Christmas {2014}

We left cookies...

We read The Night Before Christmas...

Pretended to jump out of a plane - ha! 
{don't ask! doesn't everyone do that on Christmas Eve???}

We called and tracked Santa and then hurried to bed. And some time in the middle of the night, Santa came and ate the cookies, left a sweet note for the littles {Rudolph liked his portrait, Hudson!!} and some fun gifts by the tree!

Ever since {this} fun Christmas morning, Santa leaves stocking stuffers in a better, safer place.

I love this sweet pic and how he tiptoed in there to see if Santa had indeed come!

The calm before the storm... 
{and yep, this year Grace deemed the Santa hats 'uncool' so a headband it was. pick your battles...pick your battles...}

We started off with my very favorite. The gifts they bought for each other with money earned from doing extra chores. Grace picked out Beat the Parents {Hudson is very into board games right now} and a build-a-Snowman Lego pouch for Hudson.  Hudson picked out Anna & Elsa in their fancy costumes and a Rainbow Fairy book for Grace. I love how much they love picking out each other's presents. And this year they kept the surprise and didn't tell each other beforehand!!

My heart!

American Girl and Legos are still going strong in our home!

The littles love giving and OPENING presents for others - hahahaha! They picked out a sweater for Lance...

...and then the long-anticipated moment {only for me - ha!}. I tricked Lance by wrapping his present inside of a GIANT box so that I was finally able to surprise him...

...with tickets to the Music City Bowl!! He was so excited!! LSU & Notre Dame - his two favorite teams!

Stocking stuffers always bring some sweet smiles...

And lots of cute crafty things...

Some hits and some misses - ha!

And one final special gift from mama...

...because I think every little girl needs to be reminded that being exactly who God made her to be is the most beautiful of all!

There might have been an argument or two over who was going to sit where and who was going to play the piano, but............we finally sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. This year the littles chose a donut cake for Him - yum!

And then we spent our afternoon playing - what else - American Girl and Legos!....with a board game break thrown in for good measure.

We had a cozy, stay-in-your-pjs-all-day kind of day.  So thankful for the blessing of spending this time together!

Merry Christmas to all!