Merry Christmas!

Cameron and I actually woke up before the girls on Christmas morning!  They got up about 6:30 and couldn't wait to see what Santa brought!  

Scarlett's pile

and Elle's

Elsa dress up!  

All decked out as Anna and Elsa from Frozen

After Santa we had some hot cocoa and coffee, then the girls opened presents from us and the girls gave us their gifts.  They had both made us crafts at school.  This was the first year Scarlett got to go to Santa's secret shop at school.  I sent her with money and she kept the secret of what she got all month!  She bought a travel coffee mug for Cameron because he loves coffee and she bought me a cute jeweled key chain.  She said she knew mine broke and she didn't want me to have to go all the way to Disney World to get a new one.  It was the sweetest little gift!  

 

Coco and Grandpa came over later so we spent the rest of the day opening presents from family, visiting and talking / facetiming with most of our family.  We cooked and ate and ate some more.  

Here are the girls modeling their new high boots!

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a busy day for us!  

After a grocery store run to pick up our Christmas dinner, we had to make cookies for Santa!

Christmas Eve is also Grandpa's birthday, so we went out to dinner downtown for a "fancy dinner" at Chophouse.  The girls really enjoyed their "snake" (Elle calls it that - it's really steak.  Just thought I'd clarify since we DO live in Louisiana!).  

When we got home, the girls opened their presents from eachother.  I told them to give me their most excited Christmas face.

Stuffed animals...what a surprise!  Scarlett bought Elle's present at Santa's secret shop at school, so I wasn't sure what she got until Elle opened it!

Before bed, we had to make sure that the reindeer had a treat...

...and Santa too!

Chippy

Chippy, our elf, came to visit us the day after Thanksgiving and he reported to Santa every night until Christmas.  The girls adore him and hated that he had to go home to stay with Santa on Christmas eve.  He landed in his normal spots (the girls stockings, the Christmas tree and shelves) mostly, but he did get silly on us a few times!

School Christmas Parties

Santa came to visit the kids at school for their parties.  Elle was much more interested in him than she was at the Santa breakfast.  

After Santa, her class had a "fun day", playing games, making reindeer food and getting "facepaint" and Christmas tattoos.  

I had to skip out of Elle's class to get to Scarlett's party.  They had donuts and milk, then a bit of crazy time while they waited for Santa.  

Scarlett asked if this was the REAL Santa.  I asked "What do you think?" and she told me she thought it was a guy dressed up in a Santa costume.  I told her yes, that the real Santa was SO busy at the North Pole because it was so close to Christmas that he couldn't make it.  She agreed.

Christmas Play

Thursday night was the Kindergarten Christmas play and it was adorable!  The kids worked hard and did a great job!  Scarlett was an inn keeper.  Her line was "Try the stable down the road, it is better than camping outside".  The play included lots of songs which were so cute.  

Scarlett and Grayson (a carpenter)

Elle was a big fan.  She yelled "Yay, Scarlett!" at every opportunity for applause.  

Christmas Cookies with friends

I have lots of Christmas blogging to catch up on!  Back to the week before Christmas...

Our last week of school before the Christmas break was a busy one!  On Tuesday the girls made cookies and exchanged gifts with Chloe and Grayson.

They did some great works of art (VERY sprinkly) and enjoyed eating almost as fast as they could decorate.

Afterwards, Elle made herself at home with Chloe's dress up and car.  

Gingerbread Village

We built our gingerbread village yesterday.  The girls really enjoyed decorating the houses.  Scarlett especially sat there for a long time putting on all the finishing touches (and eating the "mistakes").  Elle was mostly concerned with eating the decorations too.  I think they turned out cute!

Santa!

We went to see Santa this morning.  I was a bit nervous of how it would go given the past 2 years and Elle's first encounter of him this year at her Santa breakfast.  She said she was excited and would take her picture.  I was surprised she jumped right up in his lap and gave him a big hug!  Scarlett of course was excited too (and a bit nervous).  She totally forgot what she wanted for Christmas when he asked!  So excited for a cute picture!

Scarlett's Birthday Party

Scarlett's birthday party request this year was for a Frozen party at the carousel.  Other than being cold, everything turned out great!  Loved the excitement in Scarlett's eyes as her friends showed up to celebrate with her.

Saturday was her family party with all the grandparents and aunt Chloe at our house, then Sunday morning was the carousel party.

Scarlett was clearly excited to be opening presents!

Since the movie Frozen just came out, there's not too much available yet in party supplies.  I did my best to fit her theme!  I didn't get a picture of the favors, but I did reindeer candy canes and called them Sven's friends (he's the reindeer in the movie)

Here's the birthday girl in her Frozen outfit

And of course little sister doesn't get left out of present opening. She's posing in her new "Judy Moody" outfit.  Judy Moody is a chapter book series that Scarlett reads, and Elle decided that girl on her shirt was Judy.

Ready to ride the carousel

Elle's friend Taylor came

Scarlett and Madison

Karissa, Scarlett and Jonathan

Elle and Brooke

After the party we posed with Mr. Bingle

And not so legit-ly snuck our way into Storyland (hey - we paid enough for that party!)

Now that the party is over, it's on to Christmas!