Our Christmas...

One last post about our Christmas.  I made a short video that included a lot of pictures and videos of our day.  It's a quick look at our holiday...I've watched it so many times and it continues to bring a smile to my face.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday.  Love to all!

Our Christmas 2014...

This is going to be a crazy long post... I took many pictures and videos of our Christmas....

The best part of my Christmas day was watching Lorelai's eyes light up when she realized that Santa had come to visit.  I love to experience the magic of the holiday through her.  Evelyn still is a little young to understand everything going on, but she had a great time with all the new toys as well.  Many thanks for all the gifts that were sent to the girls!

Here is a video of Lorelai first waking up...

A few pictures of our morning...

Lorelai opening her Daisy Duck

Evelyn liked her Cinderella musical carriage.  Lorelai got a similar Little Mermaid one.

Evelyn trying out her new clock puzzle

This is a present from last year, but I'm all about promoting clean-up time!

Hammer time!

I love her face in this picture.  She seems very excited

Lorelai is now a pro at unwrapping presents

Evelyn taking a break to cuddle with Addie.  Addie has already had her Christmas chewy and it's time for nap

Princess shoes and latch-board puzzles

Lorelai's new stables and ponies

It's evening time...tired out...but still playing

New apron (thank you Grandma!) and ready to help Mommy cook some prime rib!

More videos of the girls unwrapping presents...

This video below is of Evelyn opening up her singing Elsa doll...

And the next two videos are of Evelyn playing with her doll.  She won't put it down!

Twas the night before Christmas...

It's the night before Christmas and we are preparing for Santa...

We had a great day cleaning, baking, cooking, and preparing for tomorrow.  Ready to get in our Christmas pajamas!

Spending the minutes before bedtime, crowded around our tree...

Evelyn doesn't really understand the whole Santa thing yet...but I think she picks up on the excitement

One of my favorite pictures.  It looks like Lorelai is explaining Christmas to Evelyn...and Evelyn is laughing and thinking "this is awesome!"

Cookies for Santa.  Don't eat those Lorelai!

Milk, cookies and carrots.  I hope Santa and his reindeer are hungry

Almost bedtime...

The girls are asleep...presents from Santa are under the tree.

Santa visits

We love to visit Santa.  Lorelai was so excited this year.  When she saw his chair off in the distance, she took off running through the mall.  She was a little nervous when she got right up to him, but she got more comfortable as she sat on his lap.  Evelyn was intrigued by Santa but did NOT want to sit on his lap.  She liked the bells on his boots though!

And away Evelyn ran...

Evelyn would not sit still...but I love Lorelai's face in this picture

Christmas cookies!

It's the Christmas season and in this house that means....baking!  We are making italian anisette cookies, rosettes for Daddy, peanut butter blossums, and sugar cookies for the girls.  Lorelai, of course, is there to help bake.... and Evelyn is close by to lick the beaters!

Evelyn hears the mixer going and she runs over to see if she can lick the bowl.  This girl has a definite sweet tooth!

Frying up some rosettes!

Helping Mommy to put sprinkles on the Italian cookies

Working with Grandma to sprinkle the sugar cookies

....and she's having so much fun doing it!

A couple videos of Lorelai decorating the cookies...

Lorelai's Birthday Cake...

I'm sorry but I am just too proud of the cake I made for Lorelai...it deserved it's own post!  It took my just shy of 4 hours and a little supervision from Grandma but we got it done and I think it's just beautiful.  I came up with the idea to make an alligator themed cake back in September when Lorelai handled some alligators in Florida..  Lorelai  heard me talking about it and has been asking for her "alligator cake" for  the last three months!  I had to deliver!!!!

Lorelai's Reptile Party

As you all know, Lorelai turned three years old on December 19th.  We celebrated her birthday the weekend before on the 13th.  We had a reptile themed party... I have no idea why my child is so obsessed with creepy, crawly reptiles.  She had a lot of friends come over to play and the entertainment for the party was THE REPTILE MAN!  I've posted a lot of pictures on facebook but here are a few more...

We started out small... and seemed to get larger and larger.  There was not one animal that she was afraid of

She was very gentle with the babies as well.

I love her mouth hanging open in this picture.  She is in awe of these animals

This is one of my favorite pictures.  She is so relaxed with a snake crawling all over her.  She is an animal lover to the core!  I love this sweet girl.

 

This Reptile Man has over 100 snakes and reptiles in his home.  He has to have special permits to even own some of them!  Some of their diets consist of rabbits, pigs, and goats!  I think that his wife is very understanding...

Daddy and Uncle Ethan enjoying some of the reptiles...

We didn't just have snakes...lizards too!

 

Lorelai was amazing at following directions.  The Reptile Man specifically told her how to pet each animal. This bearded dragon he said to use one finger and pet downwards, and that's exactly what she did.  She listened  better than any kid at the party so he actually trusted her to touch certain reptiles that he wouldn't let others touch.  I'm very proud of my girl.

I didn't have much choice in holding the snake... it was forced upon me.  I think I handled it pretty well

This is the largest snake he brought.  He plopped it right down in Lorelai's lap.  She kept staying how heavy it was!

I love how she has absolutely no fear.  There are several moms who would not touch any of them, no matter how much coaxing was given.

I love the smile.  I'm glad she had fun at her party