Christmas 2011

Christmas and everything leading up to it has been so fun this year with a 3 year old and 6 month old. Caden was so excited about getting the tree out and decorating (Mommy had to do a little redecorating since all of the ornaments I let Caden put on ended up on the bottom, front half of the tree). We made some ornaments with Nana, went shopping because Caden wanted to get his brother a gift then Mommy had to go shopping again to get a gift from Noah to Caden :) and started a new Christmas tradition of the advent calendar that Gigi made us this year. Caden loved doing this! Each morning he would get to choose a picture to hang on it, we would talk about what the picture was and why it was important in our Christmas story. (Of course he chose all of the animals first!)

First Christmas

Jeff and Sheena came up to visit the week before Christmas and my parents came over as well. While they were here, we went to Dollywood and Bristol Motor Speedway in Lights where we drove on the racetrack looking at the lights. (pictures at the end) They were leaving before Christmas day so we had our Christmas a little early, on Friday. Caden woke up on Friday morning and saw that Santa had come and eaten most of the reindeer sugar cookies he had left for him. He was eager to open the presents, but of course Mama had to get some pictures of him and Noah in their Christmas pajamas in front of the tree and presents first! Finally, the opening of presents began with much excitement! I think Caden opened all of  his and most of Noah's too! :) That's ok though, I don't think Noah minded this year! Next year may be a different story though! We ate ham strata after all the gifts were opened and then fixed Christmas dinner that evening.

 

Jeff and Sheena left that night to drive home over night. Nana and Papa stayed the weekend and ate yummy leftovers with us! Only problem was, we ate all the leftovers and never planned a meal for Sunday after church! Since we did Christmas early, Sunday didn't really feel like Christmas so we just figured we would go out to eat after church. Who knew that restaurants were not going to be open!?! We had never done Christmas early before so we had no idea since we don't typically go out on Christmas.  There were only 3 restaurants opened that day, Waffle House, IHOP and Shoneys. We went home had found some hamburgers in the freezer for lunch then went to IHOP for dinner before Nana and Papa left to go home.