Christmas Eve - Last Chance

Christmas really is almost here which means I'm not done wrapping, cleaning or anything else that we stress ourselves out with at the holidays.  I couldn't spend the whole day playing Santa though because I also had to pack for our vacation and get the girls and I beautified.  

Grr to the rescue, I also had some real work to do so he got the girls dressed and whisked them away to story time at the book store and Panera for lunch.  

 Remember that comment about cleaning?  Well we managed to get four rooms cleaned.  The kitchen and living room were necessities because of course we needed to take pictures and I didn't want to be embarrassed later AND did you know Santa won't come if your bedrooms aren't clean?

 Little cuties opened their gifts from Mommy and Daddy which of course were PJs.

 There is just something so special about the anticipation of Santa's arrival.  The girls are sweet, the house feels warm and the stress of did I get too much or too little is gone because it is way too late now.

 A little hot cocoa, gingerbread houses and snowflake marshmallows before bed.

 Don't tell, but we forgot to leave Santa his cookies.  We did however remember to prepare for Christmas morning snacks.

After one fall down the stairs and a broken snow globe the house was ready for the big guy.

Final List

Santa has been checking his list and has found these little monsters to be on the busy list.  

P is always up to some kind of shenanigans.

This is where I hide after everyone has gone to sleep.

Dear Santa, if we pretend to be good when other people are around will that count towards the nice list?

We didn't have a white Christmas, but we did decorate a few palm trees and watch the Eagle Harbor parade.

Adelaide participated in the local Art Show and had an opportunity to hang out with a few of her friends after school.

tissue paper trees



First Grade Holiday Party with A's favorite friends including stocking races, sock exchange, cupcake decorating and lots of games.  Bravo to the parents who help coordinate these activities, this mom is lucky to show up on time.

Penelope had a school party too including one of Santa's cousins who came to visit.

It wouldn't be the holidays without a little song and dance at the school show.

Every year Grant and I get a few hours to ourselves on a Saturday morning to help Santa while YaYa and Grr take the girls to see Santa at the Eagle Harbor Golf Club.  This is their special tradition that we are never invited to anyway.

We will pass up a white Christmas anytime for fun on the boat with our friends.  This is the best way to see Christmas lights in our area.

Sometimes other moms in the neighborhood need a little time to help Santa too, so Grant to the rescue.

Ms. Stacy was the hostess with the mostest this month with her cookie decorating party.  Little and big kids alike were all sugared up!

I should bake cookies at home more often, they sat there staring almost the entire time.

Come on Santa, this family is running out of energy.