry Christmas!