the best yet...

christmas this year was so much fun. elle louise was a blast and we enjoyed being with our families.

we celebrated with aaron's family on christmas eve eve...



we got matching pj's for the kids this year so we had to get a picture. stupid we were and waited until the end of the night. but, i paid a pretty penny for those jams and by golly i wanted pics of the kids. altogether and matching. it was comical.

christmas eve day we spent at my brothers house. we usually celebrate on christmas with brunch at my parents house but since my brother moved and couldn't come home we decided to go to him. i forgot my camera and since he lives about an hour and a half away its kind of hard to run back home and grab your camera when you realize, when you pull in the driveway, that you forgot yours. oh well, my mom got tons of pics. maybe she'll put them on our share site soon (hint, hint mom!) and i can share them with you. let me just assure you that elle louise was spoiled big time by her nana, bapa and uncle cracker. i mean big time! i'm pretty sure my brother went to his closet walmart and got everything dora off the shelf...including a dora four wheeler!

it was nice spending christmas eve at home, usually we spend it at aaron's parents house but for whatever reason decided to do it the night before. actually loved being at home and being able to hang out and make a big deal about santa coming in the morning.





got elle louise all clean, took some pics by the tree, colored santa a picture and laid out some cookies for the jolly ol' man. elle really wasn't sure what was going on. she was just worried about santa eating all her cookies, so we assured her that santa would leave her one to have when she woke up. and he did, he left her the blue tree. she was pretty excited about that.

christmas morning we woke up and the party began, except for elle didn't really want to party. she was not all that into opening presents, but still so much fun even if she lacked a little enthusiasm!







aaron worked tirelessly on this kitchen. built it from the ground up. it looks so stinking awesome and elle loves playing "kitchen table". and, what fun that she'll be able to play with this years to come and that she will know that her daddy lovingly made this for her. so very special!



christmas toes!



"oooh!"



just opening some more presents.

we didn't have anywhere to be christmas day until later that evening when we went to my grandparents' house for dinner! love this christmas tradition and look forward to it year after year! although, i definitely missed my brother this year. wasn't the same without him.



happy birthday, jesus. let me give you a big ole smooch!







my grandparents got elle the calico critters townhome and some furniture. my cousin, ek, gave elle the "ellwood" elephant family. and my mom got her some furniture for the house. not a more perfect gift, elle loves this house. we seriously sat in the floor today and played with it for 2 hours!

what fun and what pure joy christmas brings! we are blessed beyond measure!

hope everyone had a joyous and blessed christmas as well!