We got up on Saturday, Dec 18th and drove to Louisville to spend a couple days with my mom and step dad before going the rest of the way to WV. We enjoyed some time with my sister and niece, as well. The girls loved playing together, especially playing the piano. We have this exact same picture from a year ago when we were in Louisville after Christmas. My how they are growing!
Addy and Jayden posing in one of their Christmas dresses after church on Sunday.
"MawMaw Bill" let each of the girls open a gift a little early. She got my girls a Tiana doll and my niece Vivienne a pink leotard. Jayden was so disappointed not to receive a leotard, that she cried (fine mom moment, I know!). MawMaw felt so bad that she told Jayden she'd take her to Target to get her one that evening (I guess you can do this when you are the grandma). In the meantime, PawPaw Bill and Nathan headed out to Sam's to pick up some things for Bill's store. Bill asked my mom, "Is there anything else you need?" and Jayden looked at him very seriously and said, "A blue tutu." We laughed about that for weeks. She did get her leotard that night (as did Addy) and they danced for hours in them. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good picture of Jayden in hers . . . but this is a sweet one of my Addy.
After a couple of days at my mom's, we left for another drive up to West Virginia. My dad and Mary go all out for Christmas and it was a lot of fun seeing the girls so excited. Staying at their house is like going to a bed and breakfast. There are lots of rooms and beds, and lots of people to fill them! Mary gave the girls a few presents early so they could enjoy playing dress-up with their new clothes. Their cousin Victoria came over to play one afternoon and they had great fun dressing up, putting on make-up and primping in the mirror.
Each night we had our family devotions and dad joined in most nights. Once Nathan finished the Bible stories, the girls would beg Papa to read another one. He was quite entertaining in his impersonations of Daniel in the lion's den!
On Christmas Eve, the girls and I made a ginger bread village. This has become a tradition in our family. We usually do one big house, but this year I opted for the village kit (yes, a kit!) so that both girls could have their own houses to decorate. This worked out really well since Addy is getting old enough to actually care how it looks when she is finished!
Papa and Isaiah John in their almost matching shirts and cowboy hats. Doesn't Isaiah look like a true Texan?
Addy and Aunt Christine (who is expecting her first baby!) just before opening presents on Christmas Eve. Tradition at my dad's house is to open gifts after Mass on Christmas Eve.
Probably the funniest moment of the night was when dad and Aunt Carmella opened their Obama Chia pets. They are both huge Obama fans (insert sarcasm here!) and couldn't wait to display them.
My dad and Mary. What a blessing it was to spend the holiday with them, especially after not seeing them for a year and a half. They are both so generous to our family and the memories they made for us, and especially the girls, are priceless.
Isaiah John opening a gift. Always smiling! Other than the fact that he didn't sleep the entire trip (not only from traveling, but from cutting two teeth - which took a total of 12 weeks to come in!) he was a joy to share with our family. Even though he was teething, he was so happy when he was awake and loved exploring Papa and Yaya's BIG house!
I don't think I've ever seen Jayden as excited as she was on Christmas Eve. She bounced from one present to the next, squealing and delighting over each gift. This picture captures her spunky personality well.
Isaiah started pulling up to a standing position while we were up north.
Since we opened all the presents from Papa and Yaya on Christmas Eve, Nathan and I saved our presents for the kids for Christmas morning. We enjoyed a very fun family time opening gifts and the kids really loved the things Santa brought (although they know it's really mommy and daddy who are Santa, they still like to pretend!)
One of Addy's favorite gifts was her Texas Ranger's shirt. She's a huge fan!
On Christmas evening, the girls and I baked birthday cookies for Jesus. We would have made a cake, but I failed to plan ahead and didn't have all the ingredients on hand and since there was a constant stream of snow falling, we didn't venture out a second time to get them! The girls had a blast decorating the cookies with Aunt Christine and everyone enjoyed the special Christmas treat.
With all the snow (definitely over 18 inches) the kids enjoyed several trips outside to go sledding. The first day out, Addy was adamant that she could not wear more than one layer of pants and shirts because she was uncomfortable. I tried to explained to my Texas raised daughter that she would freeze in the 20 degree weather if she only had one pair of knit pants on. She cried, of course, but finally agreed. This is the cute pouty face she gave me before heading out the door (she was seriously pouting, not just posing for the camera!)
Jayden, on the other hand, was quite excited about this new adventure.
Addy quickly changed tunes when she got outside and absolutely loved sledding. Anytime a sled went down that massive hill, she was on it. Her favorite person to ride with, was Aunt Christine (sorry Uncle Jody!)
Jayden lost her steam real quick. She did not like being cold!! Papa let her sit in the mule with him as he drove up and down the hill to pick us up after we flew down (which was a fabulous perk of sledding on Papa's farm!)
Papa built us a big fire to keep warm in between sledding runs. We roasted marshmallows and sang campfire songs. It was great fun!
Nathan borrowed a snow suit from dad - and entertained us all while wearing it.
One of the highlights of my Christmas was sledding with my big brother, Jody. After all the kids got too cold and went inside, Jody and I sled down this hill over and over again. I felt like we were 10 and 8 again. It was great to spend this one on one time with him and to not have to share the sled with the kids!
1 comment:
Loved seeing these pictures. Isaiah's smile is adorable :)
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