In our family we have several Christmas celebrations throughout the month of December: a church Christmas party, a family party, another smaller family get-together Christmas Eve, etc. By Christmas day, we're ready to relax and just enjoy time at home, which is exactly what we did. Since we kind of celebrate during the whole month, I realized that I couldn't just share a "Christmas post." So, I'll back up a little bit.
Kylie loved helping me decorate the tree this year. So much, in fact, that she felt the need to continue decorating long after I finished. It may be difficult to see clearly in the picture, but Kylie put a red marker cap and Summer's pacifier clip on there. Guess where we found our laundry key??

As I mentioned before, my brother was able to come home for our family Christmas party. Kylie had tons of fun playing with her Uncle "Kah-wo."
You know that Geico commercial that talks about the little pig crying "wee, wee, wee" all the way home? That's what this video reminds me of :) Christmas Eve we went to my parents' house for dinner. Kylie enjoyed helping Grandma make cookies. So did Kramer...


The girls were showered with gifts that night. We found that Kylie really didn't enjoy opening the gifts much, but once they
were opened, she
had to play with them immediately.



I have to share this: my mom made me a recipe book! When we lived with my parents, I cooked dinner every night (except when I was pregnant) and so I became well acquainted with my mom's recipes. Once I moved, I hardly had anything to work with. This book is AMAZING. She made this adorable cover...

...typed up each recipe, alphabetized them all, and then categorized them. I love her.

Summer is so young we really didn't get her anything for Christmas. The Bumbo chair was her one and only gift, and I can say with confidence that she likes it very much.

Now on to Christmas morning. We had been prepping Kylie all month long about Santa Claus bringing her presents, finding things in her stocking, etc. I was shocked on Christmas morning when Kylie was not excited. AT ALL. She wanted to sit down and watch TV with her sippy cup of milk like she does every morning. When Josh and I started opening our gifts, she showed a little interest, but it really didn't hold her attention. The video depicts about the most excitement she showed all morning.
It did get better though! Just like on Christmas Eve she wasn't too interested in opening her gifts, but once they were opened, she had a great time playing. Here she is with her new skates and medical kit. I don't know that I would trust a doctor on skates... Anyway, she ended up having a wonderful day playing with her new toys.

Kylie really impressed me this Christmas. At first I was kind of bummed that she wasn't excited about opening presents, but that feeling quickly faded when her all-time favorite bedtime story became
The First Christmas. (Side note: this book is awesome! Josh's mom recorded herself reading the story and Kylie loves to hear her Grandma's voice every night). Anyway, she loved pointing out baby Jesus, the shepherds, and the star in the book. Also, her favorite gifts were the least expensive ones: bubbles, crazy straws, bath finger paints, number flash cards, etc. She also enjoyed shopping for other people and helping me wrap their gifts. I feel like, even at such a young age, she
gets it.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and were able to enjoy the holiday surrounded by friends and family.