Everyday Eddins: December 2012

Sunday evening found us wrapping up the last gifts and getting ready to have visitors first thing Monday morning for a Christmas Eve morning tradition!

Finally all done wrapping...all the gifts weren't even under the tree in this picture...WHEW!

My Mom, Terry, Jason, Jen, Celia and Ruby all arrived a little after 9:00 to spend the morning having some delicious food, opening presents and just hanging out! The little girls couldn't contain their excitement so they opened first thing while the adults watched!

Before everyone got there, we took the opportunity to get a few snapshots in front of the tree before everyone started to dig in! Lila even took a snapshot of Mom & Dad that didn't turn out too bad!

So excited to start unwrapping!

Mom & Lila in front of the tree!

Lila's picture of Mom & Dad!

Watching everyone open!

The girls were all so happy with their gifts! We were pretty excited about our gifts to Celia and Ruby which included some of their very favorite things: shoes, princess dolls, pajamas and anything flourescent!

Celia & Ruby singing on Lila's karaoke machine!

Three little Christmas angels!

Celia opening her new knee-high Converse tennis shoes!

If you haven't picked up on it yet, Lila LOVES princess stuff! So, it wasn't any surprise that she got a new Cinderella dress and Cinderella play set from Jason, Jen & the girls! She was thrilled! In fact, she took her outfit off immediately and slipped into her new gown!

More princess stuff for our little princess!

Opening her new Ugg boots from Grammy & Terry

Ruby is a princess fan, too!

Cinderella, her pumpkin coach and her horse!

Terry playing princesses with the girls!

Grammy, Terry, Celia & Ruby

The adults had a wonderful time watching the little girls open and we got some really great gifts, too! We really enjoy our time with my Mom & Terry since we aren't able to get together regularly with them living in Oklahoma! Everyone left for a little while, but only to meet up again at Jason and Jens later that evening for the traditional Christmas Eve get together!

All ready to head to Jason & Jen's!

Each year we get together with my Mom's side of the family over at Jason and Jen's to have homemade soup and just enjoy spending time together, it isn't about presents, just about quality time! We spent a little bit of time watching Lila & Celia's Christmas concerts on DVD for those that didn't see it live! The girls were pretty proud to see themselves on the TV.

Watching intently!

Quickly the evening wrapped up and it was time to get our tired little girl home and to bed so Santa could visit us! It was a lot of fun this year with Lila as she completely understood the concept of Santa and going to bed to wake up to find presents under the tree!

Sleepy girl!

Finally! It was Christmas morning! Lila gave Mom and Dad the gift of sleeping in (we are rather certain this won't last as she gets older, so we will take it)!

The Eddins family must have been good this year!

So excited to see what Santa delivered!

Lila sat on Santa's lap in early December and told him all she wanted was "princesses" for Christmas, a particular princess castle, to be exact! He didn't disappoint! Not only did she get her princess castle, she got a slew of other princess items to add to her collection.

Thrilled little girl with her princess castle!

Some new early reader books

New movies

A Rapunzel dress!

A pink guitar!

Rapunzel wedding doll!

LeapPad 2!

New Air Jordan kicks (like father, like daughter)

Very quickly she was in her new Rapunzel dress, just like her Cindrella dress the day before!

Doc McStuffins!

Mommy & Daddy had a lot of great presents to open, too! I got a beautiful ring from Mike & Lila as my big present and Mike got a signed Calvin Johnson helmet as his big present! After all of the gifts were opened we got cleaned up to spend the rest of the day with the Eddins side of the family!

Lila is the only little one at the Eddins family Christmas, so she is SPOILED!!! Her pile of presents was huge! And guess what?!?! More princess stuff!

Princess lip gloss!

Hugs for Aunt Maria

Where are we going to put all this stuff?!

Posing with Grandma Tuttle

Very happy girl! She got a new pink princess blanket with her name embroidered on it!

Aunt Maria with her new cedar chest!

Grandpa Tuttle & Lila goofing around!

After a fun filled afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa Eddins it was time to get our tired little girl home! At this point she was running on fumes. That was Christmas celebration #6, after all!

The puppies were so patient and waited for us to get home to do our Christmas gifts for them! Even though Baxter had wondered earlier that morning if Santa had brought them anything?!

Anything for good puppies under that tree?!

Opening up their gifts!

Lots of great new toys to play with!

Last, but not least, on Wednesday we spent the day with my Dad and Laura. This was the first time we haven't spent Christmas day with them and while it wasn't the normal tradition, it was really nice to not have to rush out, we were able to spend all day together!

Hot Chocolate w/ Marshmallows! YUM!

You would think that the girls would be tired of opening presents by now?! No way! They were ready to open and once again, they got some great stuff!

Ruby & Lila ready to open!

Celia looking so grown-up!

The "kiddos"

Uncle Jason & Lila!

Dad, Laura, Carson & Cade

Jason, Jen, Celia & Ruby

Such a poser!

Helping Grandpa open his gifts

After gift opening it was time to head outside to do some sledding! My Dad's front yard is one large hill, so we had to take advantage of the prime sledding opportunity!

All bundled up!

Waiting patiently to get outside!

Daddy pulling Lila

Loving the snow!

The sled race line-up!

Grandpa just may be the biggest kid of them all!

Lila was a little hesitant to go down the big hill on one of the big sleds, but Laura helped break her fear and agreed to go down with her, Mom & Dad weren't good enough! So, off she went...and that was it, she was hooked!

Lila's maiden sledding voyage!

They almost made it to the street!

Walking back up the big hill after a great ride!

Jen was next! She never did let Mom or Dad go with her!

We had such a wonderful holiday! I know this is cliche to say, but it wasn't the presents that made the holiday so great, it was the time spent with the people that we love, that makes the holidays so special! We are so blessed to have such a large family that is close in proximity to share the holidays with and to make special memories, carry on traditions, and really carry out the true meaning of Christmas!