Scheels

Justin was able to get off early from work one day so we headed off to a new store called Scheels.  It is a sporting goods/hunting store.  The girls got their picture taken by the elk. 

I had to post it because it is a pretty cute picture.

Christmas Morning

The girls were so wound up on Christmas morning.  We had to wait a little bit from when they woke up so that everyone could be awake and ready.  Lydia started opening presents faster than Brooke did.  I think Brooke was overwhelmed and was too busy watching everyone else.

 

 Both girls got Disney princess dolls.  Brooke got Ariel and Merida from Brave.  Merida came with her horse Angus.  Lydia got Belle and Rapunzel.  Rapunzel came with the horse Max.  Lydia would have been happy if she only got to open Rapunzel and Max.  Once she opened that gift she didn't want to open any other ones.

 

 The girls got cute outfits too.

 They were pretty spoiled this year.

 Lydia asked Santa Claus for a shopping basket.  She didn't want anything else and never changed her mind about what she wanted.  She loved the one he brought her.  She kept putting her doll and horse in it and pushing them around.  Santa Claus also brought them a cash register to share so they could take each other's orders.  They love pretending to take each other's orders and then they'll pretend to go get the food item.  It is the cutest thing watching them.

 Brooke was excited for her shopping basket too, and of course, pushed her dolls around in hers.

 

The girls were both very spoiled this year.

 

 

We had a wonderful Christmas.  It is so much more fun with the girls (as you can tell, I didn't bother getting any pictures of me or Justin).

New Pajamas

Every year on Christmas Eve we get to open up one present and it is always new pajamas!  Look at those determined faces.

 Lydia was a little excited to get her new pajamas.

 This is the girls right before bed in their new pajamas! 

Santa's Visit

Santa Claus stopped by on Christmas Eve to make sure the girls were going to be in bed so he could come and bring them their gifts.  Lydia was super excited, but Brooke was terrified.

 

 Brooke didn't want to be near Santa Claus at all, but being the nice mom that I am, I made her get her picture taken with him.

 Brooke is still crying in this picture even though I am holding her. 

Thanks Santa for coming to visit!

Mr. Snowman

While we were in Mendon we were able to build a very large snowman.  It was pretty cold and windy, but still fun! 

 It took both Justin and my dad to lift the middle of the snowman.

 Brooke got cold and ended up going inside before the snowman was complete.

 Nathan and Lydia were having a lot of fun!

 Lydia looks so little by the snowman.

  Lydia and Nathan were pretending to have noses like the snowman.

My dad was having a lot of fun!  He was having as much fun as the kids were.

 Oh yeah, I was having as much fun as the kids were too!

 The finished snowman.  So festive!

Justin, Lydia, and me by the snowman.

Samie eating Mr. Snowman's nose!

 

 Mr. Snowman leading Samie around the yard.

We had a good time building the snowman.

Cousin Pictures

We were able to get some pictures with all five cousins.

 We were also able to get some cute ones of girls posing together.

 

 

 

 Lydia wanted to pose for more pictures after the photo shoot with Brooke. 

 

They are such fun girls!

Christmas Pictures

We always take pictures by the Christmas tree on the Sunday before church.  It's a fun tradition and has been fun to see the girls grow and change.  I know I have posted a lot of pictures of the girls by the tree, but I think it is so cute watching them try to pose together.  It's those moments in life that make it all worth it!

 

 

 Lydia's smile was just too cute to not post!

 Our cute little family.

 These are a couple of our attempts at cousin pictures.

 Then we decided to have some fun and get all the cousins with the grandparents.  This is the best picture ever.  Lydia is giving Brooke a big hug and Brooke is just standing there very content like considering she is getting strangled; Nathan and Ashley are crying; Xander is doing his own little thing; my dad is saying something to someone; and my mom is smiling like life is wonderful!

 

All in all, Christmas pictures by the tree was a good experience.