Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was so much fun this year.  We started by meeting Michael's mom and brother, who had just flown in from Virginia, for lunch.  Marilyn had picked Craig up from the airport and we met them at Jason's Deli before they headed to Searcy.  Craig hadn't met Harper yet so he got to meet her for the first time.  He is about to get married on January 7th and we can't wait.  So excited for him and Tiffany.

Next, my parents drove down since they didn't have Christmas plans this year and Lindsay was already here and on her break from school.  We decorated Eden's gingerbread house, played games, made gumbo and cheese grits for dinner, drove around to see Christmas lights, and opened gifts.  It was a full afternoon and night.

Mom trying to ice the gingerbread house.  She struggled a little bit and we got a good laugh out of dad piping better than mom;)

 Eden putting on the candy decorations.

 The finished product.

 This was hilarious.  If you look close you can see while I'm taking pictures of it the roof starting to slide off.  I think the big balls on it were a bit heavy.

 Still falling.....

And collapse.  It was so funny.  Dad and I restored the house and it finally held.

The Benton square has some cute scenes put up around it and Eden wanted to get out and see them all.  Notice she is wearing her gown with leggings.  Ha;)

She liked the polar bears.

She loved the nativity scene since she was a part of the one at her school as the angel.

Eden putting out her reindeer food so they will find her house and then get a snack.

Christmas Eve we decided to go ahead and open our gifts so Sunday morning wouldn't be so rushed and we could make it to church.

Eden waiting patiently for everyone to get ready.

She got a harmonica from her daddy.  She loves blowing that thing.  It should have come with ear plugs too=)

Some Toms that Michael picked out for her.

Thank you Aunt Terry for the books for the girls.  They love them!

Eden holding up her new Belle ornament.

This is her new doll, Juliana, that Harper got for Eden.  She was so excited that Harper had picked out a gift for her.  She LOVED it!  She also loved the LeapPad we gave her.  She hasn't hardly put it down.  I'm so glad she likes it.

Eden and I during the opening of presents.

Michael with the girls.

I wanted to show this picture because the little doll that Harper is holding onto was from Eden and she was thrilled that Harper was holding it and not letting it go.  It was so sweet.  I think they picked out perfect gifts for each other.

After the gifts, Eden set out the milk and cookies for Santa and then went to bed.  Santa made a stop after making sure the girls were both really asleep.  

Rainbolt Christmas

 The Friday night before Christmas we celebrated Christmas with Michael's dad and that side of the family.  Eden had fun running around with Lydia and Eban that evening and Harper slept threw most of the evening which is saying a lot because it was loud with all the little ones running around there.  We had a good meal and then all the little ones got to rip into their gifts.

Eden ready to go.

 Eden and Lydia eating together.

 JoJo and Eden.

 The excitement was building.  She couldn't wait to get into all the gifts.

 Eden loves games!

 Pajamas.  This girl lives in her pajamas.  Have I mentioned her dislike for jeans and pants.  She only wants leggings and pajamas.

 Can you tell she liked everything she opened?  She also got a scooter which she has asked for for the longest time.  PawPaw and Nana gave it to her and I have video of her opening it.  I will have to post it, it's cute.  She loved it.  She was so excited and didn't want to have to wait to ride it but it had to be put together. 

Eden and Eban late in the night.  She already changed into her new pajamas.

JoJo with Harper.  Once again I missed pictures of the girls with Allen and Nancy because they are always running around taking care of everything.  I will have to try again another time.

Annual Cookie Decorating

 Carrie, Jamie, and I got together again with the kids and did our annual cookie decorating at Jamie's house this year.  Eden and I had a great time and Lindsay volunteered to watch Harper so I didn't have to mess with her.  I think Eden enjoyed having the one on one time.  The kids did great this year.  The boys decorated several cookies and then they went and played while all of us girls, including Eden and Hannah, sat there and decorated cookie after cookie until we had to make lunch.  We could have done it all day;)  The cookies were delicious that Jamie made for us to decorate.  She also served us potato soup for lunch that was awesome.  I really enjoy decorating cookies and the detail that goes into them.  It is just time consuming which I don't have much of lately:)

Jack, Lincoln, Hannah, and Eden at the very bottom.

 Carrie and Lucy with the bunch.

 Eden waiting to decorate another cookie.

 Eden loves her some sprinkles.

 Eden and I

 Carrie, Lucy, and Jack.  For some reason I didn't get a picture of Jamie with her kids.

 Some of the decorated cookies Eden and I made.

 Eden loves this Santa hat.

 LOVE this picture of Harper's smile.  LOVE!!!!

 Eden got her letter from Santa and was so excited to open it.  Harper got one too.  They were both on the nice list this year.

 Yea, I'm on the nice list.

 Eden wanting to hold Harper.  

Had to post this.  Look at Harper's expression.  Hilarious.  Not sure she wants Eden all over her all the time;)

Eden's Christmas Program and Class Party

 On Friday, December 16th, Eden's class had their Christmas program and party.  Eden's class sang several songs and then she and a few others were chosen to participate in another classes performance.  She sang all the songs really well and all the other classes too;)  The other class did a thing where each letter of the alphabet represented a word from the birth story of Jesus.  The letter "A" was for Angel so Eden came out onto the stage and got to stand on a stool for the whole story.  She did great and stood still the entire time.  We were all so proud of her.

After the school program, all the classes had their Christmas parties.  I stayed and helped out with it.  A good time was had by all the kids but there were a few melt downs from several including Eden.  She got upset during the book exchange because she ended up with one that wasn't wrapped beautifully so she didn't want it.  Low and behold it was a Fancy Nancy book that she LOVED!!!  The party was a great way to end the semester and get ready for the new year.

Hard to see Eden but she is in a bright red dress right in the middle of the picture.

 Our little Angel.  The first one out all by herself.

 Slowly, everyone else started joining her.  The manger scene:)  So of course we got everything on camera and the funniest thing happened and Michael missed it.  I can't remember if he had zoomed into Eden or over to the the class reading the story but the little boy who played Joseph (standing by Mary in the blue) was leaning on his cane and he leaned to far forward and fell straight forward.  It was HILARIOUS!!!  My mom, Lindsay, and I were laughing hysterically.  He got up so fast too.  Michael never even knew it happened.  I SO wish we had that on camera.  We could have won some money on America's Funniest Video.  

 Getting the official pictures after her program.

 Eden and her teacher, Mrs. Stacey.

 My mom and sister were able to make it. 

 During the class party, they got to decorate a Christmas tree (a sugar cone turned over on a sugar cookie).  Eden enjoyed decorating and did really well spreading her icing and placing her M&M's.  

 The class about to start the book exchange.

This is what Eden gave Mrs. Stacey for her Christmas gift.  I saw the idea on pinterest and thought it was really cute, so I made one.  Mrs. Stacey ended up running out of time at the party so she didn't open her gifts there.  Later that night I got a Facebook message from her and it said, "I was upset earlier that I didn't get the chance to open gifts with the kids there, but then I was glad when I got home and opened Eden's, because you parents would have seen me crying like a baby!! The crayon letter was such a special surprise!!  Thank you so much for such a thoughtful gift!!"  I'm glad she liked it.

Santa Pictures

We went and saw Santa on Saturday and the girls loved him, especially Eden.  She gives him the biggest hug and gives him an ear full of things on her wish list.  Some of her list this year includes: a bike, scooter, swing set, a Rapunzal dress, make-up, earrings, a big castle, and other random things here and there.  Not sure where she got some of her things.  I hope she isn't too disappointed, I'm not sure Santa can carry all that down the chimney;) She can't wait until Christmas.  She asks all the time when she can open her gifts and Harper's.  I guess she figures Harper can't open her own.  I hope Eden landed on Santa's nice list this year.