Christmas morning

I've said it a million times but Christmas is so much fun with Elinor. Watching her little face while she looks at lights or see Santa, it is so sweet. After Pop pops on Christmas Eve, we drove home and she passed out. We put her to bed and got to work setting everything up. We got to Facetime with the rest of Dave's family (in Japan) while we got to work. We had so much laughing with everyone and putting toys together.

Santa brought too many candy canes!

In the morning Elinor came running to our room like every morning. I told her Santa came last night and if she wants to go downstairs to see what he brought her. She said " yes! Candy cane!". As soon as we got downstairs she saw her chalkboard and started drawing right away. It was a good few minutes until she realized the wrapped gifts under the tree. It was so much fun watching her open each one, inspecting it, playing a little and then moving on to the next.

 I thrifted a bunch of books and even a toy story coloring book that looked brand new. Dave bought some old golden books off a friend from her instagram. Elinor was so excited about them. I set up her puppy bed from last year in her tent. We laid in there reading all her new books. It is so cozy in there!

 Mid opening gifts, I forgot some thrifted woody pjs I had in the dryer. I stuffed them in a birthday gift bag really quick and gave them to her. She also got a leap pad (thanks amazon for an awesome few hours sale!) that she has been using as her camera/coloring book. We showed her how to play some games but she would rather take selfies and color. I need to figure out how to get her art off of it because she has some awesome work on there already. Dorie and Henri sent her these ladybug wings. I've never seen dress up wings like these ones before. They are so cool.

We had said we were only getting Elinor one big gift this year. We went overboard for what we wanted but so much of it was thrifted or on super sale. We spent way less than our budget and still had an overwhelmed kid with all the gifts she got. Now to start taking care of the clutter in the playroom...

Have a safe and happy new year's eve! To get a fresh start, I'm having a super sale over on Etsy right now ending Jan 6th. Use coupon code newyear

Christmas Eve

I didn't mean to take a break but the last few days have been packed. Plus we have all these new cool toys around to play with and a new couch! Dave and I a few years ago decided to do a joint gift for each other. Something that we need/want around the house. This year was a couch. I will post pictures of it soon. But here is our Christmas Eve...

We spent the day at Dave's dads house. We had a huge dinner, celebrated Elinor's birthday and had fun with family. Ruby and Reid were there which made Elinor over the top excited. We have spent so many holidays with them in MA. They always invited us when we stayed home and didn't have anywhere to go, like last Christmas. It's so cute to see Elinor ask for her aunt, uncle and cousins now. She is finally remembering their names and loves to spend time with them. Makes me so happy to live closer to everyone now. 

look at the explosion of gifts under pop pops tree! 

leave it to Elinor to find a crown laying around the house and claim it.

Elinor was taking random gifts all night and trying to open them. She was good about putting them back when we said they weren't for her but that didn't stop her from trying over and over. I love Christmas so much more now having Elinor. Watching the kids get so excited about everything is so cute. They were even excited watching each other open gifts and passing out gifts. It was so sweet.

 These three are too funny. I love the pictures Justine took too.

Tomorrow will be our Christmas morning post!

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone's day was as magical as ours. Seeing Elinor's excitement will never get old.

XOXO

Christmas eve eve

Some decorations and crafts from our day so far. Soon I have to start wrapping, cooking, and organizing everything. How is Christmas Eve already tomorrow?? I'm so excited for Christmas this year though. Elinor actually understands it slightly. She knows Santa brings toys but all she keeps asking for from Santa is a candy cane. We had to make sure to pick up one to put under the tree. Last year she was obsessed with the can of baking soda so Dave put it under the tree for her. It seems like every year we are going to have one little silly gift to give her that she really wants.

top left is Elinor's first smiley face! She started drawing circles recently and decided all on her own to add eyes. After she made it she told me "Mama! I made Santa! Santa happy!" Oh I love this kid!

Everyone have a great couple of days! I am so happy we aren't traveling but still get to spend our holiday with family.

 

Festival of Lights

When I lived in Cincinnati, I only went to the zoo for Festival of Lights just a few times. It is so magical there. Way better than Zoo Lights in Boston that we would go to every year. Cincinnati Zoo is huge and so nice. They decorate everything. We were there for hours and didn't even get to see everything. 

I'm sad these pictures are all terrible but everyone is so cute it is hard not to over share. 

Elinor is not too sure about Mrs. Claus

Bear wasn't either

but Paighton showed the babies that it's ok

Allison helping Elinor to go see Frosty

but again not too sure

We met some other friends there but too bad this is the only picture we got of them. Sorry guys! It's all about the kids.

I want to steal Paighton. She is such a great kid. Elinor listened so well to her.

Sean had just got home from Afghanistan a little before we came to visit. He is super awesome for sharing his house, family and hanging out with us even though he is leaving again soon and has limited time with his family.

Writing her first letter to Santa with Daddy and Paighton's help

The Rivers family plus Elinor. She never wants to be with us. My parents always say that's how I was when I was little.

Allison and her baby Bear

cutest family!

If you look close you can see Elinor is holding hands with a little boy. We ran into some friends from high school and their adorable kids. Their boy is right around Elinor's age. As soon as we ran into them he grabbed her hand and ran off. They played with each other and held hands like they were old BFFs. It was so funny.

This owl was super into Elinor. He was totally stalking her. He was following her while she ran around in circles. As soon as she got too far he took off slamming into the window trying to get her. Good thing the glass was there!

If you live in the area and haven't checked out the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo you are missing out! We have a Philadelphia Zoo membership and were able to get 50% our admission. I can't wait to check out the holiday lights at our zoo soon.

One last Christmas post

After we opened presents Christmas morning and laid around playing with new toys. After a nap we went to The Sterlings for a Christmas dinner along with Dave's Dad and Cindy. Elinor got to play with Ruby and Reid and more importantly go up and down the stairs all night with Grandpop. This kid is obsessed with stairs! She also got spoiled with more presents. It was such a nice and peaceful evening. Thank you Sterlings!

Before leaving, we tried to take some family photos.

 The girls

 Grandpop

mmm tofurkey!