Christmas Morning

Santa came and the girls were so excited...well after Anna Riley was just a little dramatic over Santa eating ALL the cookies/milk!!  Thank goodness Santa left both girls a giant cookie in their stockings!  All of the toys from here on out are really meant for the both of them since they are so close in age.  We did get a few separate things but the majority of everything they got was accessories for their kitchen.  Anna Riley got a scooter and Ava Kate got a new ride-on push toy since the one we had was old and needed to be replaced.
They cooked on their new kitchen all morning.  When we got home from breakfast at Pop Pop's, we put it in the playroom and set up the grocery stand.  The girls were entertained for hours...I won't lie, Riley and I had just as much fun!
 

 

 

Twas the night before Christmas

When Anna Riley was born, we started a few of our own family traditions on Christmas eve. 

After the Christmas eve service at church, we come home to get ready for Santa.  We always wait until Christmas Eve night to put our new ornaments for the year on the tree.  Anna Riley was so excited about this part this year.  Her ornament was a ballernia since she started ballet this year.  I couldn't decide on what do do for Ava Kate's this year so we ended up with a Minnie Mouse one for her.  

On Christmas Eve, we also read two stories.  I do the fun stuff with Santa but I do want the girls to know the reason why we celebrate and so we have always read the true story also.  I found a wonderful book to read this year, The True Night Before Christmas.  We read our books and got our cookies and milk ready for Santa.

 

Anna Riley has been so excited about Santa this year.  She loved him and loved anytime we would see him.  We have watched Polar Express once maybe twice but read the book several times.  But, once we put her to bed, she had a meltdown.  She kept telling us she didn't want to go to the North Pole with him and she didn't want to ride with him or the reindeer.  I think it just finally set in that someone might come to her house in the middle of the night.  But, as I told Riley, if you think about it, a man coming on a train in the middle of the night to get you and take you far away is somewhat frightening!  It took us from 8:00 until after 10:00 to get her settled and calm down enough to go to sleep poor thing!