Christmas {2016}

Christmas morning Reaghan didn't wake up until 9am! I'm sure this won't be the case as she gets older and more aware of Christmas morning. Although, when I was a kid my brothers and sisters and I never woke up extremely early on Christmas. I remember we would usually wake around 8am... we were a family that really enjoyed our sleep! haha Mark however says he would be up all night long waiting for his parents to go to bed so he could run out and see his all of his presents. Maybe our kids will be a mix of both and wake up early but noooot toooo early.

We weren't up too late setting out her gifts. We didn't have anything to put together this year so we just had to set it all out.

We set out a little stocking for Piper of course and she could barely contain herself. She sat and stared and whined the whole time we set up gifts but never busted in to it like a good little pup.

When Reag got up I told her it was finally Christmas morning and she was so excited! I fixed her hair while Mark got the video camera ready and then we let her walk out to see her gifts.

Out of all the presents sitting out, the first thing she saw and picked up was one of the many books we got her. She loves, loves, loves books and I'm pretty sure we could've only gotten her that and she would've been perfectly happy!

Mark made her the baby doll crib and she's loved putting her dolls to bed each night.

BOOKS!

I've had fun showing her how to play with the little people in her dollhouse.

I love this picture because she looks like she's not too sure about the pants I bought her.

This was the only picture we got in our matching Christmas jammies and my big belly!

We had a nice breakfast after opening our stockings and then had a breakfast of pancakes and eggs.

After breakfast we took our time opening gifts under the tree.

I got a bath pillow for my tub, a new jacket, a hoodie, body spray and lotion, and don't tell anyone but Mark also enjoys a bath now and then so he got a tray for the tub and towel warmer ;)

I totally love the towel warmer! The other day I got out of the shower and realized I hadn't pushed the button all the way so totally got back into the shower for a few minutes just so my towel would be warm! haha

After our leisurely morning we headed to my parents for lunch.

Their Christmas Tree!

Lots of kids equals lots of presents!

My grandma got a fitbit for Christmas so after lunch we went on a walk to test out her fitbit and work off some of the mashed potatoes and gravy! It was definitely colder than lasts Christmas 75 degree weather, but it wasn't too bad.

Reaghan read books on and off all day long!

My grandma got her a set of books that included Madeline, Corduroy, Clifford, Curious George and a cute bear book call Stormy Night along with a Madeline doll and Corduroy bear to go with the stories. She loves it and with all the books she got we've had something new to read every night at bedtime! She loves it and so do we! Reading something new is nice!

My beautiful grandma with her new slippers.

Reaghan got my parents a little sign for the area on their wall where they hang Reaghan's crafts that she does for them!

My baby sister is going to be 17 in a couple of months!

Say what?!

My parents bought Reaghan a little scooter and helmet!

We ended the night with an annual dance off as Sara got the new Just Dance like she does every year!

We got video of me trying to dance and its not pretty! haha but we had fun.

Before we left Reaghan spent some time with her PopPop doing a search and find book. 

Her attention is always taken up by her aunts and grammie, she definitely prefers the company of girls because of her more reserved personality. But she does love her grandpas

 and uncles too and I love seeing her spend bonding moments with my dad. 

Sadly, we didn't get a family picture on Christmas but here's one of just Reaghan in her pretty Christmas dress! 

Christmas 2016 is all wrapped up and it was fun one!

We're looking forward to having 2 little girls next year to enjoy the season with.

Christmas Eve {2016}

We spent Christmas Eve with Mark's family like we have the last 4 years that we've been married. When we say family, we're talking about just his immediate family - mom, dad, and sister's family. In the past we've also gone over to his granny's on Christmas day to spend a couple of hours with his whole extended family but this year we decided to forego that stop. We enjoy spending time there but it just made for a hectic day trying to enjoy our morning at home, then get to his granny's by a decent time so we could be there for a few hours before leaving to get to my parents before the day was over.  And when we were at his Granny's we always felt like we were rushing everyone to open gifts because we had somewhere else to be when they weren't in any rush because they were going to be there all day. So anywho... it was a hard decision but Mark's parents were really supportive and understanding so no family drama ensued and we had the Christmas Party at our house to exchange gifts and enjoy time with his extended family. And it was actually SO nice Christmas morning to just enjoy opening gifts with Reaghan and each other, have a nice breakfast and not feel rushed to get anywhere. Plus we were able to get to my parents much sooner and enjoy lunch with them, which is something we always miss out.

Okay, rambling explanation over.... back to Christmas Eve!

Since it fell on a Saturday we went over to the Poindexter's earlier than usual, around 11:30, to enjoy the full day with them.

As soon as we got there "BB" and "Tom Tom" had a surprise for the girls hiding in their back bathroom. Which is where the girls love to play "store" for some reason haha.

Shopping Carts!

After their shopping carts came their stockings! They loved filling their carts with the things they received in their stocking.

They had fun playing for a while and then the last pre-nap surprise was a nap mat for each of them.

They were adorable! 

We were a little ambitious about how well they would do actually taking a nap in their new mats next to each other. Brooklyn fell asleep as her mommy patted her back and Reaghan was almost asleep so we left to finish falling asleep - I don't think she ever did and ended up waking Brooklyn up 20 minutes later! Whoops! I was over estimated the self control of a 2 year old falling asleep next to her cousin and best friend. haha Thankfully they both took a nice long nap after we separated them.

While the girls napped the adults exchanged gifts.

Mark's dad built us a beautiful buffet/hutch for our kitchen.

There is a top hutch for it that he is still finishing.

When the girls woke up we had a delicious dinner of Prime Rib, Collard Greens, mashed potatoes and the works. 

The girls had a few more gifts to open after dinner.

Christmas gets more fun each year with these girls watching them open up and enjoy their gifts together. Looking back on last year, it's amazing to see how much they've grown.

I'm not super happy with my lack of photogenic-ness this holiday season - or how much weight I've gained this pregnancy! My face has just gotten so round and chunky! haha 

But I'll worry about that after the baby comes. ; )

Thankfully Reag is definitely much cuter in her pictures!

At the end of the night the girls bathed and got dressed in some matching pajama's to listen to Uncle Jason read them the nativity story.

We've tried so hard to be intentional with Reaghan this Christmas season to teach her about Christ's birth in the manger and the reason for celebrating Christmas. She's only 2, but she's absorbed so much information this season and my mommy heart is overjoyed at what she remembered each time we talked about it or read about it. 

It was a Very Merry Christmas Eve for these beauties

and the rest of the family.