An Amazing Christmas!

As a great friend said, "what did we do before our girls?" I am not sure. This was such a fun Christmas season! Emmy Ruth was old enough to ask for things and really get into it, so we had a blast.

First we celebrated with John's family. They came to visit us and brought lots of Rapunzel gifts. Emmy has been into Rapunzel since watching Tangled so they were a really big hit. Gandad also brought a Rapunzel puppet and an awesome music set. Emmy also got a new suitcase. I asked her where we could take her new suitcase--we are planning a trip to Disney World in May and I have been talking it up but I am pretty sure she doesn't "get it". So, when I asked where we could take her new suitcase, she answered, "camping!". We could totally go camping at a fraction of the price.

Aunt Cathy was really good at attaching the Rapunzel hair.

Daddy looked fabulous in the hair too! All she has asked for from Santa was a pink dress and a purple Barbie. She did see a specific pink dress she wanted but Santa brought this one to a Christmas party with AunTee's family. She was so excited that she wore it immediately after Santa gave it to her and then all of the time at home afterwards. She and Lucas had a big time.

She even wore it with her Rapunzel hair!

On Christmas Eve, the Jacksons came over to celebrate with a big brunch. We had a blast. Emmy insisted on putting her own bow in so it was a little lopsided and this was how she fixed her plate---lots of powdered donuts and some oranges and a piece of bread. It is Christmas time and there are no rules for eating then!

Sol and Emmy patiently waited on Daddy to get the toys opened....

Rose really enjoyed the markers and coloring book that Papa Richie and LynnLynn got Emmy.

Tara and Lucas came over so that we could go see Peter Pan at the Studio on the Square. It was great. Before hand, we got to open presents and Lucas loved his Star Wars helmet.

The kiddos were super cute dressed up for the show. We got to sit on the front row and felt super special.

And then there was Christmas morning. Santa was just fabulous to us!!! She immediately jumped on the couch to see what all he left her! The thing she was most excited about was the piggy bank.

Emmy got a super duper roller coaster just like Sol has. She was thrilled!

And she got a Paper Jams guitar and amp. Well, she kinda did... really it was for John.

I am so glad she liked her abacus. I knew that with all the music she and John do together that there had to be a little mathematician in there.

And she got the very dress she wanted. She saw it when I was looking online for her some church dresses and it popped up. Obviously... not a church dress. But, she loved it. And we printed out a picture of it and included it with her letter to Santa so that he woud know exactly what she wanted. And Santa nailed it!

Nana and Papaw Ricky came by to wish us a Merry Christmas. Nana and Emmy had a quick cookie at her new table while they were here.
What an amazing, amazing Christmas!!! We are so lucky and thankful for a wonderful year. One of my favorite gifts that Emmy Ruth got this year were some books from our family in Akron. We don't see them very often and we keep in touch online, but it is certainly not the same as being together. But, Cathy sent the kids some books for a Christmas gift. I was so happy when we sat down to read them before bed. One was the Christmas Story and the other was the Night Before Christmas. I had planned to look them both up online and get a good version instead of trying to rehash from memory. It was very special to my heart that she sent these and I loved reading them to her. Again, a great touch to an amazing Christmas.