Christmas in Florida

We spent this Christmas at my parents house in Florida.  We had a great time with the entire family.  Craig, Laura and Aubrey got there a few days before us and took this great family picture :)

As soon as we got to my parents house the fun ended for Sarah and Laura.  Jack, the slave driver boss, had them working right away

Christmas Eve morning Grace woke up to Dancer's last "mischief"- he flipped over the couch in the family room.  She giggled about it all morning.

The girls had lots of fun Christmas Eve Day

We went out to lunch.  Kate found a new favorite food- lemons!

After Christmas Eve Mass, Grace and Isabella put out the reindeer food for Santa's reindeer.  Here's a great shot of G's outfit- complete with the pink cowboy boots she insisted on wearing...

Isabella got a little confused and thought they were feeding my parent's reindeer yard decorations.  Grace decided to chip in.  Very cute!

We had a great Christmas Eve dinner.  Grace spent most of the prep time in front of the computer watching Santa's trek around the world.  She was so excited!  So different from last year...

Cookies for Santa

Nana tried to read the girls "The Night Before Christmas" but she couldn't find the book.  So- modern technology- we pulled it up on internet and read it from there!

Right before Grace went to bed she said goodbye to Dancer until next year since she knew Santa was going to pick him up when he dropped off the gifts

Grace woke up very excited Christmas morning.  Kate just went along for the ride and new stuff!  It might have been the longest Christmas day ever.  We actually started Christmas Eve with sibling presents.  Then did Santa in the morning, nap break, then cousin gifts, lunch break, the Great-Papa and Great-Brenda gifts, nap break, then Nana and Papa gifts, dinner break and then after the kids were in bed, gifts from my parents.  It was fun to spread everything out.

Grace was convinced Santa was going to bring her a pink castle- she "asked him for it three times!"  He came through!

It was also a big day for Kate- first day to stand on her own!  What that girl will do for presents...

Kate quickly found her new favorite toy- a box

Elliot was unimpressed by the whole situation.  Poor thing remembers when the day was all about him

Grace was very excited to give Kate the Grover puppet she picked out all by herself at the store

Grace made this sweet gift for us at school

The girls had about four outfit changes throughout the day.  These shirts say "I love my mom and dad but Nana and Papa are the best!"  Jack and I had found them on our trip to Colorado last month.

This tunnel Kate got from Nana and Papa was a big hit!

Before we went to bed, Isabella had to finish all the work her Uncle Jack had given her...

The first set of matching pjs was completely planned.  This set was not- so cute!  My girls got their set from their Grandma and Isabella's came from a end of year sale last year!

After everyone went to bed, the big kids played with Jack's new sports game

It was a great day!