Chrismas Eve

During the Christmas Eve service, the children were called up to listen to a story.  See little pigtails sitting on the left?

outside of church

I spent the service in the lobby with Ellie.  She was exhausted, and therefore, was not interested in getting her picture taken.

 

 

She lost the battle in the car.

 Fudge for Santa and his reindeer.

 Heading up to bed!  No picture of Ellie this year...

 

 While Adam and I set up Christmas morning, someone else had visions of sugar plums dancing in her head.



While Mommy and Daddy were on a date...

...the girls drank a lot of chocolate milk and milkshakes!

Spaghetti Factory

After the girls went downtown Noblesville for Santa's sleigh, we went downtown Indianapolis to meet my parents at The Spaghetti Factory for dinner.  Abby ate mostly bread from Papa's plate, "I need this."  She did enjoy her spaghetti, though not as much.  Ellie devoured Nina's clam sauce;  I don't know many one year old girls who enjoy clams as much as this one does! 

Christmas Dinner at my Parents

 

 

First SNOW!!!

Minivan Express

 December 21st, the longest night of the year, started off with a candlelit dinner of French toast casserole.  See the pool of butter in the middle?  Healthy.

 Then when we sent the girls up to bed for them to find tickets in their beds for the minivan express.  (This is based off the book, The Polar Express.  Click here to read a description of the story if you aren't familiar with it.)

 All ABOARD!!!

 

On the way to the "North Pole" we listened to the story of the Polar Express on CD and the girls enjoyed sippy cups of warm chocolate.

 Here we are at the "North Pole"

Abby found Santa's bell in her seat!

I got the idea for this new tradition from:
http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2012/12/2013-mini-van-express-night.html

Santa's Sleigh

 

Move over big guy in the red suit, there are two cute girls in red coats in town!

 Waving to Santa

 

 

 Queen Elizabeth

 

 Someone was really getting into it!

Someone was upset about leaving the sleigh...

...but she quickly recovered.