Merry Christmas to our Princesses!

Chris and I enjoy watching our girls get excited about Christmas and this year was better than any others so far. As the girls get a little older, they start to get more and more excited about Santa coming. It was so fun watching Maddie get prepared and talk about Santa's arrival. She knows about how Santa comes down the chimney when we're asleep and how we need to leave cookies and milk for him and this year she even wanted to write him a thank you note. I think it is fun for us as we tend to relive our childhood through our kids. We remembered how we used to feel and act as kids on Christmas Eve - how Chris would get up in the middle of the night to see what Santa had brought him and then go back to bed until morning, and how I would have such anticipation on Christmas Eve that I would have a hard time going to sleep that night and then always woke up at 5 or 6 am and would want to open presents.

This year Santa brought the girls a new play kitchen. They loved it, especially Brooke, who wouldn't come out of it even to open her other Christmas presents. It was so much better (and cooler) than their old kitchen. This was one you can walk into and cook, plus it makes noises. When you put the kettle or coffee pot on the burner - it makes a noise and looks like it is boiling and the skillet sizzles. Plus the microwave makes a noise like it is cooking and the phone rings. Okay, I know I sound like I like the kitchen as much as the girls and to be completely honest - I played with it before they did - but it is COOL! (I told you I was re-living my childhood.)

Their other present this year from Chris and I was a transformation of their play room. We have a room downstairs for all their toys. It was unfinished and pretty boring - so I decided that we would transform it into a "princess" room since we have three little girls. (again - I would have wanted a princess room as a kid) We didn't want to spend the money to actually finish the room, but we wanted to make it a place that they wanted to play in and that was special. So, we hung fabric on the walls and ceiling to make a tent look and then added other extras to make it look really girly. Below are the before and after pics of the room. The girls just loved it! They knew we were "finishing" the room for them for a few weeks now, but we've had a lock on the door and have been very secretive as to what we were doing. It was really hard for Maddie - she doesn't like surprises just like her mommy - and she wanted so badly to see it before it was done. But, we were really good about being sneaky and made it to Christmas morning for it's official unveiling to the girls. I know they like it because they have played every day down there, which is more than they have in a long time.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Well it's been another great Christmas. The girls got so many gifts that they just loved. There will be lots to play with in the coming months. We hope your family had a Merry Christmas and we look forward to sharing more stories & pics in the coming new year!