Christmas week was lots of fun and it seemed like the Christmas fun was much more then just Christmas day for us. We started our week with going to church Christmas Sunday. I love Christmas Sunday for lots of reasons, singing Christmas songs in church, having a chance to see all our friends before Christmas and wish them a Merry Christmas, listening to the Christmas story always taught in a new way and always learning from some part of it. But I will admit, to my shame, that my favorite part of Christmas Sunday the past couple years is having Noelle to dress up :) Her Christmas dress has been in her closet for a while now and I was glad it was finally time to bust it out. She wouldn't smile for me before I put her hat on but at least I got a great picture of her hair. It's getting so long and beautiful!
As soon as her hat went on she turned into a little model. Sorry about red eye, I always get it fixed before prints but don't have a good tool to take it off the pictures just sitting on my computer. If anybody has help for that, help me!
We tried to take a picture of Kaley and Noelle in their Christmas dresses at church, they were pretty excited so it didn't work to well but they are both smiling!!
Our growing family at church.
Noelle, Owen and I. Yes his name is officially Owen now!
Nick got her to do some more modeling after church.
And some fun pictures
Monday I spent the day helping my sister Janelle do most of her Christmas shopping. I was supposed to take her to a free Santa but missed the date so we ended up at the mall where it is free to sit with Santa but costs big bucks to get a picture. Shamefully I sent Janelle up to the second level to, in Nick's work "boot leg a Santa picture" She was excited but got really shy once she was with him and although she wished him a Merry Christmas she wouldn't smile.
That night we drove around with Nick, my mom, Francie, Noelle and I loaded into our little car to look at Christmas lights. Francie and I don't really fit in the back of our car with a car seat so it was pretty comical.
Noelle loved the lights and has deemed most houses with Christmas lights as "Awwwwwesoooommmme" She was also pretty excited to have some warm hot chocolate in her sippy cup since we had some in a thermos. She kept telling us "Guys, I have my coffee"
My parents heater is broken and their house is like a frozen waste land. (Yes I know I have no idea what real cold is) so we have been spending lots of time by the fire. Noelle and Janelle enjoyed sitting next to it together Christmas Eve.
We spend Christmas eve at my parents house having normal family day and doing laundry. I also did MORE shopping with Janelle and we attended the family Christmas eve service in the afternoon. Noelle loved holding her candle that she got to have. My mom always makes a wonderful fancy Christmas eve dinner for our family and it was nice to sit around with everyone after eating. Noelle was really hyper as you can tell. When we got in the car that night, a half hour past her normal bed time she was screaming "IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE" enough to where I'm sure all the neighbor's could hear.
Our Christmas was humble this year compared to others but wonderful to finally see the gifts all set up Christmas eve. Here is our little spot of Christmas in our living room.
Noelle came into our bedroom Christmas morning like she does every morning. After some snuggles and a little bit of waking up I told her that it was Christmas and Santa came and there were presents! She perked up really quick and helped me wake Nick up. We went in to the living room and called her to come in so we could take pictures of her face but she was still sleepy and just kinda stared at everything.
I told her to grab her stocking and she got really excited telling us "Hey!! There is stuff inside!!!!"
One of her favorite stocking stuffers and gifts of the day was a super cheap flash light. The batteries are already dying from shining light on EVERYTHING!
After stockings we set the self timer and took a family picture. It's not the greatest but it's our Christmas morning picture!
Then before presents we sat down and read the Christmas story. Noelle liked shinning her light on the pages for Daddy.
Opening her first gift. She was a little eager and ripped her dress out of the wrapping with her teeth. She had lots of fun opening everything and is a pro at opening gifts now.
Every year I wear my Christmas pj's which are one piece all the way down to the footies. I wasn't sure this year that I would fit but sure enough I did!
Next we moved on to my parents house for gifts. Noelle had to work really hard at this one!
My dad kept sneaking bows all over her all morning. She kept taking them off and he kept putting them on. It was fun to watch the two of them play Santa together.
One of the things she got that morning at our house was a play dough kit. I knew she would love the play dough and all the tools it came with but the main reason I wanted to get it was for the pretend scissors. She is always BEGGING to cut things and sure enough they have been a big hit. Here she is cutting open a present.
Janelle painted a lion piggy bank for Noelle. She loved it and loose change is a great reward for going potty. She loves putting coins into the slot. My dad told her he will teach her how to use coin star for a starbucks gift card when her bank is full......not sure that will be happening Grandpa! 
Opening more toys from Granny and Baba. 
Nick and his fancy clippers so we can cut his hair at home for free without borrowing someone else's!
Next we headed to my grandparents house for Christmas dinner. Noelle loved their tree and I got my two favorite Christmas pictures ever!
My crazy dad in my cousins hat.
On Saturday we spent the day with Nick's mom and Brian having our Christmas with them. Noelle was spoiled rotten.
Bowling with her new bowling set.
Working hard to take apart the pieces for her cooties game.
Opa helping her open a new toy.
Nick playing with his new toy. A helicopter that I will never try to use because I'm certain I would break it.
Of course Christmas week ended with a giant box to play in!
We had a wonderful Christmas and I felt truly blessed to watch Noelle talk over and over again about Baby Jesus. It makes my heart happy that she is learning we celebrate christmas and give gifts to each other to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and that he is the ultimate gift for our sins. I hope that this remains a constant in her life and that each Christmas comes with a deeper understanding of and love for our Savior!
Noelle came into our bedroom Christmas morning like she does every morning. After some snuggles and a little bit of waking up I told her that it was Christmas and Santa came and there were presents! She perked up really quick and helped me wake Nick up. We went in to the living room and called her to come in so we could take pictures of her face but she was still sleepy and just kinda stared at everything.
I told her to grab her stocking and she got really excited telling us "Hey!! There is stuff inside!!!!"
One of her favorite stocking stuffers and gifts of the day was a super cheap flash light. The batteries are already dying from shining light on EVERYTHING!
After stockings we set the self timer and took a family picture. It's not the greatest but it's our Christmas morning picture!
Then before presents we sat down and read the Christmas story. Noelle liked shinning her light on the pages for Daddy.
Opening her first gift. She was a little eager and ripped her dress out of the wrapping with her teeth. She had lots of fun opening everything and is a pro at opening gifts now.
Every year I wear my Christmas pj's which are one piece all the way down to the footies. I wasn't sure this year that I would fit but sure enough I did! 
Next we moved on to my parents house for gifts. Noelle had to work really hard at this one!
My dad kept sneaking bows all over her all morning. She kept taking them off and he kept putting them on. It was fun to watch the two of them play Santa together. 
One of the things she got that morning at our house was a play dough kit. I knew she would love the play dough and all the tools it came with but the main reason I wanted to get it was for the pretend scissors. She is always BEGGING to cut things and sure enough they have been a big hit. Here she is cutting open a present.
Janelle painted a lion piggy bank for Noelle. She loved it and loose change is a great reward for going potty. She loves putting coins into the slot. My dad told her he will teach her how to use coin star for a starbucks gift card when her bank is full......not sure that will be happening Grandpa! 
Opening more toys from Granny and Baba. 
Nick and his fancy clippers so we can cut his hair at home for free without borrowing someone else's!
Next we headed to my grandparents house for Christmas dinner. Noelle loved their tree and I got my two favorite Christmas pictures ever!
My crazy dad in my cousins hat.
On Saturday we spent the day with Nick's mom and Brian having our Christmas with them. Noelle was spoiled rotten.
Bowling with her new bowling set.
Working hard to take apart the pieces for her cooties game.
Opa helping her open a new toy.
Nick playing with his new toy. A helicopter that I will never try to use because I'm certain I would break it.
Of course Christmas week ended with a giant box to play in!
We had a wonderful Christmas and I felt truly blessed to watch Noelle talk over and over again about Baby Jesus. It makes my heart happy that she is learning we celebrate christmas and give gifts to each other to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and that he is the ultimate gift for our sins. I hope that this remains a constant in her life and that each Christmas comes with a deeper understanding of and love for our Savior!
