Day 23, 24 and Merry Christmas!

Day 23 Day of baking!

 We also made some little reindeer cookies (with Nutter Butter cookies) 

 Lily's sugar cookies were the ones we left for Santa:

Day 24 was our annual tradition of putting out reindeer food for Santa's reindeer. Usually we make it ourselves but someone in Lily's class passed out reindeer food for each preschooler to take home. I'm extremely grateful for this since it was a crazy busy day and it saved me a few minutes by not having to make some. Grace was a little unsure as what to do but Marty showed her how it was done. Next year she probably will be a pro at this. 

Christmas Eve we also went to church and then went to my Uncle's house for a Christmas Eve party. The girls had such a fun time there- running around, dancing and playing with all the Christmas decorations that played music and lit up.

 Before we left for the party, we attempted to take a picture of the girls in their $3 Target Christmas dresses I bought them last year. You should see how many out-takes of pictures I have just from trying to get them to smile and sit still together. With Grace on the go and Lily's totally-fake-I'm-3-years-old-and-this-is-my-cheese-smile going on it was pretty hard!

Playing "Ring Around the Rosie" (a favorite game around here)

Merry Christmas! The girls had a great Christmas. Lily is totally into presents now! Before she would open one (with much encouragement) and then she would just want to play with that one toy. I actually remember last Christmas I was almost in tears (I didn't cry- I promise- but I was totally bummed) that she opened one gift and then just wanted to play with that one gift and had no desire to open anything else. I was happy that my 4 month old last year did great at opening presents (for real) and that totally made up for the 2 year old that was more interested in a pair of socks (no she didn't really get socks last year for Christmas... just couldn't think of what she was so interested in) However, this year she was like "I need another present to open!" .Perhaps Santa was too good to our girls this year, but I hear he found great deals on all the toys ;) We took a lot of pictures on Christmas day and some video too! I'll just post some of my favorite pictures. By some I mean at least 20 pictures. Lily got a new big girl bike (though it is super tiny), Toy Story 3 and a "real camera". Grace's favorite gifts were her stepping stones (she loved these so much from gymnastic class that Santa searched all over for them and found them at a school PE website- or so I hear). The girls also found that Santa left them a Rose Petal Cottage in their playroom and a new baby chair for Jamie (and all their other dolls).

 Finally, our Christmas card from this year! 

  
We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! I'll be taking a few days off from blogging to spend time with my family. Marty is on "vacation" this week and I want to spend as much time as I can with him and the girls together. Look for a new post Friday or Saturday!

 

Days 21 and 22

Only 2 more days left until Christmas! Eek! As I write this Gracie is napping, Lily skipped nap due to staying up to finish up my sister's Christmas gift (I'll have to post pictures next week) and Marty is taking OFF ALL the lights from our Christmas tree since they are a piece of _____ and not working. Gotta love the Christmas season! 

Day 21 we made gingerbread man cookies! 

First we read "The Gingerbread Man" book.

Then Lily added all the ingredients to make the dough (it then chilled in the fridge all afternoon)

Meanwhile, Grace took the opportunity to play with Lily's Woody and Buzz!

After dinner we got to work cutting them out, baking and then decorating them!

Day 22 we went to "Lights Before Christmas at the Zoo". It was such a nice night. Not too cold, the girls were in great moods (even though Lily looked tired and Grace couldn't move an inch due to being bundled up so much) AND Marty and I finally remembered to bring our zoo sovunier cups for cheap refills of hot chocolate! It only took us 5 years to remember to bring them! Lily and Grace both loved the "dancing trees" (trees with lights that flashed to music) and just walking around the zoo seeing all the sights and sounds of Christmastime. 

 Grace all bundled up

 

Drinking hot warm chocolate

 

Grace loves bunnies so we had to take a picture of the bunny lights

 

Grace loved these round lights and kept yelling "BALL! BALL! BALL!"

 Grace was still watching the dancing tree lights and wouldn't smile...

 The dancing trees!

Lily on the turtle

  

Grace attempting to clap for the dancing trees

 Oh, and I'm happy to say that our tree is now re-lit with lights! We had to take 2 strands off though since they weren't working. Next year= new lights for sure!