Christmas Eve 2013

Unfortunately, the bulk of our Christmas Eve was spent in the car driving back from GA. We left bright & early that morning in the hopes that we could get back to Biloxi in time to give the girls a quick nap (becuase neither of them really ever sleep in the car) before doing our little Christmas Eve traditions. We did get back in plenty of time, but Hadley only napped for 20 minutes and Shelby slept for about an hour and woke up crying & completely out of sorts--I think they were both just incredibly overtired from the hecticness of our trip. Thankfully after an incredibly gourmet Christmas Eve dinner (grilled cheese, no less!), everyone seemed to be in better spirits and we were still able to our little Christmas Eve traditions before putting the girls to bed (very early!).

Break n Bake cookies for Santa ;)

Of course we had to sample the cookie dough! :)

Opening one present on Christmas Eve from Grammy & Grampy.
I love this picture of Shelby explaining to Hadley what they were doing ;)

Shelby got really good at opening presents this year...she can tear her way
through wrapping paper at lightning speed now! Very different from our
first three Christmases with her ;)

Reading The Night Before Christmas that Grammy & Grampy recorded for
them. Shelby LOVES recordable books! She also got a Rudolph one from
BooBoo & Pop-Pop that she absolutely adores!

Putting the ladder out for Santa :)
We watched a Christmas episode of Super Why this year, and they said
if a house doesn't have a chimney Santa uses a ladder to get down from the
roof. Shelby talked about this A LOT this year and was absolutely insistent
that we leave our ladder out for Santa Claus.

Round One of reading Twas the Night before Christmas before
Hadley went to bed

After Little Sister went to bed, we finished our Christmas Eve traditions.

Carrots for the reindeer and milk & cookies for Santa

Spreading magic reindeer food on the lawn to help the reindeer find our house!

Daddy reading Twas the Night Before Christmas again to Shelby
before we tucked her in for the night

The note Shelby & I left for Santa.

Here is a little video of Shelby reading her note:

After we put the girls to bed, Santa & Mrs. Claus got busy!! Derek had the job of assembling the girls' new train table, and I had to wrap the presents & fill the stockings. By the time we got to bed, we were both COMPLETELY exhausted from the long travel day & all of the work to prepare for Christmas morning...but it was all worth it!

Next up....Christmas Day!! :)