Christmas with Family

This weekend we celebrated Christmas with both sides of the family.  On Saturday we went to Nana, papaw and Mimi's house. This is the first year Caroline has saved her own money to buy gifts for people.  I love how excited she was for people to open her gifts.

The little reindeer playing before presents.

 We had dinner first and then it was time for the gift exchange!

Sitting with her presents

Ali was very methodical opening her presents. She tore one piece at a time like she had all the time in the world.  Then when she got to the present she wanted to play with it immediately. 

Caroline tore into her presents.  She got a Hatchimal!  She has wanted one so bad.  It reminded me of a Furby.  The little hatchimal (she name sparkle) can learn words and phrases and NEVER stops talking.  Caroline has had the best time with it.  Ali likes hers because she gets to play alongside her sister. Ali named her Hatch, Kaylee

Gummy Bug tape

They got little Santa PJs from Nana.

Sunday morning they went right to work on their treasures from the previous night.  

After church, we decorated gingerbread houses from Nana

More icing!

Ali ate most of the candy before it made it to the house. 

Sunday night was the girl's performance at church.  They could pick any manager animal to be and they both wanted to be a cow.  

At church, we were in the little holding area before it started.  Caroline was at the front of the line as I went to open the door to let all the little animals out Caroline shouted, "RELEASE THE HERD!!!".  I started laughing and so did the other adults.  

All the kids did great- The 2 cows at the end stole the show with their cuteness.

All the family came to watch:

Nana, Papaw, Mimi, Aunt Kelley, Aunt Jacee, Lolly, and Grandad. 

After the performance, Lolly, Aunt Jacee, and Grandad came over for dinner and to exchange presents.

Mermaid Pillow!

Headphones for the plane ride

Aunt Jacee got the girls some play-doh and card games for the plane ride

Dad got a new suitcase from my parents.  Just in time!

The girls loved the new box to play in.  

More from this weekend: 

Caroline's girl scout troop went and caroled at a nursing home on Saturday

The daisies sang their hearts out!  We had to sing Jingle bells maybe 10X because that is the only song they all knew.  

It has been my favorite thing we have done with the girl scouts.  

Friday we went and saw the movie, Ferdinand.  Both kids really like the book and the movie was very sweet.  Afterward, I gave the kids each a quarter and they raced in the arcade inside the movie theater.

Ali won!  Caroline (Who normally has a really hard time losing) gave her sister a high five! 

Go Tech!

Wednesday Caroline's girl scout troop went to the Texas Tech girls basketball game.  There was not a lot of people there.  The cool thing about an empty arena is the girls got on the jumbotron a lot.  We even won 3 free chicken dinners from Raising Cane because our section was the loudest.  The girls were dancing and cheering and they had a great time!  

Ali had so much fun but DID NOT want to see Raider Red.  She was always looking for him.  Raider Red was dressed in a Santa outfit so he was hard to miss.  

Me: Caroline, what was your favorite part of the game?

Caroline: dancing and cheering and screaming loud

Me: Ali, what was your favorite part?

Ali: THE POPCORN!!

Here is Becca Pink Pup eating some popcorn too. 

It was so much fun!

Go TEch!

Cartwheels

Ali Cartwheel

Sunday we were able to serve at Lubbock Impact with our life group.  Caroline was put in charge of making hygiene kits. She made over 50 by herself.  She had a great little system set up.  Ali helped me stack and store blankets. Both girls were excited it help!

Ali made me a sweet Christmas present.  I love homemade gifts. 

Neighborhood Cookie Party

Last night we had our annual cookie party.  It was so much fun!  We were missing 2 little neighbors in the picture.  Ali ate more sprinkles then she put on the cookies. She also wanted to wear her Santa PJ shirt for the party.

Ali helped me pick out cookie cutters while Caroline played with her friends.  She picked the dog bone cookie cutter out a lot.  It ended up being the most popular and the kids liked eating it.  

They all laughed and pretended to be dogs.  The kids also used all of Caroline dress up clothes and put on a performance for the grown-ups.  It was so much fun!

All the kids had a great time and left our house with a huge plate of cookies.

Bye Paci

Ali went to sleep last night without her paci.  We have been down to one paci for a while now. She lost it last night and called me to help her find it.  I told her it was gone but that she was a big girl and didn't need it. She whined but then went right to sleep (holding tight to her blanket).  She woke up really proud of herself!    Ali's doctor and dentist both said it really needed to be gone before her 3rd birthday.  

Next night Update: she didn't ask for it!  Also, notice she has not wanted to sleep in the bunk bed.

Caroline was decked out for Christmas today.  She asked to borrow some of my socks and chose my fuzzy polar bear.  Both girls decided they needed to wear reindeer ears from Mimi.