A dream is a wish your heart makes

 

Christmas 2012

Christmas was a blast this year.  To see that twinkle in your kids' eye is the best!  Kelly remembered everything from last year and she  made sure that she taught Austin everything she knew.  He caught on very quickly and knew all about Santa and his reindeer, but started to understand the real reason why we celebrate!  Kelly has started asking questions this year about Jesus so I have started reading more about him to her.  This year I tried to make sure that she knew that Santa does what he does because of Jesus. 

 Even though both kids woke up not feeling well they didn't let that stop them!  A few weeks before Christmas we let the kids pick out wrapping paper and we sent it to Santa.

Austin had no problem opening gifts this year, he knew just what to do and was ready to go!

Kelly got even more princess stuff from Santa.

Austin was very excited he got the Thomas that he had asked for.

 One of the sweetest moments was watching Kelly open her Rapunzel baby.  She has wanted her for a long time and every time we would go to the store we would have to go say hi to her.

They got candy, chips, socks, and toys in their stockings.

Here they are with their loot

Austin also got a car this year.  Now he can go driving with Kelly around the neighborhood. 

Austin loves his new train tracks.  He spent the whole day going from track to track.  Choo! Choo! All aboard!

 

 

Kelly's favorite thing from Santa is her Leappad 2.  I would recommend getting one of these.  She has so much fun and is learning at the same time!  She can take pictures with it, video, read, play learning games etc.  I find her practicing writing her letters most of the time on it.

Since it was just us Jacob cooked a small, but very yummy, meal for dinner.  We had ham, mashed potatoes, home made mac and cheese, rolls, and cheesecake (Jesus' birthday cake) for dessert.

 

  

After dinner it was back to playing.  Look at my little Mommy!

This Christmas was so much fun.  It just gets better every year!  I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas Eve is a very special day for us filled with lots of traditions.  I always like to get the kids dressed up for when Grandma and Grandpa Sanders come over. 

 We started the morning making reindeer food so Santa would not be the only one with a snack!

Their finished product 

Then it was time for Grandma and Grandpa.  Once again they out did themselves.  They always put so much love and thought into their gifts.

It was so cute to watch Austin open his presents.  He got it 100% this year and was very into it!

 

Kelly got lots of princess stuff this year.  She was one happy little girl!

 

Sleeping Beauty was her favorite gift of the day.  After everything was opened she had to go get dressed up to put on her new Sleeping Beauty jewelry.

Proud Mommy moment, Austin must have said thank you at least a hundred times and had to give lots of love.

Poor Kelly started to get sick before Grandma and Grandpa left, but Grandma always makes her feel better.

After dinner we went and put the food out for the reindeer.

And while the cookies cooled, Daddy read our annual Christmas Eve bedtime story, The Night Before Christmas. 

This year we left Santa milk and chocolate milk because Kelly wanted to leave him her favorite too.  They also wrote Santa a note thanking him for their gifts and for Chippey.

 The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads

Chippey the Elf: Part 2

Day 16: Chippey brought an early Christmas gift

 

Day 17: 

Day 18: Chippey hung his ornament on our tree

Day 19: Being a little naughty

 

Day 20: Chippey's self-portrait

 

Day 21:

Day 22: Christmas is a birthday

Day 23:

Day 24: Let it snow

Day 25: Chippey is always watching

Day 26: Elf in a jar

Day 27: relaxing after a long flight

Day 28: one cool elf

Day 29: Chippey rode to Kelly's last day of school

Day 30: Woody, one of the reindeer that watched Kelly and Austin last year, gave Chippey a ride back to our house

Day 31: Fishing (he is a Sanders!)

Day 32: Chippey's last day

 He took the kids' pajamas with him and put magic dust on them to help them sleep.  He also said that Kelly and Austin could each give him a hug since Santa was taking him back with him.  It was a great way to say "See ya later" to Chippey!

 

We had a great time with Chippey and he will be missed by all of us.  We can't wait to see him next year!