The Adventures of the Courington Family: Christmas Times Three

We had three wonderful Christmases this year. We are so blessed with both riches and family.

Christmas Eve we went to Daddy-O's parents and had a wonderful lunch. We then opened presents and went to a candlelight service at their church. After that we went for a hay ride through their neighborhood to look at lights. We had a great time! Sweet Pea got a cabinet for her American Girl doll, a stuffed animal maker, an Ariel playset and a bunch of other fun things. Peanut got an activity table, a piggie bank, as well as some other neat things.

Reading "Night Before Christmas" with Mammy and Pops

The real sleigh driver

Santa's little helper

Neil and his girlfriend, Becky

Sweet Pea explaining how we made their cookie jar

After the hayride we came home to get the girls to bed. We put out cookies and carrots for the visitors that night, read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as we have done every year since Sweet Pea was born and got the girls to bed. Then it was time to set up.

No signs of recession here...we are truly blessed!

A little midnight snack

Christmas morning we woke up and opened all of our presents. I didn't get a lot of pictures, but did get lots of video.

My girls LOVE their toothbrushes that Santa brought in their stockings

Getting serious

Sweet Pea got an easel, a new Minnie Mouse jacket, the letters of her name for her wall, two princess pictures for her wall, a pair of slippers and some books. She also got a "big sis" bracelet from Peanut that had her initial engraved on it.

Peanut got a set of sorting shapes, a Minnie Mouse jacket, a "lil sis" bracelet, her name and pictures for her walls, and a puppy from Sweet Pea.

After we opened presents we had to go find where Santa left his. It was in the playroom, already inflated.

The girls LOVE their Jumpolene and play in it daily

Sweet Pea and her first masterpiece

We had told Sweet Pea for several weeks that she would be getting a present that was "bigger than the house". Every present that was opened she would ask, "is this the one that is bigger than the house?". Finally after we were all done, we found a hidden gift in the middle of the tree. There was a note explaining what a scavenger hunt is and a Wii remote. She had to take the Wii remote to where it belonged to get the next clue and so on. There were 6 clues with 6 "out of place" items. The clues were pictures of an airplane, a suitcase, a hotel, a bus, a hotel room and lastly, Cinderella's castle. With the final clue was a note from Mickey Mouse inviting the girls to come spend 10 days with him in Florida. I am not 100% sure Sweet Pea got it until a little later, but it was fun none the less.

Opening a clue

Finding the next one

"We are doing what????"

That afternoon we went to my family's house for lunch and more presents. We had a great time being with more family. Sweet Pea got the new Narnia DVD, Pony-opoly, a blanket and a digital camera (which she proceeded to take 486 pictures with that day). Peanut got another activity table some clothes, a "lovey" lamb and a princess blanket and pillow set. We played a few games and visited and then came home to crash.