Christmas morning. It's precious. It's precious when you are a child. It's precious again when you have children. The excitement and the thrill of it all returns because you can live through them, and remember how it is to be a child on Christmas morning. I treasure it.
This year Isabelle asked Santa to bring her Diet Coke and Gatorade. I know I am an awful mother who has introduced her to diet coke and she loves it, but I try not to let her have very much. So, she goes to Santa and asks him to give it to her; honestly.
Santa gave Kevin cheese from the North Pole. Oh Santa how did you know he is utterly addicted to cheese?
Kevin's parents were able to come and spend Christmas morning with us. It was extra special for us to have them there.
Mrs. Claus is always so thoughtful and sends an outfit or a shirt for the girls. This year she sent them each a dress.
Can you guess what is in these boxes. I was so excited can I just tell you?
Yes, it was an American Girl Christmas! We welcomed Miss Emily Bennett and Kit
Kittredge into our family this Christmas. The girls and I were thrilled! They would study the American Girl catalog over and over again. It was so fun that they got the dolls they wanted!
Grandpa Jim loves Idaho Spuds, so every Christmas he gets his very own box of them; yum!
Lillian made us ornaments with her picture on them from melted plastic cups.
Some pictures of Paris, France. 
When I went with Kevin to Paris I was a baby and I didn't dare to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, you know, because I am terrified of heights. So this time he went to the top and I have to say the views are spectacular. 
Arc d'Triomphe 
The Lourve 
Notre Dame 
Montmarte 
After France, Kevin went to the Netherlands. 
Next time I am seriously going. Don't those pictures make you want to go?
Christmas morning. It's precious. It's precious when you are a child. It's precious again when you have children. The excitement and the thrill of it all returns because you can live through them, and remember how it is to be a child on Christmas morning. I treasure it. 
This year Isabelle asked Santa to bring her Diet Coke and Gatorade. I know I am an awful mother who has introduced her to diet coke and she loves it, but I try not to let her have very much. So, she goes to Santa and asks him to give it to her; honestly. 
Santa gave Kevin cheese from the North Pole. Oh Santa how did you know he is utterly addicted to cheese? 
Kevin's parents were able to come and spend Christmas morning with us. It was extra special for us to have them there. 
Mrs. Claus is always so thoughtful and sends an outfit or a shirt for the girls. This year she sent them each a dress. 
Can you guess what is in these boxes. I was so excited can I just tell you? 
Yes, it was an American Girl Christmas! We welcomed Miss Emily Bennett and Kit Kittredge into our family this Christmas. The girls and I were thrilled! They would study the American Girl catalog over and over again. It was so fun that they got the dolls they wanted! 
Grandpa Jim loves Idaho Spuds, so every Christmas he gets his very own box of them; yum! 
Lillian made us ornaments with her picture on them from melted plastic cups. 
Grandma and Grandpa Mullen gave the girls a horse and a beauty salon chair to go with their American Girl dolls. 
How sweet is that! 
For dinner we went over to Melissa and Lynn's for ribs! I hope this is going to become a Christmas tradition because it really was so much fun and the food was De-licious! 
Even Miss Emily Bennett had a special seat for Christmas dinner. 
The day after Christmas Grandma Sherri and Papa Dave came up to celebrate some more! 
They gave Lillian an Angelina Ballerina easy reader book; look at her she is engrossed! 
Even Annie came up for the fun. 
Cooties anyone? Wow what a memorable Christmas; it was lovely. Lovely, warm, comforting, delicious, exciting, I could go on and on.... 
