Christmas: Part 1

With having four sets of parents to visit during the holidays, I will post Christmas in five parts. My moms, my dads, Nick's dads, Nick's moms and then ours. Phew! No wonder we go out of town for Thanksgiving! It can get a little overwhelming! Fun, but overwhelming!

On Christmas Eve, we asked my mom to host Christmas that night. We had a delicious dinner, got all of the kids and spouses together and exchanged gifts. With the lack of snow, it really didn't feel like Christmas until we kicked it off at Nana Teri's! We had so much fun and did not feel rushed at all!

No party is complete without dressing up like a princess!

 Avery was SO excited Uncle Ty Ty was a Princess!

Nail Painting Party!

Paws: Our Elf on The Shelf

Elf on the Shelf made a debut at our house this Christmas season! Avery wanted to name him Santa, but we told her that only one special person could be named Santa. So, she named him Paws instead. (After her Christmas season movie obsession, Santa Paws.)

Every morning he would hide in a new and untouchable place. Ave was obsessed with trying to touch him, so I was glad he hid himself up high. I was horrible and didn't take many pictures of him. So there are only a few!

Avery was super sad when it was time for him to go back home to The North Pole. We definitely can't wait to see him next Christmas season!!

Annual Ugly Sweater Christmas Party

This year I decided I wanted to host an annual ugly sweater Christmas party at our house. We had a lot of fun seeing everyone in their garb and handing out prizes!

Our prizes included:
3rd Place: An Inflatable Fruit Cake
2nd Place: Green Jello and a Gummy Bear Jello Mold
1st Place: A Bobble Head Santa Clause Trophy and Christmas Vacation DVD

I am definitely going to look forward to this every year!!

What a typical dinner out on the town looks like

Yep, it's pretty crazy and funny to watch!

Santa Baby!

Per our family tradition, we went to The Festival of The Trees to kick off the holiday season! This year, the trees were really cute, but I didn't see any that blew me away. The past few years, there has been a glass blown tree, a tree turned into a wave with a santa surfing on it and even an Grinch tree with the Grinch's bum poking out. But this year, I didn't see one that was koo koo krazy. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the meaning of the festival though!

Avery had so much fun with Santa this year. I think in all, we visited 8 Santa's! She was obsessed! Each time they asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she would ALWAYS respond "A Pink Princess Dress." When the Santa would ask her her name, she would ALWAYS respond "Princess Avery!"

This kid kills me! Christmas definitely gets more and more fun the older they get!!!

FESTIVAL OF THE TREES

Ave and Elle

Candy Canes...Yummmmm

Snoopy's house was a hit with the girls!

In front of the Codale tree.

Now just a quick comparison:

2009

2010

2011

THE DICKEN'S FESTIVAL

I took Avery to The Dicken's Festival for the first time this year. I remember dancing in programs there as a kid, so it was so much fun to take her there and show her all of the neat things they had to offer. We went on a Thursday afternoon right after gymnastics. There was no one there! Nick had to work, so it was just a mommy daughter date. It was exactly what we needed. I feel like I say "NO" 500 hundred times a day, so my goal was to let her just be a kid.

They had a carriage ride for free. (Nick is deathly allergic to horses, so this was perfect!) She LOVED it and kept telling the horse she loved him this much more. They have the REAL Santa there too! Except they call him Father Christmas! Even his reindeer were there!

There were many booths filled with princess themed garb. I let Avery pick a new Fairy Princess Dress and wand. She was in love! For lunch, we snacked on a huge cinnamon roll anf juice. The ideal lunch for a two year old!

I wasn't planning on buying a picture with Father Christmas, but they had a ten minute conversation and it was too cute to not capture how happy she was!

Santa's Reindeer. (Rudolph was resting in The North Pole.)

Our carriage ride. She was SO excited! 

.....SO I JUST noticed the sign "The Coachman works for tips." Oops, I didn't tip the guy! Sorry buddy!

Father Christmas himself!