Christmas Day

Wonderful Christmas day with family. Thankful that we are all healthy and are provided for. Some of the items Santa brought for Angel:

Easy bake oven
Bathtub Barbie
Mulan doll
Mulan/Tinkerbell/Snow White movies
Leapster games
several craft items


Santa ate almost all the cookies!






One of her favorite things





Practicing on her Hannah Montana dance mat Grandma gave her















Later we went to St. Augustine for the Night of Lights Holly Jolly Trolley ride. They gave us 3D glasses that made the lights look like snow flakes and stars. Great way to end the day.
Us at the big tree





Some of the beautiful lights.

Christmas Eve

Today started with baking cookies for Santa. We baked some chocolate chip and sugar cookies.


No sure what the pirate hat is all about.



















Later we caught up with Raina and her family to finally welcome them back from China and meet Naia.

Raina's family and Angel




















Then we caught an early dinner at Olive Garden.



















Fed the raindeer.


















And then to church.




After Mass












And in between, we opened a few presents!

Opening her Princess light up cowboy boots from Josh.



Along with the cookies and milk, Angel wanted to leave this note for Rudolph and a couple of pictures she drew for Santa. He remembered to take them too. She was so excited about that.

Ornament Exchange/Cookie Exchange

Today we went to Gigi, Sullivan and Sutton's annual Ornament/cookie exchange party. It was so much fun. The house is beautifully decorated and the girls just have so much fun.













Me and Gigi
















Angel, S and S









H and L











The front steps shot








Gma and Angel









Picking cookies














Opening her ornament




My ornament



Angel's ornament

















Later we rode downtown to see the window displays and then through the historic part of town to see the luminaries and beautiful houses lit up.

Busy Saturday

We started out the day at Chinese lessons.

Angel and Miss Jenny


Then we went to the mall for a few last minute items. Crazy! I am done with the mall until way after Christmas.



Later Jennifer came over for dinner and we exchanged presents. We also joined our neighbors for a get together at their house. The kids portion was earlier so I took Angel over there for awhile. Jennifer and I went back later for the adult portion. We had a blast and best of all, I didn't have to drive anywhere!! Here's to great neighbors.
Our neighbors house
Our neighbors go all out.

We went, we tried, we ate!!

Waiting patiently

Ready to dig into the cupcakes.



Well several of us from the local FCC trekked out to the airport late last night to try and meet Raina and the girls coming home from China. Little did we know that they were stuck in NJ because they missed their flight! Since it was so late and most eating establishments were closed, all of us were ready for a snack and were eyeing the cupcakes I had made and brought for Raina's family. After waiting and watching the folks from their flight deboard, we called and figured out that they didn't make it onto the flight! So we decided that we deserved a cupcake! Sorry Raina, I will make more for you guys!!

Party

Tonight we attended the cleft palate team party. It was our first time going to one of these parties, simple because they are located downtown and that is quite a trek for us. But I am so glad we went. We had a great time catching up with Owen's family, that we met in the summer at a baseball game but have not seen since. We hope to see them more often. We also saw Jeannie and her family. Santa showed up and gave each kids a small stuffed animal. There was face painting and crafts and yummy food.

Dolphin painted on her face

Making Gingerbread Houses in school

I was able to join Angel's class today as they made gingerbread houses. They all had a great time and were so creative. Her teacher and I were in awe of the creativity and were chatting about how we were glad that there was not a house already made to show the kids, because they would have been more prone to just copy it instead of being so creative. Angel is very proud of hers and says she wants Santa to see it.

working on her house

















Finished product!