Christmas Day 2011

Our Christmas day started early. 

It was still dark inside, but the snow-covered yard made it nice and bright outside.

Santa Clause brought the girls little puppies.  The girls squealed that he brought them "just what they wanted."  They both had great reactions, but Claire was especially enthusiastic.

Hallie opened a new train set.  It has provided hours of fun.

I made Claire a Minnie Mouse skirt for dress-up.

The girls were thrilled to receive Cars 2.  We later watched it on a festive New Years Eve.

Chris bought me a gorgeous frame.  We ended up not being able to find a spot for it and so it went back to the store.  However, I found new gray boots and a new pink cardigan . . . so I was still a totally happy gal.

Enjoying candy from their stockings . . .

Both girls have loved having their easel.  This was Hallie's first creation . . .

The Grinch that stole Christmas, Max the dog, and Cindy Lou Who . . . my dad would be soooo proud.

Some of that great Christmas morning chaos and clutter.  It is peaceful and pandemonium at the same time!

After Christmas breakfast (cinnamon rolls, eggs, sausage, toast, hash browns and orange juice) we dressed for church.  Our yard was packed with snow, but it was a very comfortable temperature outside.  The girls posed in their Christmas dresses.

I loved Christmas afternoon and evening.  I slowly cooked up a nice turkey dinner while I talked on the phone to my family - specifically Karen, my mom, and Dan and Kaylene.  We listened to Christmas music and Chris and the girls played with gifts and watched Christmas movies.  I didn't feel rushed at all.  When dinner was finally ready at 5:30, we dined on: sage butter roasted turkey, stuffing, fresh cranberry sauce, sweet potato souffle, garlic bacon cheese bread, mashed potatoes, and gravy.  It totally made up for the Taco Bell we ate the night before. :)

After dinner, we surprised the girls with more gifts . . .we set aside the box from my mom so they could have even more presents!

Needless to say, they were thrilled with the arrangement.

After presents, we packed our pajama-clad bodies in the car and did some Christmas light viewing while listening to (of course) Christmas music.  My dad loved this activity so much that it almost felt like he was in the car with us.  It was a perfect end to the Christmas season.

And it was a jam-packed, lovely, Christmas day.

And for the first time in history, the decorations came down the very next day.  We adored the Christmas season but it felt amazing to get the house back in order.