Catching up-Christmas

This post is totally overdue and although Christmas was exactly a month ago, I haven't had the time to post about ours. Ella was so excited to wake up and see all of the presents. I think we were even more excited. Tom and I woke up extra early, started the coffee and literally waited for Ella to wake up. By 8:30...we were too anxious and decided to wake her up!. Our girl loves to sleep.

Christmas is so much fun with children. They have that sweet glimmer of joy in their eyes when they see the tree lit up with presents underneath. Their expressions are priceless when they open up a gift that was on their list (or in Ella's case EVERY gift that was on her list)..minus Princess roller skates which she promptly let us know Santa forgot to bring them when the two hour gift opening process was done. (Thank you Uncle Bud for surprising Ella with those skates when we got to FL! Oh and by the way...she didn't ask for the skates until like Christmas Eve and Santa was clearly tapped by then.)

The whole season really makes you feel like a kid again. I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas when I was a child. I hope we are starting beautiful traditions with Ella and Madeline that they will cherish forever. If not...they can always look back at the thousands of photos their mama takes, right? Look below...

One of my favorites...someone was very excited for Santa to get there!

Our Christmas Eve tradition...Mass and then fondue!

Oh look...Santa stopped by!

My amazingly talented mom made us our Christmas stockings this year. LOVE them.

"Hey...why she getting so many presents...and all they give me is ribbon?"

Just keeping her occupied.

Thank you aunt Jeanne for my awesome Pillow Pet! Ella got the same one from Auntie Monica!

Daddy opening up his coffee mug Ella painted for him.

So sweet.

Tom really did love Riley. And Riley really adored him.

Way too much work opening up those presents!

That's one heck of a Christmas dinner Ella cooked for her new dollhouse folks.

The aftermath.

Apricots and marshmallows in the stockings. Another tradition from Tom's family. Ella handed over the apricots. But gladly ate the marshmallows.

Fast asleep Christmas night...on her new pillow pet dressed in her new Tangled pajamas.