Christmas Traditions

December feels like one long months of traditions. We did our annual pizza movie night to watch Elf. Lou made it about halfway through before I had to take her upstairs to keep her occupied.

The girls put on a Nativity play with Peanut Mary, Angel Boo, baby Jesus Lou, the donkey Jax, and "Jofus" played by Peaches. Bug was the director.

We also made the treats for Daddy's work. We are always running out so this time we went big and did 25 batches making 250 bags! And it ended up being our best year yet! Every year the girls get older and more helpful and it makes it go better and better.

Peaches put the stickers on the bags and pulled apart the twist ties.

They're getting to be great helpers!

We added what the girls hope will be a new tradition...baking with Grandma R! This is their friend's grandma and she is awesome! She used to run a bakery and she invited the girls over to learn how to make braided breads! So sweet!

They had an absolute blast and stayed for 5 hours! And did NOT want to leave when I came to get them! They loved this big bear too.

They were wound up and silly when I went to pick them up!

Peek-a-boo!

They also frosted sugar cookies and made loaves of bread too. We froze their braided breads for Christmas morning and the girls were so proud to serve them. 

What a sweet month of traditions!

Rebirthday and Sister Christmas

When we got home on the 26th we let the girls open their presents to each other. This was my favorite...

I saved all the leftover small pieces when we were building the upstairs this summer, and then a few weeks ago I sanded all the edges down. Then the girls worked for a week of afternoon naps painting and painting. Then I spent several more hours doing touchups. T coated them with a finishing spray and I ordered a basket off Amazon to hold them.  

They were so happy with all the presents they chose for each other. Barbies...

Boo saved her points in Sunday School and "bought" this little tea set for Peanut and Peaches. So sweet!

More Barbies.

Peaches and Boo got Bug fabrics for Bug to use on her new sewing machine.

Daddy had taken Peanut and Peaches to town one day for supplies and stopped to let them pick out Christmas presents. When Peaches got home she said, "S! I got you a LEGO for Christmas!!" Haha.

Months ago the head popped off of Peanut's big doll so Boo and Peaches went together on their present and got her a new one.

So happy!

One of the gal's from T's work sent them this present of little tins of candy.

Boo loves Science and Bug found her a Science Barbie.

I love how much they love to give presents to each other. :)

The next day was Boo's re-birthday! She chose monkey bread for breakfast.

And got an Odyssey we don't have.

Here is a bib that Bug made for Lou with the new fabric. :)

Silly girls.

Daddy worked on the house the rest of the day while Lou took a nap and the four big girls and I went and met Noni at the movie theater to watch Frozen 2! The girls loved it! Then they got to go spend the night at her house. So fun!

Funny Friday

Happy Friday! :)

Leftover Thursday

The girls got to help decorate Noni and Papa's tree! 

A rare moment of quiet. :)

Twin Night at AWANA. These two just happen to have matching dresses and shoes. :)

This is her annoyed/help me face. I think she was stuck.

Worship team selfie. :)

Sweet baby.

Happy Thursday! :)

Christmas Continued

Ok these first four got left out of yesterdays post. More checking out of the big gifts. 

 

 

I know a lot of people do the three gift thing...I think it's something like need, read, want? I guess we have unintentionally followed that pattern. We usually only do one big gift for the girls, a gift of books, and then stocking stuffers which are mostly things they need...bandaids, toothbrushes and toothpaste, school supplies, etc.  

Our first night at Noni's T, Lou, and I all slept in the back bedroom. She kept waking up and crying and about 3:30 I finally put her in bed with us but none of us got a good night's sleep. The next two nights T and I moved to the other guest room and let her have the big one all to herself. Lol. But we all slept better. All that to say you can tell how tired I am in this picture. Haha.

 

Time out for breakfast!

After breakfast we let the girls dive into their stockings!

Bandaids.

They each got a movie. K: Lego Movie 2, S: Aladdin, A: Penguins, E: The Star.

Markers.

 

Crayons, candy, gum.

 

Flossers, chapsitck.

 

Fingernail clippers and files.

 

Lou loves Papa. She is always toddling over to him for hugs or to be picked up. :)

 

I tried to let her open her stocking on the couch, but she just kept trying to get down.

 

So Daddy helped her.

Then we let them pass out the big gifts and get to opening.

Noni and Papa got Bug and Boo the coolest bibles I've ever seen! They are written like a graphic novel! I had never seen these before, but they are amazing!

The girls all got awesome "experience" gifts from the family this year. Movie tickets from Aunt Karen, McDonalds cards from Uncle S and Aunt J, aquarium tickets from Aunt N and Uncle M, shopping cards from Mama, spending money from Pawpaw and Nana, and a gift card to the pottery place and Sonic from Uncle K and Aunt J (we always get Sonic before we go). :) They are so excited to use them all!!!

Lou was definitely happy to open presents now that she had it figured out from her birthday. :)

She just didn't understand which were hers. :)

Peanut and Peaches got light pillow pets from Noni and Papa...or as Peaches calls them, "Colors!" Bug and Boo got them several years ago and she is always asking if she can use their colors at bedtime.

So happy!

Lou thought the box made a good chair. :)

And she helped me open my presents. 

T got me a Robot Braava jet! It is like a Roomba but it sweeps AND mops! You just change the pad on it and it automatically knows which one to do! So cool!

That afternoon Peanut ran off and I later found my phone with no battery and dozens of pictures like this...

She kept setting up her Calico Critters doing things. I love the tongs holding the fish. :)

Noni made an amazing ham dinner for Christmas! So good!

 

And then we taught T and the girls Canasta! It's always been one of my favorites but it takes a long time and uses SIX decks of cards so we'd never tried to teach them before. The girls caught on super quickly and we played several rounds!

 

The car was CRAZY full on the way home, but of course T, the packing wizard, managed to fit it all in. 

We all had to have things on our laps on the way home.

I got the wiggliest. :)

What a wonderful, relaxing, and FUN celebration of Jesus' birth! Thank you Noni and Papa for such a wonderful time!!! 

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!