Christmas 2014

We hope all of our friends and family had a very Merry Christmas! Abby sure did. It's been so much fun having a toddler in the house this year -- Abby's enthusiasm made everything a little extra special. She ooh'd and ahh'd every time we drove past houses decorated with sparkly Christmas lights. And even though she wasn't a fan of Santa, she got a big smile on her face when she told us that he brings presents!

Here's our little girl all ready for Christmas Eve service.

Such a cheese ball!

Curls!

Per Earley family tradition, we opened our ornaments on Christmas Eve. Nana gave Abby one with two little snowmen reading a book together since Abby loves books so much. Abby did a great job helping me hang ornaments on the tree this year.

Here's our little tree! Santa brought Abby a tennis racket, new Maisy books, a Green Toys tractor (Abby gets excited when we tell her Papa is going to take her on a tractor ride this summer), and a stocking full of Minnie items: a coloring book, stickers and a little puzzle. We also put some Hershey kisses in there for our little chocoholic. Just like her mommy.

On Christmas morning Abby was all smiles. We took her into the living room and asked if Santa had come. Her reply? "No." But..."look at all the presents he left, Abby!" She still wasn't convinced. Ah well, maybe next year the whole story will make a little more sense to her.

The stocking was definitely her favorite part. 

Mommy gave her a kitty purse.

She was also excited about the Mickey pj's from Nana.

With one former librarian grandma and one current 1st grade teacher grandma, you're probably not surprised to hear that Abby got a big stack of new books. Robert and I couldn't be happier that she enjoys her books so much. This pop-up Maisy book was a big hit. (Yep, more Maisy!)

Abby took a long 3 and 1/2 hour nap while my mom and I whipped up 5 batches of cookies. Yum! This year we made sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and chocolate chip cookies. Unfortunately, Abby slept through the best part of the cookie making: rolling out the dough and cutting out the shapes. I have no flour dusted nose pictures this year. It might be for the best as I can only imagine how much "help" she would have been and how much cookie dough she probably would have consumed. ;)

She woke up just in time for the good stuff.

I'm always a little sad when Christmas ends and we have to start the countdown over again. Thanks Nana and Papa for another fun visit!