Christmas 2018

Christmas has come and gone, Christmas break is over, school has started back up, and I am so sad it's over. I love the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, and all the hype leading up to it. We had a great few days of Christmas spending time with family and enjoying all the holidays have to offer, especially the food. Ella and Paige were both so excited about Christmas this year. 

Sunday, December 23rd, we celebrated with Adam's dad, Jeanette, and Lacey. Paige was SO impatient and wanted to open gifts as soon as they got there. She opened hers right away while the rest of us opened them after we ate lunch. 

Auntie Claus!! 

 Paige loves to sing and got her very own microphone. 

Paige not only enjoyed opening her own gifts but loved watching Ella open hers as well. 

Ella received a poopsie surprise unicorn. You add all the stuff inside the unicorn and then the unicorn "poops" it out into a little "toilet". Once it sits for ten minutes it becomes slime. Ella loved it! The toys they come up with these days. 

I love the creative way my father in law decorated my envelope. 

Monday, Christmas Eve, we went to my parent's house for our Christmas celebration. We have had our Christmas celebration on Christmas Eve my entire life. It has changed a little over the years, but I still love it. I have great memories of going to Christmas Eve mass and coming home to open gifts. I remember pulling in the driveway and thinking "Santa has been here". Those are special memories I will hold onto forever. 

A few pictures before we head out! Ella and Paige were both raring to go that morning. 

These girls were ready to open gifts as soon as we got there. 

My parents work so hard to make Christmas nice for all of us. I'm thankful to have them and keep our traditions alive each year. 

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

The big girls played Harry Potter trivial pursuit. These two love Harry Potter...so much so that we are going to Universal in May. 

Paige loved playing with Ella's new game, soggy doggy. 

I was bound and determined this year to be prepared for Christmas Eve night. We (Adam) is always scrambling to put things together so it was my goal to be ready. My team of elves wrapped my presents this year for me (thanks mom and dad) so that was done. Paige's dollhouse was put together and the only thing left to do was wait for Ella to go to bed so we could put out the gifts...that was the hard part. 

Ella is so excited for Christmas morning that she has a hard time going to sleep and staying asleep. She tends to wake up SUPER early on Christmas morning. 

Adam and I were so tired and waited until 11:00 to put out gifts. Luckily, we were able to put everything out without her coming out of her room. 

Santa came and now it's time for bed!

In true Ella fashion, she was up at 5am and woke me up at 6:00. She took it upon herself to look through her stocking before we were even up. This girl was so excited!

We always have a few hours in the morning to wait before Paige wakes up. Paige hasn't yet figured out that you get up early on Christmas morning. I'm sure it won't be long before she figures that out. 

Paige was finally up around 8am, dressed, and ready to open gifts. 

Paige never stopped talking while she was opening gifts while Ella never says much. 

 You have to love a three year olds enthusiasm. 

The aftermath which wasn't too bad this year. It took me DAYS to get our house back in order though. 

We had a pretty nice day on Christmas day so Ella wanted to take out her Crazy Cart that she got. It is so much fun. We have all had fun riding it. 

Next up was Christmas at Maw and Papaw's house. We opened gifts, ate, and rode four wheelers. 

I can't believe this was our 15th Christmas together. 

It was such a great Christmas season, and we were sad to see it end. Paige is still talking about Christmas and the fact that it's over. It's time to start a new year, and I can only hope it lives up to 2018!!

December happenings

It's the week after Christmas, and I'm finally caught up on everything around the house so it's time to get this blog caught up! The Christmas season always seems to take forever to get here, and then it flies by. We packed in as much "Christmas" as we could this year, and I'm so sad the festivities are over. 

Ella's 10th birthday party

We had Ella's birthday party the first weekend in December this year since things to get busy the closer we get to Christmas. Ella invited a few friends over to ride a limo to Showplace Newburgh for bowling and pizza. On the day of, I thought maybe I was crazy for doing this, but it ended up being a great party. I love to see Ella have fun with her friends. 

 Ella and her besties from school, Trinity and Mia

Daisy, Mariah, Ella, and Jossalyn

 Ten year old girls are so dramatic. I loved watching their reactions after each throw. 

After bowling and pizza they each got a gift card to play in the arcade. 

Riding back to our house for cake and presents! 

Kindermusik Jingle Jam

Paige and I attended "Jingle Jam" at Kindermusik. This girl loves her some kindermusik so a Christmas themed class was right up her alley. 

We "played in snow". 

Decorated a reindeer. 

Played with these light up hoola hoops. 

And watched the snow fall in a snow globe. It was a Christmas filled class that was so much fun!

Lindsey Stirling Concert 

Adam and I went to the Lindsey Stirling concert. Adam was not excited about it, but I was! I watched her on Dancing with the Stars and loved watching her dance. Her concert was strictly Christmas music, and it was so good. 

Lights Under Louisville

I saw on Facebook in early December that Lights under Louisville now offers a daytime ride through the cave on a tram which sounded like so much fun to me. Adam and Ella didn't think it did so I asked my parents to go along. They are usually game for these types of activities!

We ate lunch at Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Louisville which was the perfect place to go. The good was SO good. I would love to go back soon.  

I had to stop for a picture in front of the tree downtown on our way back from Spaghetti Factory. I love Christmas and the decorations that come along with it. 

 This is the "Christmas Express" tram we rode through the cave. It was fun to do a new Christmas activity this year. 

Imagine Christmas music playing and Christmas lights everywhere... 

It was a great day full of Christmas lights, music, and food!! 

Last but not least, we made cookies for Santa. Paige wanted to help and lasted about five minutes before I finished up. She sure looked cute though. 

We packed in a lot of Christmas fun this holiday season. I am so sad it's over, but I'm thankful for all the fun memories we made.