Christmas!!!!!

We had a wonderfully busy Christmas season.  This time of year is extra magical with little ones.  This year, we tried an advent calendar of sorts.  The girls opened an envelope each day of December and we completed a Christmasy activity.  It was fun.  Some days were "funner" than others. 

Pictures leading up to the Big Day.

Christmas play-dough...

A day out...Norah and I went to lunch and The Nutcracker Ballet.  Ivy and Caroline went to lunch with Daddy.  Caroline is not pictured here.  I did catch her in a couple of pictures as a blur and decided to go with the one where all of the peeps were in focus.

A Christmas mani/pedi with LOTS OF BUBBLES!!!

 Some shopping...

Reindeer food...

New PJs....

Treats for Santa...

The Big Day.

A second "tall doll" required a bunk bed...

Caroline opened her presents in her very deliberate way of doing things.  

Of course you hit your sister on the head with your new drum stick!  Who wouldn't??

Ivy was sick!  Such a bummer.  She did manage to muster up some excitement about her new Dora backpack.

We loaded up the van and headed to my parents house mid day on Christmas.  This ended up being very stressful this year.  Probably a combination of a sick kid, not packing up enough the night before, and a little one who kept moving my piles when we were packing (FRANTICALLY) to leave.  As if I need any help feeling like I am losing my mind??  We did have a great time once we arrived.

Ivy perked up after a nap and was super excited about her new doll bunk bed that Grandpa Mark built.

Caroline was very excited about the packing materials.

Sneaking bites from Grandpa Mark.  She was generous enough to share her flu bug with him a few days later!

We had a white Christmas!  It started snowing the evening of Christmas and snowed the entire next day.  Gorgeous.

My little July baby was not a fan of the cold snow!  We have since invested in some better mittens which has helped.

Exploring the forest...

 

Some sled fun...

Bring on 2013!!