Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was probably the best Christmas we've had as a family since Alex and I got married in 2006. It was our 5th Christmas married, Adaleigh's 4th, and Aubriella's 1st. It was also our first Christmas that we decided to stay home Christmas Eve night so we could wake up in our house and enjoy each other before spending lots of time with our extended families. It was the first year that the Elf on the Shelf joined us and the first year that Santa visited our house. All around Christmas was amazing.

I missed being in Florida with my relatives and going to the candlelit service at my Uncle's church Christmas Eve night. I think I will always miss that tradition because it was always my favorite day of the year growing up. I looked forward to that night more than my birthday or any other occasion. I am excited, though, to have new traditions and a new home and family to enjoy Christmas with. It was also our first Christmas Eve service in LaGrange... we attended Western Heights Baptist Church at 9:30pm. We brought the girls because the church actually encourages families to bring their children and for them to wear pajamas. I loved that, and so did Adaleigh. We took Adaleigh to the mall and let her pick out matching pajamas for her and Aubriella. So much fun!

And now onto more fun things... the pictures!!!

My favorite part of the season was just being able to spend lots of time with our family, but we all know that presents are fun too. Adaleigh's favorite and biggest present was of course her gorgeous Barbie Doll House. I'm even a little jealous. I always wanted one just like this when I was a kid, so it was awesome to actually be able to bless her with one. :) Alex and I got each other Kindle Fires for Christmas. It was our first year spending a lot on each other, but it was worth it. I love it.

I'm looking forward to what God has in store for my family in 2012. Hopefully the sale of our house so we can move. Adaleigh starting public pre-k next school year. Aubriella learning to crawl, walk, talk, etc. Vacation in Wyoming for my cousins wedding in July. Our 6 year anniversary in August. And lots more. Happy New Year!

Disney in December





This year for Christmas, my parents surprised Alex, the girls, and I with a trip to Disney World when we went down to visit them in Florida. I couldn't have asked for a better gift! It was perfect. Adaleigh had a blast and Aubriella did so well in the stroller all day. Adaleigh is now 4 and I thought we were going to wait until she was at least 6 to take her, but I'm so happy we went now. She enjoyed the shows, the rides, and meeting the characters. She now looooves Minnie Mouse.





I begged Adaleigh to get in this pic (above), but she was too busy looking around.

 

It's funny. She liked Minnie before, but it's a whole different ball game now that she has met Minnie in person. My parents bought her a little Minnie stuffed animal before we went to Disney and Adaleigh brought her into the park and carried her all around. She brought her on the rides, held her during lunch, and even brought her to meet Minnie Mouse herself.

Adaleigh's favorite part of the day was meeting all the characters. She met and saw lots of them, but we got the cutest pictures with Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and of course, Minnie and Mickey.

Alex and I got to sneak away for a little bit while my parents watched the girls and we rode Space Mountain. Alex has never been on it and we joked a lot because when he was 4 he went through the line, but chickened out at the last second. This was his 2nd time ever at Disney, so he was finally able to conquer his childhood fear! Lol.

I think Adaleigh's favorite ride was the Dumbo ride in FantasyLand. Or maybe it was just the fact that she got to have "daddy and me" time. :)

She also had some awesome "daddy and me" time on the walk back to the monorail and the parking lot. She was so excited that we bought her this adorable Minnie Mouse suitcase and my dad (her Papa) bought her a Minnie Mouse balloon. She was attached to those things for days!

We all had so much fun. We will definitely be headed back to Disney World in the future. Hopefully sooner rather than later!