Christmas at Home

We spent a wonderful time at home this year. It was very relaxing and enjoyable. Eliza is at such a fun age. She gets so into the whole to do of Christmas. Every time she opened a present she would say, "This is just what I've always wanted!" or "This is the best present EVER!" It makes me feel so good when something you have worked so hard to try to make perfect comes out just right.
On Christmas Eve Nathaniel and I decided to start a few new traditions of our own. I took the girls to go see The Princess and the Frog. I was a bit disappointed, but they thought it was okay. They were just thrilled to go and see a real movie. All morning we told the girls we had a surprise for them and Eliza kept saying she hoped it was something princess. When we drove to the mall she said, "Are we going to the movie?" I didn't even know she knew the mall had a movie theater since we don't really go to the theater or the mall much (at all). We had a fun time at the movie while the boys wandered the mall. Later we decided that instead of the big traditional meal that the kids wouldn't be into anyway, we would have pizza. What a hit! That is going to be something we carry on in the future. It was so nice to not have all of the prep and then the clean up when it is just us (and let's be honest, my husband and kids prefer pizza). I just love Christmas Eve with all of the set up and excitement.
Christmas itself was so great. I got to relax more than I have in a while and if I do remember correctly, I stayed in my pajamas all day. That never happens! That's my idea of a great holiday!

The kids got this from Santa. He is so wise! He must have known we were about to have a baby and that I would need the kids to be entertained and out of my hair for a few moments a day. Gotta love that guy! It has been such a fun time for the kids. I have loved every second of it!
Nathan's favorite part of Christmas morning was the M & Ms in his stocking. I was a little reluctant to let him have them since he had just thrown up the night before, but hey, it was Christmas so I just threw down a sheet on the floor instead. That way if he did loose it I wouldn't have to scrub as much!
The girls loved the little plastic dollhouse that I found at a yard sale for $2. What a great buy!
The set up the night before. Simple and yet so fun. The kids just lit up when they saw it. Nathaniel's family always does the big box of cereal for each kid and my family does the small box in the stockings. I figured it was a tradition that we needed to uphold. Of course the kids loved it. How simple they are to please!
They opened their pajamas and slippers on Christmas Eve. I have always wanted to give my kids jammies on Christmas Eve, but never did because I was too cheap and didn't think they needed them. Well, this year they actually did need them so I had an excuse to get them. I made 4 pairs of pajamas for the girls (2 each). I have wanted to learn to sew but was waiting for someone to show me the ropes. I decided just to take on the project myself and was proud that I did such a good job. They were rather big since they didn't try them on before I gave them to them, but I have since fixed them to fit more appropriately. One of the pairs I made the girls look like a scrubs shirt that Nathaniel said would have probably fit me if I wasn't pregnant. Oh well, the girls like them and I learned something new. Nathan's are just from Costco. I loved how his chubby little legs looked like sausages in his tight little jammie pants. So cute! Too bad he only wore them for a few hours before they were puked on.