Gift Bags

When I found out at Halloween the the poor room mom for Ava's class does essentially everything for the holiday parties by herself, we volunteered to make the goody bags for the class. Ava and I had fun making the bags and stuffing them with treats for her friends. (Their parents may hate me for the "reindeer whistle" that was included.) Ava was very excited to be able to give each friend a present.

Cookie Decorating

The last couple years, we have joined Auntie Maria and Christina and her boys at my grandparents' house to decorate cookies. 

 We tried to let this little munchkin help, but she just got mad because she couldn't eat the cookies. She was much better off playing with the sheet of stickers Grampy gave her!

 Hard at work!

Breakfast With Santa

This year we went to breakfast with Santa at the Rec Plex. It was so nice! There weren't a lot of people there, so Santa came and talked the all the kids. The only downfall is that it was on Saturday. Chris is always gone for wrestling, so KK took his place.

 Our friends, Andrea, Brian and Sadie, also went so we got to sit with them.

 It was really nice to see some of the counselors there that Ava has each day. She got to take a picture with one of her favorites, Miss Tori. 

 Gianna got a present from Santa, but wanted NOTHING to do with sitting by him!

 Ava was great with Santa when she got her gift!

 Ava and Sadie loved visiting with Santa!

Sisterly Love

Most of the time Ava and Gianna get along so well it makes my heart happy! Ava has loved Gianna since the moment she entered our family and Gianna looks up to her big sister so much! One night during the week, Gianna pulled out a book and brought it to Ava and said, "Book, read." Ava pulled Gianna into the chair where they "read" the book together. As soon as Gianna got up in the chair with Ava she broke into hysterical laughter. 

ALL ABOARD...The Polar Express!

Chris and I took Ava to Madison to ride the Polar Express. She and I wore our jammies, drank our hot chocolate, ate our cookies and listened to the story. We got to ride to the North Pole and see Santa and his elf. Once we got to the North Pole, Santa hopped on. He visited with each child and gave them each a bell from his sleigh!

 Sipping on her hot chocolate! 

 Visiting with Santa.

Ornaments

Every year we make special ornaments to give as gifts. This year we tried peppermint ornaments.

 Gianna wasn't sure what to think, so we left the work to Ava.

 Patiently waiting!

Decorating the Tree

We decorated the tree a little later this year, but it was still fun and special. Every year I get the girls a special ornament they can hang right away. The other ornaments they get on Christmas day go in the box for their own trees some day. The girls each hung their special ornament.

 This was a fun new ornament we got to hang too!

 Ava hung Anna.

 Gianna got to hang Elsa.

 I love this little ornament that Gianna made for us!