T'was the Night Before Christmas.....

On Christmas Eve we built a fire, made dinner and opened all of our presents. We weren't sure if we should wait until Christmas day but then decided that we'd have the presents from Santa to enjoy and a big lunch and fun day with Marco and Stacy, so figured we should spread it all out over two days. Before opening presents, the girls found a present for each of them from Winter, our Elf on the Shelf. The girls opened their presents to find Christmas pajamas to wear to bed that night. Winter explained that she would miss them both as she headed back to the North Pole to spend the year with Santa. Winter reminded both girls to be good and listen to their parents.

After dinner we opened presents which the girls loved! After all the presents were unwrapped, opened and wrapping paper cleaned up, the girls got into their pajamas for the most anticipated sleep of the year. They got a glass of milk ready and picked out a few of my Aunt Shirley's cranberry cookies which I made a few days before, as well as a gingerbread man and put them on a plate. They set the plate of cookies and milk by the fire and sat on their Papa's lap to listen to The Night Before Christmas story. We bring out the "Christmas" books from the top shelf at the beginning of December so they can be enjoyed for a few weeks so we've read the story many times over the past few weeks, but it's a great way to welcome Christmas day. The girls were both tired, but enjoyed the story before they headed off to bed!

Our tree with all the presents

Sofia and her gift from Winter

The full picture

Both girls and their gifts from Winter

CK and his girls

The story begins

Cookies and milk for Santa

Two tired girls enjoy the story

Excited for Santa to arrive, but ready for bed!