Christmas recap

The girls had such a great Christmas! Starting with not being afraid of the Big Guy.

They asked me every morning, "How many more sleeps, Mommy, until Christmas?" I kept reminding them that we didn't want Christmas to get here too soon because we had so many fun things to do before Christmas to celebrate Jesus' birthday. One of these highlights was decorating cookies. They were so into it and asked everyday to do it. Here they are at our neighbors' house. She generously hosted the girls in one of their cookie decorating endeavors.

Another big highlight was decorating the house. Kate is still asking to play "decorate the house." Here they are putting out their favorite snow globes that Grandaddy and Mammaw Mamie gave them last Christmas.

We spent Christmas at my parents' bed and breakfast, Century House, along with my sister and her family. Here is Mammaw Mamie reading The Story of Christmas to the grandchildren. I'd say her lap is full.

The morning of Christmas all the cousins came down to see what Santa brought. Here's everyone waiting to walk into the present room!

Their first look at their new Lightning McQueen (Kate) and 2 Cute (Lily) bikes.

Katie examines the contents of her stocking. Phil's admin assistant gave us these stockings. They are HUGE. So lots of fun goes into them!

Here is Lily with hers.

Here's the boys' side of the room.

Santa wrapped everything in snowman paper. Lily's favorite presents were her ballerina nightgown, ballerina jewelry box, ballerina necklace and Groovy Girl dolls. Katie loved her bike, skates, Hotwheels race track and Nerf ball shooter gun. The toy they have both played with the most, though, was this random $15 toy I threw in at the last minute, the Croc Dentist, from Back to Basics Toys online. It is so basic, but they LOVE it!

It is just as much fun to be the parent as being the kid!

Afterwards, we had a scavenger hunt on all three floors of the bed and breakfast to find the last present.

Phil, Grandaddy and Mammaw Mamie wrote rhyming, fill in the blank clues for them to follow.

...and wha-la!, the newly renovated doll house that Grandaddy made for Mommy and Aunt Julie to play with when they were little girls! Complete with motorcycle parked out front.

Now out to test the goods...

Acting crazy....

The Asian Anakin Skywalker...

The girls in their new outfits (Kate on left)...

More bike riding the next day...

Kate and Lily loved playing with their cousins!

After my brother-in-law landed in the ER from a skateboarding accident that day, my dad and his buddy, Steve decided to play it safe on the skateboard...

Then Grandaddy gave all the kids a ride in the parking lot on his motorcycle.

I probably shouldn't post this next one, being a pediatrician and all...but since I used to do the same stuff on the back of my dad's bike as a kid, it is part of the Nobles' tradition.

Kate says she want to drive a motorcycle when she is "eleven-teen."

Next, trying out the new skates...

All the cousins on the back porch before bedtime...

Happy as can be. Thank you Mammaw Mamie and Grandaddy for making so many awesome Christmas memories possible!! We love you!