Home for the Holidays

Usually we celebrate Christmas with a crush of parties, food and good company. This year we celebrated with throw-up, snotty noses and ear infections.
With the exception of most of Christmas day, when the girls seemed fine, we stayed home. And thanks to Motrin and Tylenol, there was no place like home for the holidays.


Christmas Eve we stayed home from the Chambers' extended family party because both Hannah and Kenzie had slight fevers. We opened our traditional P.J. present, gave the girls a nice bath, read the story of Jesus' birth, watched Mr. Krueger's Christmas and sent the girls off to bed ON TIME. It was a Christmas miracle!

Shaelynn, my gorgeous little sister, came to spend the night and Christmas morning with us, which was really fun. Her presents to the girls were even more exciting than Santa's. Thanks Aunt Shaelynnie, we loved having you over!
Santa kept it simple this year, following the motto: Something you Want, Something you Need, Something to Wear, and Something to Read (which I found on Jayedee's blog. )
I only had one freak out that night when I couldn't find the pictures we were giving to our parents. Mike found them, and the next day we forgot them anyway.
Christmas day, we woke up at about 8:30, opened presents, and had some waffles for breakfast. I was going to try and shower before we let the girls out of their room to see what Santa brought, but then I remembered the absolute torture it was when my mom used to hop in the shower right when we thought it was time to wake up. So I didn't. But I did shower later. Really. I did. I'll save that particular torture for when they are older and more appreciative of it.

Fancy Nancy is Kenzie's favorite. Too bad my photography skills only capture half her face. Just picture a smile of absolute delight.

It's never too early to start training your girls to think they are princesses. That way they can be disillusioned and hateful of men later in life when not one of them sings to them at a wishing well, or magically appears in the forest to dance with them.

The oranges were a hit. Especially with Hannah, who kept throwing hers. I'm glad oranges don't bruise.

At about 11:00 (yes, we were late) we headed over to Chambers and opened more presents. We were so spoiled! We got some great food storage stuff. I was truly excited. You know you're getting old when you get a happy feeling to see shiny cans of rice and wheat.
I love how everyone looks delighted or absorbed in this picture. Hooray for Christmas.

Hannah and Gracie are starting to become friends. They had a great time eating their nerd ropes from Grandma and Grandpa Chambers.

A princess pillow book! Who could have thought to combine these three marvelous things into one fabulous toy? Princesses, reading, and pillows. All they need is a built in chocolate dispenser and they've got everything.

Then we headed over to my parents for even more presents. Adding to our food storage and spoiled theme, there we got a Camp Chef and shelving! Hooray! So, if you feel the need to can this year, you are invited to come and can with me. We can do our hair in polygamist cult hairstyles, wear ugly dresses and pretend we know when the second coming is. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Opening our Camp Chef and dreaming of canning happiness.

The girls loved their dolls from Grandma and Grandpa Hansen and give them baths every day.

Originally we planned on going to my mom's side party that night, but those plans were altered when Hannah began crying and didn't stop, even when she opened a musical ball toy from Grandma Bette and Grandpa Charles. (Which she now loves, by the way, Grandma and Grandpa) We took her and Kenz home and went to bed. Today, I took Hannah in and she has a sinus/ear infection. Poor girl. Hooray for modern medicine!