After our Elf Christmas Eve breakfast, we spent the rest of the morning, straightening the house, getting dressed, and getting ready for my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece to arrive!
Megan did a little playing.
We surprised my mom this year and convinced her to come to our house for Christmas. My brother and I have been planning this since November and trying to figure out a way to make it work that they could all be here for Christmas. My mom was told that my brother had to work on Christmas day (because he did, but then his schedule was changed, and he didn't tell her). His original plan was for DJ, the girls, and I to come to his house on Christmas Eve and all of us walk in to my mom's house on Christmas morning. Plans changed when DJ and I decided that we did not need to travel this year. My mom was scheduled to work on Christmas Eve and we had almost convinced her to drive here once she was off work with my sis in law, niece, and stepdad. But, as our luck would have it, my mom was scheduled to have knee surgery the week before Christmas, which meant, she had to take off for several weeks afterwards! I hate that she had to have surgery, but it worked out for the best! My brother ended up surprising her with a Christmas card on Christmas Eve morning, that he would be joining them in Oklahoma for us to all celebrate the holidays together. I'm told my mom cried.
Once everyone arrived, the girls headed out to the grocery store to pick up ingredients for appetizers, sandwiches, and Christmas day lunch.
We snacked on spinach dip.
And a cheese ball
Then, I gathered the girls and we baked chocolate chip cookies for Santa.
Gretchen loves butter!
The girls took turns putting in all of the ingredients.
Once the cookies were made, we all ate dinner!
After dinner, the girls listened to their "reindeer food" poem and then we went outside to leave food for Santa's reindeer.
Our reindeer food is made with oatmeal and sprinkles. You could add glitter too!
Then, we came back in and had a "Happy Birthday Jesus" party.
All of the girls blew out the candles.
Then, we attempted a few family pictures:
My brother and his family.
Our family
The entire crew!
We tried to just get the girls, but Amelia didn't want to sit and Addy kept eating her shirt.
I managed to get one of just my girls, but both big sisters were fighting over who could hold Adalyn.
Then the girls got on their Christmas pajamas and we got out our Magic Christmas Pillowcases and put them on their pillows.
Finally, we settled down to read The Night Before Christmas.
My girls in their Christmas pj's
The girls saying good-bye to their Elf.
We set out cookies for Santa and then sent the girls to bed.
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After the girls were snug in their beds, Santa came:
Then the adults went to bed to try to sleep before the girls woke up entirely too early!
