Merry Christmas!

Everyone I spoke with said that Christmas will be kind of a bummer until the girls are three years old. So I really wasn't expecting too much from them this year. We read a ton of books about Christmas, and Santa and Rudolph and snowmen and watched specials and they showed some varying interest in all of these things.

But then they really surprised me - they got super into Santa and Rudolph, enjoyed opening gifts (more so, sometimes, than the gifts inside) and were just too adorable meeting and playing with their cousins.

Alex LOVED the piano (pinano) at Grandma and Poppas house and was enjoying mashing the keys and singing "Jinga bells, jinga bells" or "frossy snowman" and Josie would go right along with it. :D These two kill me! (They also did "Happy Know It")

We had a blast enjoying Christmas through their eyes. I also have very little time left to remember they believe Santa is real, I need to watch my tongue!!!

Here are a bunch of photos from Christmas and the days leading up to it!

Playing on grandma and papa's giant property!!

Josie took right to Papa. It was nice to see since 

they can be shy with other people. 

Visiting with Patrick, Maureen and baby Mary!

All the kids had fun and we played a spirited game

of Munchkin while the littles napped!

Playing outside in hats and long sleeves,

so sad to not have snow but happy we 

could enjoy the outdoors so much!

We had to run to the mall and it was a perfect opportunity to

meet up with Jamey's cousin Rita and their two little girls!

Red Robin has these free balloons that the girls loved. 

Alex loving it. Wearing a new outfit from Macy's since

pukapocalypse continued in the car on the way over.

Sammy and the girls playing with balloons.

Cousin Haley, Cousin Rita, Aunt Cathy, Josie, Alex and James!

The view from my bedroom window! 

So foggy and eerie every day!

On Christmas eve, we turned to see Josie making a tower with the mini soda cans!

I have to say, I was VERY impressed with her skills!

Then immediately after she did this. Girl, you are killing us!

Adorable!

We took the girls out to play before nap, since after 

nap was the big Christmas eve party. They really

loved running around the property. 

Alex and daddy walking up from the far pond (there are two!)

Josie running back to the house, that you can't see thanks to the thick fog

A free advertisement for Old Navy Christmas t-shirts lol

Josie LOVES holding hands and gets really angry 

when Alex doesn't want to hold hands anymore. 

Here she is dragging Alex all over the yard lol

After nap, Jill and her kids Noah, Logan and Oliver joined us. 

Alex reminds us multiple times that baby "Nola" was "nakie" 

(his clothes were in the dryer as he had gotten wet). 

After a costume change, the girls helped give gifts to

Noah, Logan and Oliver

Adorable baby Alex <3 p="">

Baby Josie obsessed with the rocking chair.

Santa visited on Christmas Eve and I decided since Alex and 

Josie didn't want to sit on his lap, I would. Santa really liked it. 

THEN SANTA CAME!!! (Holy crap!)

Very tired and up super early on Christmas!

But totally in the spirit and enjoying it all!

(all of us took a nap together later)

Christmas outfits!

Playing with new toys (and wrapping paper)

Playing Pinano

And playing recorders with their cousins.

The cousins really loved Alex and she was enjoying the attention!

Josie, on the other hand, was grateful for a day

 of uninterrupted Daniel Tiger on her tablet.

Then wanted her cousin's tablet.

Josie and William! (Josie always so serious!)

Laurie and Mark, Henry and William, if they added twin girls to their family!

Christmas part two with Grandpa Jeff, Oliver, 

Noah, Jill, Warren and Aunt Cathy.

The girls warmed up to Oliver and gave him a nice hug!