First shot of Christmas morning. Millie and Abby actually awakened first at 3:30 and came in to our room excitedly tugging on us to come and see what Santa had brought. Thankfully, we were able to coax them back to sleep until 8:00.
Abby loved her new dress-up -- a gift from Santa to Jane, but which accidentally got into Abby's pile. What can one do when Abby opens it and says, "Oh, it's my favorite!" They are now sharing it, but I have yet to see Jane wear it and Abby loves it even though it is a little on the small side :).
A mother of one of Millie's school friends called a week before Christmas offering to give us this horse as her youngest had outgrown it. It makes sounds, moves its head, swishes its tale, and the girls love it.
Jane loved her pink plastic Barbie car with zebra-print upholstery.
Jane was obviously thrilled with her Barbie house. She played with it nonstop all day long and really got after Millie when Millie relocated the furniture to upstairs to Millie's room.
Jane taking a ride on the pony.
Millie was desperately hoping to get the American Girl doll, Kirsten (1846 Swedish immigrant), this year as it is being discontinued. Needless to say, she was thrilled and the doll has barely left her arms since! She loves laying out her clothes the night before and gets her dressed every morning first thing.
Abby with her Kit Kittredge doll (1936). She takes such tender care of her dolls! She, too, has hardly let her out of her sight and loves dressing her.
The girls enjoying our Christmas Eve dinner in their Christmas pajamas from Mrs. Claus that were mysteriously left on our doorstep by some stealthy elves.
Visiting Santa on Christmas Eve (Jane was a little nervous and we couldn't coax a smile). The Santa was great -- the beard was actually his own!
We had such a fun time with our friends Jason and Verity Cushing who were in town visiting family and were nice enough to come for dinner and to spend time with us. It was so great to get caught up!
The girls had a magnificent time with the Cuching's kids, Rhiannon and Wade. It was hard to tear them away from them when it was time for them to leave.
The Monday before Christmas the older two girls and I went to see Houston Ballet's version of The Nutcracker. They felt so pretty in their sparkly gold dresses and we had a great time! It took about 15 minutes of answering questions like: Does this have any words? Is this a movie? Why aren't they talking? before they settled down to watch. After intermission, Millie leaned over and whispered, "This is a lot funner than I thought it was going to be!" They both loved the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Russian Dancer (only one in this version). Millie thought the Snow Queen and Snowflake dancers were "so beautiful" and Abby liked when the Christmas tree grew. They did a great job and we had fun meeting up with Daddy and Jane for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory afterward.
Posing with a toy soldier.
Posing with one of the mean mice after the performance.
Jane wanted to get in on some of the pre-Nutcracker photo action.
We visited some of Mark's friends from work for cookies and hot chocolate and the girls loved meeting their new dog, Crumpet.
Millie with her 2nd Grade teacher, Mrs. Sosebee, at her class Christmas party. She and Abby made treat bags of chocolate covered pretzels for their classmates.
Abby singing in her school Christmas program -- she was sooo excited!
It was so special for Abby that Grandma and Grandpa McLaughlin could be in town for both her preschool program and ballet Christmas performance. All of the girls loved having them around so much, and they were a great help to me while I was down with the flu (again, humph!).
