Christmas Eve

This Christmas has been the best one ever!! I've been working for weeks, trying to get everything done so that we could just play and have fun this week. :) We had the most fun on Christmas eve. It was just our little family and we spent the day playing. In the morning the kids and I made some cookies for Santa. Madeleine is getting to be such the cook. She was so gentle cutting and lifting her cookies onto the cookie sheet. She was so proud to wear her apron, just like me!

After awhile, the smell of yummy cookies drew Harrison to the kitchen. Then he had to get in on the action. He thought he was big stuff up there cooking!

The he thought he'd try the dough & he REALLY liked it!! He would have eaten the rest, if I'd let him.

After they cooled, it was time for some icing! Madeleine worked so long icing her cookies. I think she did 5 in the amount of time it took me to do almost 25! ha!

Harrison wasn't interested in decorating.....he was just interested in eating. Not to worry, he also ate 2 cheese stix (protein) to balance out the sugar he was consuming.

Madeleine with her almost finished cookies......at least I think there's a cookie under that icing somewhere.

Yummy!!

After dinner, we let the kids open ONE present (mommy selected). They were so excited!! Harrison just went running to the tree, grabbed a present and ripped. Unfortunately, it wasn't for him! Madeleine got a new set of princess puzzles, which we worked before bed. Have I mentioned that she's a puzzle guru -- she can do puzzles up to 100 pieces, by herself!!

Harrison also got a new puzzle, which he surprised all of us and worked like a pro!

Then it was time to put out our reindeer food so Santa and the Reindeer could find our house! This is something we do every year and Madeleine was pretty serious about doing it just right this year!

Then we headed inside to read The Night Before Christmas. We also do this every year, all cuddled up together on the couch! I love this time, just before they go to bed. They both could hardly stay still, they were SO excited!

Then it was time to put out Santa's milk and cookies. I was able to talk Madeleine into leaving some of her less-iced cookies so Santa wouldn't go into sugar shock at our house. One problem here: Harrison was convinced that the cookies were for him. Madeleine tried to tell him NO, but....

he threw a fit! Here's a "real-life" picture. I love Harrison's face! It's so sad. :(

Madeleine knew exactly what to do. She was excited to see the cookies the next morning.

Check back for pictures of Christmas day......I'll leave with this one thought. This was the BEST christmas I've ever had, ever ever ever! Madeleine knew EXACTLY what was happening and watching her excitement grow with every passing day was more fun for me than her, I think. Harrison just fed off her excitement! Having his birthday just before christmas helped him, too. He never paid any attention to the presents under the tree until after his birthday, when he realized that there were actually TOYS in those boxes!! Then he couldn't stay away. :)