Yummy Pretzels for our UPS Friends

On the day after Christmas (Dec. 26th) we spent the day playing with new toys and making yummy pretzels for Daddy's UPS co-workers.  They work so hard from Thanksgiving to New Year's and deserve treats even if it is after Christmas!

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Annaliese got more into the "opening" aspect of gifts.  She has never been a real "where's my gift" kind of kid.  She opens a gift, gets distracted with what's inside, and has to be begged at times to open another gift.  Since she enjoyed the opening process I kept out 11 more presents (very small/inexpensive) to celebrate the "Twelve Days of Christmas."  Each morning she opened one gift and we sang, "On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a ______."  The first day of Christmas yesterday was obviously filled with plenty of gifts we started this morning out with her "2nd day of Christmas" gift.

Second Day of Christmas

Christmas Day 2013

We woke up Christmas morning to one excited little girl!  Gammy and Granddaddy came over to see her with her gifts.  My dad and Baba came over as well.

Before Santa came...

 Santa has come...

Checking the Advent Calendar for the last time this year...

 
Ready for gifts...

Christmas Morning 2013

Checking out what Santa left...

Santa brought a new kitchen set

Santa brought 2 train sets

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Last gift from Santa...a puppet theater

Oh and he left a full stocking

Cupcake earrings

Glad Santa knows how much she adores and has always adored lipgloss

Santa brought Quila a new house...just what Annaliese asked for

Checking it out

"Happy napping, Quila," Love, Santa

Giving Quila treats from her stocking

Watching the Christmas parade for the 1st time...

We whipped up a yummy breakfast...Gammy made a delish French Toast Casserole and my staple Hash Brown Casserole...

Daddy always takes control for breakfast

Opening more gifts...She opened gifts in stages, playing some, taking in each one, and then going for another.

Opening her present from Granddaddy

Baby Giuliana and Baby Eddie

Santa brought them both gifts

Handmade bib and PJs for Eddie

Granddaddy holding Eddie

Baby Giuliana's new outfit

Playing with her kitchen set

Helping Granddaddy open his gift

Opening her gifts from the real Baby Guiliana

Then our Goddaughter came over and we opened gifts with her...

Christa putting together Annaliese's new toy with her Godfather

Annaliese helping

Can't wait to play with the half put together toy

Then Ama's great surprise, her new bike...

She was brought to tears and jumped for joy

Her brother explaining how he put the bike together for her

Trying out her new bike in her PJ's and slippers

She loved it

Bike riding Christmas morning

Christmas evening with Eric's family...

Mrs. Thames prepared a wonderful dinner as usual

Clay is always the one responsible for piling up the presents in front of the person

Also passing out the stockings

Resting before heading to work Christmas night

My talented Brother-in-law made this awesome light for Eric

Clay also made this one for his mom

My talented future Sister-in-Law pleated all of her wrapping paper

Baba opening up her favorite collectible a Kewpie we gave her

More chapstick

Play-Doh set from Uncle Clay

The engaged couple

Another of Baba's favorites, purses

Always Mrs. Thames' fav...beach stuff

New red scarf to go with her red coat, made by Baba

First Barbie...from Gammy

New slippers

Future auntie painting her toesies

Family Pic - Christmas 2013