It's been a while since we've spent a Christmas away from any family. But that's how it was for us this year. Which, with the coldness outside....I'm okay with not having to travel much right now! ;)
On Christmas Eve, we made a gingerbread house together. Even Matt --who was on cameraman duty so Kristen could be IN some pictures with the girls-- got in on the decorating as well. It was fun, and messy (okay, Sierra just wanted to eat ALL of the frosting and candies!), and it turned out SUPER cute!
Then we decided to have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. We didn't realize until Christmas Day that it thwarted our tradition of driving around looking at all the pretty decorated houses and Christmas lights. (OOPS!) But we enjoyed a nice ham dinner with rolls, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy.
We also let the girls continue with the tradition of opening one gift on Christmas Eve. Ashlyn chose a gift from Nana & Papa, which was a Jewelry [making] boutique, and which both the girls proceeded to design their own beads immediately! Sierra chose a gift from Grammy & Grampa, which was a baby doll and accessories made from Grammy, Gma Munro, Aunt Cindy and Aunt Sandra. We already have to perform a quick little surgery to reattach her head to her body, but she loves it (and tries to take Ashlyn's every chance she gets).
The girls made a plate of cookies and pecan pie bars, and a glass of milk for Santa; along with a couple of notes and a handful of carrots for the reindeer. (Shhhh, I forgot to get a picture.) Getting them to go to sleep was worse than any other night....we finally separated them, and Ashlyn fell asleep while Sierra watched Pirates of the Caribbean 4 with us until 11 or so, then she fell right to sleep once in bed!
Then Santa came!
Ashlyn and Matt woke up first, and Matt started a fire in the wood stove while Ashlyn checked out what Santa had delivered to our family. A new bike for her and Sierra, stockings full of candy and fruit and trinkets. And once Kristen and Sierra awoke, we started opening everything. Now the kids are all hopped up on sugar, playing with Playdough, baby dolls, jewelry making kits, Angry Birds, Rio on the Wii, having tea parties and building words w/ educational toys, riding their new bigger bikes in the barely-any-snow-but-still-a-little-icy-on-the-roads, sunny, 33 degree weather day.
We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and we thank everyone for their gifts! We hope that next year we can be with some of our family to celebrate/share this wonderful holiday. Maybe we'll be more in the spirit then too!
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