Christmas at Home

It was SO nice spending Christmas at home. My parents were planning on just going to Hawaii the day after Christmas and kind of skipping the whole Christmas experience at home. But fortunately, they still decided to decorate and were so excited to have our family make last minute plans to be with them. It was wonderful to have a quiet, calm Christmas with just my parents.

Christmas Eve, the girls opened their Christmas pajamas. I had found Christmas fabric for 50% off and made them each a pair of pajama pants. Then I got white undershirts and ironed on a Christmas decal. They looked cute! Especially that little baby girl...

I made t-shirts for me and Braden too, but there wasn't enough fabric for pajama pants for us.

Lining up on the stairs on Christmas morning, waiting to come in. Quick picture with Grandma and Avery too.
This is another memory I want to keep forever. We've really built up the magic of Christmas this year because Keara is at the age where it is now very real to her. So Santa, the reindeer, the elves, it is all true. We told her the night before that elves would be watching to make sure she was asleep and then they would tell Santa it was okay to come to our house. We put out cookies and milk for Santa, and the girls knew that Santa knew they wanted a baby doll and a ring. I love that that is all they asked for.

So on Christmas morning, when they walked into the living room to see the stockings filled and the presents under the tree, Keara exclaimed, "He really DID come!" It was a magic moment. I especially loved that there were NO presents under the tree when she went to bed, but there was a whole bunch when she walked in the next morning. It made it even more magical.

Opening stockings...

It's like Mary Poppins' bag...

Santa brought rings! Hooray!

Keara was very into seeing what everyone got and helping Avery with her things. I loved that the girls didn't feel the need to rip open presents, but truly were amazed at each present they were given. After each, they thought there would be no more for them. But sure enough, there was!

Taryn loved sitting with Grandpa

It was a wonderful Christmas. The very best part that I wish I had a picture of, was when Keara and Taryn opened their baby dolls. We saved it for the very last and the girls were both so content with the few things they got that they were ready to move on, without complaining that maybe Santa didn't bring them the only other thing they asked for. We had to convince them to open one last present.

Keara thought maybe Santa had forgotten or that maybe he just brought the other things instead. But when she opened that box with her doll in it, her eyes flew open wide, she gasped, and looked, stunned, at the little baby doll in her box. She grabbed it in one fluid motion and just hugged it. The magic of Christmas was so real to her at that moment and it was one of the tenderest moments I've experienced. It made the whole day so perfect.