Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 in pictures!  We really had a great December.  Christmas School Activities, Christmas decorating, Receiving Christmas cards,  Present Shopping, Elf On the Shelf, Cousin Activities and birthday party for Jesus, Time with family, and so many new fun treats.  Some of my favorite memories include our Elf on the Shelf- Mallory got the biggest kick out of seeing him throughout the day and would yell "ELLLLFFF!!!!".  Peyton loved watching old Christmas classics and talking about Jesus, Christmas, and Santa.  I loved continuing our tradition of opening new matching pajamas on Christmas Eve (Footie pajamas for all 3, just warms my heart:) ).  I planned to do lots of activities with them but with a 4 year old, 2 year old, and 8 month old things weren't always done the way I planned them.  A good example of this is my family's tradition of reading "A Night Before Christmas" together on the couch before bed.  I read the story as planned and Peyton listened, but Nolan slept through it, and Mallory ran around taking bites out of the carrots we left out for the reindeer- refusing to take part in the story.  :) We had a great time together this month and that is all that matters.  I really tried to enjoy the moment of Christmas morning and not be too caught up in taking too many pictures, so this is a sample of what we captured, starting with Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Mass. Such high expectations of everyone participating this year but he fell asleep the moment he sat down and slept through the entire mass.  Thank Goodness Gigi and Dandy were there to serve as his makeshift bed!

Adorable Nolan, He reminds me so much of Buddy the Elf from the movie Elf. He is just SO Big. He is 8 months old in this picture. Nolan's FIRST Christmas!

Precious Little Children in their Christmas Clothes

Best part of this picture- my 8 month old looks bigger than the other 2 combined!

Best 3 Christmas Presents

Matching Footed Pajamas for all

Leaving carrots for reindeer, Twix Bars for Santa, and Water- per their request

Santa came!

Waiting to see what Santa brought

A Fleet of Trucks!

A Costume Tree and Baby Gear!

Best picture I could get of the 3 of them. Too much running around looking at all the presents to sit still!

Playing the piano that Gigi gave them

Peyton is already talking about next Christmas. It still is my most favorite time of year and this year was made even better with the addition of Nolan. He had a great first Christmas and seemed most excited about the wrapping paper, the trampoline,  his walker, and his new rock n roll Elmo.   You might have also noticed multiple costume changes on Mallory in these pictures.  She tried on many of her gifts throughout the day and ended up in her Yo Gabba Gabba nightgown with bumblebee wings on. Love that girl's style! Happy New Year to all!