Christmas Marathon

Christmas was crazy this year!  We have so many people to celebrate with it can't all fit in one day, so a few days before Christmas we celebrated with Grandpa Bender.  We some dinner together and opened presents.

The next day, on Christmas Eve, the girls went shopping with grandpa to pick out some presents for me, Dan and grandma.  When they got home, Grandma Aidan came over to open presents from here and they we left for church.  Then we had dinner together before heading to grandma and grandpas to open a gift they had been asking for - the Leapster Explorer 'Video Game'.  Then we finally went home to set out a sweet treat for Santa, a snack for the reindeer and watch a Christmas movie.  Hannah was asleep in less than five minutes and Alyssa was begging to go to bed. Can Santa come every night?!?!? Once the girls were asleep we could finally finish up the gifts and build Alyssa new bike.  Hannah got a new bike too...Aly's old one.  Sorry Hannah :)  

Dan and I decided this year that while Christmas is really fun, Christmas Eve is actually our favorite.  There is so much excitement and anticipation for what is to come...and when the day is over, it isn't really over. 

Christmas Eve Pizza...

Cookies and milk for Santa and lettuce and oatmeal for the reindeer...

Christmas morning was fun, of course, and not too early.  The girls woke up at 7 and we opened gifts and had breakfast.  Hannah was so fun this year because she understood what was going on.  Her and Aly were so cute, taking turns opening gifts and gasping at what everyone got. The big things this year were Princess and Angelina dolls from Santa and bikes from Mommy and Daddy.  Plus they got lots of books, games and other fun toys.  Daddy got a hand painted paperclip drawer for his desk at school with an iTunes gift card and Mommy got a custom made 'Mommy's Meal' cookbook to add all of our favorite family recipes in.  Very sweet!

Hannah opening Sleeping Beauty :)

 We had some of these, but Santa almost completed the collection.  We only need one more 'Tiana' and one more 'Jasmine' to have two complete sets of the Disney Princess dolls!  That is a lot of Princesses...and even more pint sized shoes ;)

Santa also got the girls a beauty set to share with plastic make up and hair tools.  I almost took this back to the store, but decided to keep it because they have shown such an interest in this stuff lately.  I am glad I did!  This cheap-o set is their most played with gift so far. While we were getting ready to leave I caught Aly sitting in the hallway, in front of the mirror, doing her hair and make up.

She finally noticed I was watching, and taking pictures, and was not happy...classic.

After a potty training fiasco that resulted in Aly and Hannah both changing their entire outfits, it was off to Grandma Johnsons for lunch and more presents. At Grandma's they got lots of fun toys, including cool Ariel walkie talkies.

The last stop was Grandma and Grandpa Millers to have dinner and open more presents.  They got more fun toys and games, but my favorite is all of the Princess dress up stuff they got.  I hardly took any pictures because we were too busy enjoying the day, but now I regret not having more.  I need to hire a personal photographer in the future ;)

Alyssa, the little mermaid.

 

Opening presents with Grandpa!

Finally, we made it home.  The girls fell asleep before we even got home and Dan and I spent a good hour or so sorting through their new goodies and making room in our house for them.  I can't believe Christmas is over for another year!  It sure was a good one!

Christmas Cooking

All of the Miller/Bender women assembled at GG's to do some Holiday cooking.  We made Italian meatballs, raviolis and tons of cookies.  

Unwrapping kisses for later

Sisters

Tea Party Break

 She was in one of her moods...

 That is a lot of meat...

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies...one of my favorites!

 Worn out...and not interested.

 Multiple Generations in one kitchen...

The next day the girls help Grandma 'Aidan' make sugar cookie cutouts with Aidan and Caleb.  I forgot my camera because we saw 'Tangled' first, but this is a shot Dan got on his phone.  There was flour everywhere!

Then, as if we hadn't made enough cookies, we had some YL girls come over and made more sugar cookie cutouts.  They were pretty darn good at decorating.  If I see them on Food Network someday, I will definitely be taking the credit ;)

 Aly and Hannah LOVE being around these girls!!  They are so cute!  Aly thinks she is a leader right along with us...I hope she always keeps that enthusiasm for ministry!

 She was decorating right along with the 'teenagers'...so focused!

 Showing off some of their creations!

I am all baked out for a while...I don't even like cookies to begin with! 

Wildlights 2010

This is, hands down, one of my favorite activities this time of year.  I don't know what it is, but the Zoo becomes completely magical under the millions of lights.  It feel like you are at the North Pole.  And, even though the girls were kind of grumpy to start with, this year was no different! 

 

I don't know why Mrs. Claus' kitchen is a 'flash free' zone, but that is why these are kind of blurry. Hannah didn't particularly care for Mrs. Claus hoovering over her shoulder...

 Aly on the other hand was totally into it! Here she is taking a few pointers from the Big Guys wife.

 Hannah would rather take tips from daddy!

  Mmmm...I wish I had Mrs. Claus' recipe!

 This is just a warm up of the baking we have to do this week ;)

Winter Celebration

I seriously hate not being able to go to Aly's class parties (those are the kind of things that make me want to quite my job and sell everything we own so I can be a SAHM)!  Luckily, Grandma was able to go to the Holiday party...and Dan was able to surprise her with coming as well.  She had a blast and is such a show off when people are there with her! 

 Hannah was also ecstatic to be there with her sister!  She got to participate right along with Aly's class.  She is such a big girl...

 I know I have said this before, but Alyssa LOVES to have Hannah there with her and show her off! They may be complete opposites, but they are two little peas in a pod!

This is a cute picture of Hannah, but look behind her at the wall.  Aly's teachers created the coolest display of student made stockings hanging over a fireplace (complete with 3D fire) and a tree with presents!  Sometimes teaching preschool seems like fun...

This is just an adorable picture of Hannah hugging grandma's leg.  I lover her eyes.  So beautiful!

I can't believe this is Alyssa's last preschool Holiday party...

First Snow

We got the first measurable snow fall and the girls could not wait to go out in it! Last year Hannah wasn't too interested.  She would go out for a few minutes and want to come back in.  This year is totally different.  Hannah loves it just as much as Alyssa.

She was soooooo stinkin' cute. She just giggled and squealed the whole time!  I wasn't out  there long because it was so frigidly cold, but I got some fun pictures of the girls before my fingers froze: 

"Look! I'm stomping like a dinosaur!"

 

She couldn't keep her balance...

Aly was too 'busy' helping Daddy 'shovel the steps' to play.  She was so serious about her work.

I am so much happier watching from inside...getting the hot chocolate and cookies ready to warm them up when they come in...I guess I am the only snow hater in the family now.