Christmas 2017

I can't even believe Christmas is over, and it's almost the new year. I look forward to Christmas all December long, and then it's over in an instant. 

We almost made it though Christmas without any illnesses, but Ella woke up at 5am on Christmas morning throwing up. This is our second Christmas in a row with a stomach bug involved. Hopefully next year the stomach bug will figure out it's not invited to our Christmas celebration!!

Christmas Eve:

We woke up at 4:30am FREEZING, because our heat was not working. I went into panic mode, but luckily by 6:30am it was fixed. Thank goodness for those heating guys that are on call. It was around 60 degrees in our house but quickly heated up once it was fixed. Crisis averted thankfully!

We headed over to my parent's early since the girls are always excited to open presents. 

I talked Ella into one picture before we left. It's not easy getting pictures of her these days. 

They love going through their stockings!

Paige quickly caught on to unwrapping presents. 

It wouldn't be Christmas without my mom's spinning tray! 

Paige got her own microwave, and it was serious business. She sat patiently waiting for the buzzer to go off each time. 

 These two got microphones, and they provided our dinner entertainment. 

The BEST part of Christmas Eve was the snow. I love snow on Christmas, and it hadn't snowed on Christmas since Ella's third Christmas. It was so pretty but so so cold that day. 

We headed home that night to prepare for Christmas morning. Santa had a few things he had to put together so Ella and I watched A Christmas Story. I love watching that on repeat Christmas Eve through Christmas Day. 

Ella actually was asleep by 10:00 on Christmas Eve but kindly came in our room at 3:30am excited to open gifts. I escorted her right back up to bed, because there is no way we are going to open gifts that early. At 5am I heard her throwing up so I knew it was time to get up. She felt a little better once she did but she was exhausted and didn't feel good the rest of the day. 

I took this around 5:30am on Christmas morning after she threw up. Not much can keep her down on Christmas. 

Thank goodness Santa delivered gifts on Christmas Eve since Ella was up so early on Christmas morning.

  

Ella fell asleep that morning which was such a good thing. She definitely needed some rest before we opened gifts. 

Brody needed rest too...

Paige was up and ready to go around 8:30am. Her sister needs to take notes and sleep as long as she does. 

 Paige kept telling me before Christmas that "Santa bring baby", and he definitely delivered!

We were supposed to go to Maw and Papaw's house that afternoon, but they had to end up coming to our house since Ella didn't feel good. She still felt good enough to open gifts though!

Paige was all about opening gifts. 

Aunt Cey Cey put money inside of balloons with confetti. Paige loves balloons popping and confetti!

Christmas is always eventful and always exhausting with kids. I love the Christmas season and hate to see it end, but I'm ready for a fresh start in the new year. 

Polar Express 2017

After skipping Polar Express last year, I bought tickets to go this year in January. There is just something about the Polar Express that is so magical and will keep you coming back year after year. We usually go the day after Thanksgiving, but I decided this time to go a few days before Christmas. No matter when you go,  it's always a good time. 

 We got there early so we went to see the Christmas decor at the french lick resort. I just love it there. We have been going since Ella was almost three so it always brings back a lot of memories. 

Paige loved running around exploring and eating free candy canes. 

Escalators are so much fun. We went up and down MANY times. Ella enjoyed doing the same thing when she was little. 

Paige

Ella at almost the same age, on the same escalator, wanting to ride it over and over. 

I always love to get there early and get a picture infront of the train. Since we didn't have anyone to take our picture I took my tripod. This is the picture we ended up with, and it's a total fail! I'm not even sure what was going on when we took this, but it's definitely funny. 

Paige was so excited. 

She was also getting impatient waiting for this thing to start!

Cookies and hot chocolate! 

Entering the North Pole to pick up Santa

I sometimes don't realize how old Ella is getting, but this made me realize. 

 All Paige wanted to do was dance with the elves. She loves to dance and sing but in the comfort of her own home. I never thought she would do this, but she had the time of her life!

Ella was way more content to just stay in her seat. 

 Ella absolutely loved Santa, and Paige was terrified. I mean TERRIFIED! 

It was an exhausting night, but we had so much fun. It wasn't the same without my family along, but we still made the most of it. I'm already looking forward to next year!!