Merry Christmas!

Our Christmas could not have been any better this year with multiple celebrations and lots of time with our families it was my idea of perfect.  It was just the 4 of us in our house on Christmas morning and we were able to have a very mellow time opening gifts and eating breakfast.  Of course Riley was bursting to get downstairs the second that she opened her eyes, her sister had no idea what was awaiting her so she was pretty happy to just hang out in bed.

 

Santa came!!!! For Riley, he left a Barbie jeep and the Merida bow and arrow that she had asked for.  Piper was equally spoiled with a new high chair and xylophone.  While the girls played with the fun new things that Santa left, we camped out our coffee table so that we could have breakfast in front of our Christmas tree. 

 

 

Piper though it was pretty nice of Santa to leave a little bit of cookie left on the plate just for her...so she finished off.

All filled up on French toast (and leftover cookies), the girls we ready to unwrap some presents from under the tree.  Since it was just us, we took our time and there plenty of breaks from opening to just to hang out and play with their new things.  It was just exactly what we had hoped for our morning to be! 

I got a much needed new pair of Ugg slippers...my morning was made!

We had a white Christmas this year...who doesn't love that?  Especially when it means that you can drive your new car around in the house? Riley was a pretty good driver and Piper figured out how to turn on the radio, you could not wipe the smile off of their faces. Pipey loves everything about the Barbie Jeep and has even figured out how to strap herself in...trouble!



 

 

Later in the morning we had Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Nick over for lunch...and more presents.  Riley was pretty excited the new Barbie dress and electric guitar that she had asked for and she treated us all to show. 

 

 

 

We had a great afternoon hanging out with our family and after the girls had a much needed rest, we headed back to Gigi and Pop's for chili and games with the McGuffees.

Jordan in his Santa robe and Piper in her Santa suit...she wasn't the only one who was scared.

We had a completely fabulous holiday and could not have had more to be thankful for this year!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is always a day for finishing up our last little holiday preparations, eating cookies and fudge, watching a Christmas Story and it's also when we celebrate Christmas with Gigi and Pop. 

Riley started her morning by opening the very last advent calendar surprise....getting to pick one present to open from under the tree.  Of course she picked the biggest one that she could find and we picked a matching one for Piper to open too.  Riley got her first set of Legos and Piper got a set of Duplo and the rest of the morning was spent building animals with Daddy.

 

In the afternoon, we all got dressed up for the Christmas Eve children's mass and headed over to Gigi and Pop's to start our Christmas celebration.   

Ready for some presents!

 Riley got some new red cowgirl boots, just in time for the stock show!

And Piper pretty much just liked playing with the bows and being silly.

 I actually think that this is her attempt at trying to figure out how to stand up without having to pull up, but I like to think of it as her downward dog yoga pose. 

 Riley was a Christmas elf and did a great job of passing out everyone's presents now that she can recognize the names on the tags.  She also decided that she could lend her unwrapping skills to anyone who needed a hand.

 Piper loves to play with her Popdaddy and what would make a better peek-a-boo shield than his new pizza screen?

 Riley got a chance to read "The Night Before Christmas" to Gigi and then Gigi read it to Roo

After a fun night, we headed home with our sleepy girls in their Christmas jammies to wait for Santa. 

Santa Party!

This was our 5th year hosting our annual Santa party!  It's hard to believe that the babies we started this tradition have already celebrated that many Christmases.  What once began as an adult cocktail party with a handful of babes crawling around has now blossomed into a full on, kid crazy, Santa celebration!

Each year we add new faces either as friends or new siblings to join this rambunctious group and it also seems that our party changes in some small way from one year to the next.  This year we decided to move our visit with Santa to the morning and have our friends over for breakfast in their favorite Christmas jammies!  We look forward to having our friends over for this holiday gathering every year and it just seems to get better and better. 

Audrina reading to her friends, sooo cute!

What is not to love about pancakes, especially ones that are shaped likes elves, snowmen and reindeer!

 

We somehow get lucky, because Santa does not disappoint with his early stop by our house to hand out a special little present to each of the kids.  This was the first year since she was baby that she willingly sat on his lap and even told him what she wanted for Christmas.  The most important things seem to be a scooter and bow and arrow set like Merida has in Brave.  Even Piper was pretty game for sitting with Santa for a minute.  Success!

 

 

 

 

And what Christmas jammie Santa breakfast would be complete without a Nichols/Nelson kid group shot?  We have to have plenty of photos for the someday wedding slideshow!



This year was probably our best yet, so we just may have settled into the perfect party theme and will definitely look forward to more pancakes and pj's for next year!