Christmas!!!

We had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with lots of festivities including a family dinner, an evening drive to look at Christmas lights and watch for Santa in the sky, presents and a delicious Christmas morning brunch. I've talked a lot to Elyse about why we celebrate Christmas. She knew that it was Jesus's birthday and she sang Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus many times throughout the day.

Aunt Lilia and Elyse got Santa's cookies and milk ready.

A purple balloon was at the top of Elyse's very short list for Santa. I've never seen her so excited. Balloons are like diamonds to this girl.

Our little poinsettia.

Taking down ornaments

and trying to put them back on the tree.

Mommy and her girls.

(someones hair was about to be pulled)

Elyse got a big girl bed for naps at Nana and Papa's house. She took her first nap in it on Christmas day and fell right to sleep.

I remember the Christmas when Eve was Elyse's age. She's grown up too fast but is as beautiful as ever!

Unwrapping presents makes a girl thirsty!

Playing with toys in a new princess dress. Bryn wants to play too!

Elyse's pancake snowman at our Christmas brunch. Adorable!

Bryn Update

Sweet little Bryn has had a rough week with doctor's appointments and another MRI with anesthesia. Her alpha fetoprotein level had increased over the past two months and the sonogram that was done last month showed that her hemangioma has grown. Because of these two factors, her doctor opted to repeat the MRI. In the past, they started her IV after she was already sedated. This time they put it in as soon as we got to the hospital because this was considered and emergancy MRI and they weren't sure what time she'd be fit into the schedule. It was a traumatic morning for her but four nurses, one doctor and one hour later, they finally got it started. Bryn's such a trooper and was happy and smiling the rest of the morning despite not being able to eat or drink anything for over 12 hours. The MRI results showed that her mass is still consistant with a hemangioma and her alpha fetoprotien dropped over 40 points between her regular appointment on Friday and the labwork they did the following Wednesday. We prayed so hard for that!

I adore this picture of Bryn waking Elyse from her nap. She has gotten so good at pulling herself up and creeping around the crib or table. Getting down is not quite as easy for her and she usually cries when her little legs get too tired to stand any longer. Elyse always wakes up happy when Baby Bryn is there to play.

Caroling

Eve had her annual Christmas party and caroling with her friends last week and Elyse was thrilled to join in on the fun. She pretty much wears one of her princess dresses every day and has been asking to go trick-or-treating constantly since Halloween. I have to keep explaining that we only trick-or-treat on Halloween. She had a blast going door to door, singing and dancing with the girls. When we got home she excitedly told Bryan that she had gone

"trick-or-singing!"

Pre-Christmas, Christmas

Mimi and Grandpa came to visit and to celebrate Daddy's birthday and an early Christmas with the girls. It was wonderful having them here over the weekend, despite all of the house renovations and moving prep going on. Elyse and Bryn were spoiled with attention and gifts... we all were.

 Bryn checking out the huge Christmas ornaments with Grandpa.

What girl doesn't love shopping for jewelry?

Thank you for everything Grandpa and Mimi! Come back soon!

Daddy's Birthday

Elyse spent at least 2 weeks counting down to Bryan's birthday, talking about it and practicing singing Happy Birthday to Daddy. I think Bryan would have liked to skip his birthday all together this year but there was no way Elyse was going to let that happen!

"No cheese!" in action.

The birthday boy and baby Bryn.

Elyse decided we should have a golf ball cake for Daddy and she helped him blow out his candle.

Bryn is 8 Months Old!

Happy 8 monthday to our little Bryn Bear! It's been a big month milestone wise. She started crawling, sitting herself up and pulling herself to stand. She's determined to keep up with Elyse! I wish she could stay our little baby forever.

Surprise, surprise! Look who is eyeing the cake!

My beautiful Grandma!

Cake time!

Nana's Holiday Bakeathon

Elyse was so excited to be able to help Nana with her holiday bakeathon this year and she's been talking about it ever since! They made and decorated four different kinds of cookies on Saturday; gingerbread, spritz, frosted wreaths and Bryan's favorite, walnut frosties. It was a long day for Nana but a lot of fun for Eve and Elyse.

Putting "glitter" sprinkles on the spritz cookies.

Helping Eve roll and cut out wreaths.

She sang "roll, roll, roll, roll" the entire time.

It's impossible to resist tasting them while they cool!

Mmm, mmm! Deee-licious!

Santa Baby

This was Bryn's first trip to see Santa and Elyse's third. Elyse had much more fun with Santa this year and wasn't at all afraid. We arrived early and were the only ones there! Elyse was extremely chatty with Santa and he spent at least 15 minutes talking to her. She introduced her baby sister to him and told him about everything she had done so far that day. When Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas, the first thing out of her mouth was a purple balloon. She also asked for a Cinderella doll and Daffy Duck. She's been a very good girl this year so I have a feeling Santa will reward her! Bryn was pretty content on Santa's lap as long as Elyse was there with her.

Two beauties with Santa

Who is this strange guy?

This picture makes me laugh. We kept telling Elyse to smile and open her eyes because she was squinting. She did the opposite!

Santa and Elyse having a nice, long chat. She looks so small on his lap!

the Elf on the Shelf

The Elf on the Shelf tradition began for our family this year. Elyse named her Princess Holly. Maybe we'll just call her Holly for short. It's a festive name and to Elyse, everything is princesses and fairies. She's been a very good little elf so far and has been moving from spot to spot to keep a close eye on the girls. She doesn't really get into much mischief, like some other elves I've heard of, but she did have breakfast ready for us one morning. Another day we found her having a little tea party and once we caught her hanging from Bryan's elk antlers!

Elyse was a little bit shy and scared of our new visitor at first, but she eventually warmed up to her and now she runs out every morning to find her in a new spot.

Deck The Halls

We spent some time helping my parents decorate their Christmas tree since we don't have a place for our own right now. Elyse had a blast this year and was a terrific helper (aside from pulling off all the ribbons Papa worked so hard to put up).

Bryn supervised the decorating activities.

Nana found this Cinderella ornament for Elyse. It hasn't spent very much time on the tree.