this christmas was so much fun because lilian was at the perfect age to truly understand (well, almost) everything. she understood buddy was our elf from the north pole who reported back to santa and she understood when santa was coming and how she had to be a good girl because he was watching! christmas eve night was what i had been waiting for to do all the fun family traditions to prepare for santa's arrival! lilian (well she taste tested, that counts!) helped bake cookies for santa. he told us when we saw him at the library that chocolate chip were his favorites so we were sure to bake those! lilian did not forget that detail and repeated that "santa likes chocolate chip cookies" a bunch of times the week of christmas! lilian and daddy also put reindeer food on our front lawn for all of santa's reindeer! we got in our christmas jammies and read 'twas the night before christmas snuggled in lilian's bed.
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| our adorable plate and cup for santa (thanks, ackersons!) |
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| making sure they were placed just right on santa's plate |
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| our reindeer food |
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| all bundled up putting reindeer food on the front lawn |
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| almost night time...she had the beginning of this book memorized we read it so much this month! |
christmas morning was a hoot watching lilian open all of her gifts from santa! in her stocking she received: candy canes, play dough, books, big girl underwear (complete with a note from santa about how she needed to start going on the big girl potty ALL the time), and some fun play jewelry. santa left a big red bag, just like his bag, filled with princess dresses, princess hair, and glass slippers. i think she has about every princess dress now! santa was good to her, she must have been a good girl!
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| finding all her treasures in her stocking |
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| she got aerial and pascal stuffed animals too! |
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| checking out the big bag santa left |
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| mid squeal of excitement about her new sleeping beauty and pink cinderella dresses |
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| she loved the long hair! |
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| rapunzel has arrived! |
after opening her gifts we had christmas morning breakfast. i tried out a new recipe; a crockpot breakfast casserole. it was nice to have it cook all night and not have to worry about making anything that morning. after we ate, lilian skyped with grandma and grandpa and showed them all the goodies santa blessed her with. we had to peel her away from all the dress up clothes to head to my nannie's house to celebrate christmas with nannie, ross, aunt debbie, uncle rich, my parents, and bryan, alison and curtis. we enjoyed ham, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, seven layer salad, and a pumpkin dessert alison made. lilian received another princess dress to complete her collection from nannie and ross! she also received an aquadoodle, princess memory game, and princess yahtzee. like i said, it was a princess christmas for sure! we are so blessed to have such a wonderful family both here and in iowa. lilian is one fortunate, lucky girl! we love you all. merry christmas!
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| she was pretending to sleep and having curtis read her bed time stories. |
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| opening one of her princess games |
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| completed the collection with princess tiana |
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| hugs for nannie and ross |
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| she was walking around singing random songs in her tiana get up! |
