Christmas 2011

This Christmas was so much fun! Allie is at such a fun age and really got into all of the fun. She also learned about the reason we celebrate Christmas. She got a nativity scene and was also so excited to explain all of the Bible characters.

Our Christmas celebrations started with Allie's Christmas Party at her Preschool. The kids made boxes and then did a cookie exchange. The party was topped off with a surprise visit from the big man himself!

Allie making her cookie box

Cookies! Yay!

Waiting for her turn with Santa

Scared?! No Way.... This guy brings toys!

I normally go all out when it comes to Christmas decorations. For years I have been shopping After-Christmas sales stocking up for the year that I can have a tree in every room of the house. This year was sort of an "Off-Year." The combination of being pregnant, having to totally switch Allie's bedroom and feeling pressure because Sam's room is no where near close to being done, led to minimal decorating for this momma. So we had the family tree and Allie's tree in her room.....and That's It! Here are some pictures of our pretty girl by the trees.

 Ok, so like I said, we totally switched Allie's bedroom. We decided that the room that I had envisioned for Sam was actually the bigger of the two bedrooms, so that combined with the fact that using the spare room meant we would not have to move the nursery furniture, sold me on moving Allie. Our nursery furniture that we used for Allie is top-of-the-line and makes a beautiful crib. We decided that instead of trying to replace the nursery furniture, we would buy Allie all new furniture for her "Big Girl Room" and have that be her big gift from Santa. I searched and searched for the right bedroom set that would meet our needs for her to have more room to play. I found a bunk bed/dresser combo that was perfect. Well..almost perfect....everything but the price tag was right. I continued my search but just kept coming back to that bunk bed. One day, while searching Craig's List for a used bunk bed, I stumbled upon a man in rural Arkansas that custom builds bunk beds for 1/3 of the prices that I had found on my search. I showed him the bed that I had fallen in love with and he said that he could make it, stain it, deliver it, and put it together in her room for literally 1/3 of the price from the store. So I passed that information along to Santa and this is what Allie came home to one day...

Here is the video from the night Santa surprised her.

 So the deal was, since Santa brought her bunk beds early (because he could not fit the bed in his sleigh) then he left a Elf friend to watch her and report back to him about how she was behaving. So this year, we started the tradition of "Elf on the Shelf." We read Allie the story and let her pick a name for her Elf. She is totally obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake these days so, no surprise to us, she chose "Berry (Barry)" as her Elf's name. We had a lot of fun with Barry this year, however, Allie wanted him to stay in one place which she called the "North Pole." If he moved, she thought that it meant that he had not seen Santa that night.

This was on Christmas Eve when we told her that Barry was going back to the North Pole until next year. She was so sad that he had to go, so we let her give him a hug and a kiss.

This was one of the only nights that Barry got to move. Allie thought it was silly but also let us know that he had to stay in the "North Pole"

We felt so blessed that Allie was healthy and happy and it was fun to celebrate Christmas through her eyes. Here are some more pictures from our Christmas.......

Allie and Daddy looking at lights at the Courthouse. We went to listen to Grant sing and to see all of the Christmas Lights.

She had posed for so many pictures this year, that anytime she saw a Santa, she would say "Mom, take my picture!" Here is Allie with the Santa at Nana's

We have such a fun tradition at John's Mom's. Each year we decorate Christmas Cookies and each year it always turns into a competition. However, there seems to be an underlying rule that no one goes to Nana's and beats her cookies!

Though not our best picture, this was the only picture that we took as a Family of 3. Probably one of the last one's we will take before Sam gets here.

This totally sums up Allie this year at Christmas. I love this Crazy, Smart, Fun-Loving Princess!

Did I mention that we temporarily lost our minds this year and Allie got a Karaoke Machine, Guitar, Keyboard, and Drum Set. Part of her room transformation included a Ginormous Mirror/Stage Area. That will be another post on another day.

One of the Best parts of Christmas this year was being able to celebrate with this sweet boy. I am so thankful that Shaw is so healthy and happy. I can't wait until next year when Shaw and Sam can play together.

This was the picture we sent my cousin Clark and Jessica saying "Thank You" for Allie's Christmas gift from them, but I think this sums up our Christmas. Thumbs Up!