Ellison's First Christmas

Can you believe it's January? Wow. This Christmas was so fun and so special. Ellison is obviously too young to really get it, but having a child in the house during the holiday season makes it much more magical.

Ellison's Christmas actually started back in September when I ordered us all new Pottery Barn stockings. I think they're just the sweetest things and I was ready to hang them up as soon as they arrived! I like that the PB styles are pretty classic and when it's time for baby number two (several years from now!) we will easily be able to add to our bunch.

Our next big event was picking out our tree. We just went up to a tree lot a mile or so from our house. It's the same place Barrett and I have gone for the last 5 years. It was 70+ degrees that day and it felt a little odd to be picking out our tree! Next year, I'd like to start a new tradition of driving up to the mountains to get a tree. I want to do the whole shebang...hayride, cocoa, carols. I'm excited already!

 

 

Ellison had her first homework project (more like Mama had a homework project) and we picked out little gifts for all of her teachers.

Then, Ellison met Santa! Every year, Santa comes to see our kids at the hospital. He. Is. Fabulous. Seriously...the real deal. So, I popped over to school and scooped her up to get her picture taken with Santa. Barrett was able to leave work early to come up, so we got a fun family picture with Santa and tons of really sweet pictures of E with the big man. It was good, quality Santa time and I'm so glad we decided to do it that way instead of seeing the mall Santa. I mean, how awesome is this guy?!

 

 

Our first celebration was the Saturday before Christmas. My mom, stepdad, sister, and her boyfriend came to spend the day with us, have lunch, exchange gifts, and snuggle E. We tried to do Secret Santa this year, but no one really followed the rules and we all pretty much bought for everyone anyway. Oh well. The more the merrier. :-)

 

 

We made a salt dough ornament to commemorate E's first Christmas.

 

 

We tried to catch all the good, classic Christmas movies when they came on TV.

 

 

 

We spent Christmas Eve at home, snuggled up in our pjs. My dad and stepmom sent Ellison a recordable Night Before Christmas book, so we sat together and listened to Paw Paw read us a story.

Christmas morning, our little family of four took our time getting out of bed. We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and opened our gifts.

 

 

Barrett's mom came up from Florida to visit, so we spent early afternoon catching up with Nana and opening gifts.

Barrett's dad and stepmom joined us for dinner. Barrett cooked a gigantic delicious standing rib roast for us and his stepmom cooked everything else. It was so nice to not have to do anything! It was quite the change of pace for me because I'm usually the one doing all the work in the kitchen fit our get togethers. It was nice to pass over the reins for once! We had a wonderful evening.

I can't believe it's all over so fast! I know that as the years pass, Christmas will only get more and more fun. Only 350-ish days to go!