Christmas Night at the Carey's

Okay everyone (especially Coleman side of the family), I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to get this post up from our night at the Carey's house on Christmas. There were so Christmas events and so many pictures to go through and because I am really finicky about making sure the posts are in order, Christmas night had to be last out of all the Christmas posts.
Anyway, a little background on the set up of the post... Little Stephen was absolutely anti-blog so of course I put him first even above my initial text and I never do that (Hee-hee). Colby Miller was excited to be a new part of the Growing Up Grace blog culture so a big welcome to you Colby! And I am embarrassed to say that with all the pictures that were taken on this night I did not get ONE picture of our gracious hosts, Ginny or Big Tim! I think that is because Ginny took most of the pictures! But nevertheless, sorry guys! Thank you for hosting such a huge group of us for a spectacular and very festive Christmas night!
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I hope you all enjoy the picture recap of a great night...

COCKTAIL HOUR
Steve Grace Sr. was the one-man-welcoming committee

The Coleman Girls... Kelly, Kyla, and Robyn
Godmommy Katie and her favorite "nieces"
Liz and Jeff Grace enjoying the warmth of the living room

DINNER
Ginny and Tim had prepared a wonderful feast for a sit down dinner for 3 dining tables of guests (plus a mini "just for kids" table for 3)

Colby making his Growing Up Grace debut with his mom (and Ginny's best friend) Kay Miller.COZY OUTDOOR TIME
Patrick and Marzie! Lookin' hot in pink Marz!

Me, Ryan, Kelly, and Kyla trying to keep warm
Don, Stephen, and Robyn probably doing a better job by staying by the heater!
Colby feels comfortable with the camera now!
Cousins Steve and Patrick. What's in the cup Steve?

Mommy and her big princess
Charlie teaching Kyla all about the ways of the world

Hmmm....Maybe Kyla wasn't paying close enough attention and Charlie had to find a way to remedy that. GIFTS
Charlie wasted no time getting comfortable around a room full of gifts. She tore into any gift someone would hand her whether it was for her or NOT. Uncle Jeff was a big help to help read the tags before she went too crazy!
She was very busy though because...
... someone had to open her sister's gifts too! Ryan had had enough of the day! Thanks Aunt Casey for holding our exhausted little one the whole time!
Thanks to everyone for sharing your Christmas with us!
Happy New Year!
Love, The Graces

The 10 Steps of Christmas Morning

Christmas morning must be the best part of being a parent.
Here's a play-by-play of how the morning went...
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#1: The girls stood at the top of stairs and stared down to see what Santa had left

#2: Of course, Santa strategically placed the toys where the girls could see them from their positions at the top of the stairs. Well done Santa.

#3: Daddy forgot to get out the video camera ahead of time and made a 4 year old and 3 year wait (yes, WAIT) on the stairs until he returned with the camera! How cruel.

#4: When they finally got the okay, they jumped right into their gifts. No pun intended!

#5: And then went to the stockings and found their number one want on their wish list..."Real diamonds and real emeralds" in the bottom of their stockings. Well, Santa might have embellished the "real" part just a bit but it will take them a few years to realize the difference I hope.

#6: Daddy had to put the toys together that Santa didn't have time to do beforehand. Oddly, the girls heard a lot of 4 letter words during this part of the festive morning.


#7: We got ready for the troops to arrive for our traditional Christmas morning breakfast.
#8: The troops arrived to find that Santa had left yet another toy for the girls in the front yard that they had missed up until this point in the morning. Steve is telling the very animated tale about how many pieces the "elves" had to deal with in making the little toy.

#9: The girls were summoned to the driveway to see that they had missed a playhouse that Santa had left for them. There eyes lit up... they were so adorable.


#10: Finally, we all went inside for some good ol' fashioned Holiday cheer (oh ya, and puppet show by Papa)!




A very Merry Christmas morning indeed!

Preparing for Santa

After a late night at Mike and Nancy's we still had to make all the preparations for Santa's arrival.

Charlie made special reindeer food in her pre-school class that she was instructed to put out on the lawn to guide Rudolph to our house and fill up his tummy for the long night ahead!

Here is the note attached to the reindeer food.

Charlie really thought long and hard about where the best place was to put the reindeer food.


Ryan decided that under the tree was the best spot.



Next, we had to put cookies , milk, and our lists for Santa by the fireplace.

By this time, it was hours past their bedtime... don't they look exhausted???


Finally, it was time for the annual reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas"
Nonna was the lucky reader this year.

Grandpa was the lucky "disciplinarian" when Charlie wasn't quite sure she wanted to behave anymore! LOL.

Christmas Eve with the Kudrons

On Christmas Eve we had dinner with the Kudron side of the family at Mike and Nancy's house. We really had a great time. It was their first Christmas in their new house so we had fun "breaking it in." I try to be careful so I hate when it happens and I leave someone from a party out of the pictures! This time it happened to Mike! I can't believe that I did not get a single picture of Mike (sorry big brother!)

My mom and I

Steve and Sandy

Grandpa and Charlie

Steve, Nonna, Nancy

Ryan, Katie, Charlie


Ryan is really starting to take the whole posing aspect of picture taking to a whole new level.

The kids tore open the presents! Great gifts everyone. They loved everything!

Nonna "read" Cameron a story. It's so fun to hear Nonna's made up version of the story!

Oh boy Cameron is going to have a tough time getting in with this tight group of girl cousins!
Good luck Cam!

Charlie HATED wearing her turtleneck shirt! Total meltdown...We had to ask Aunt Nancy if we could borrow a T-shirt for the evening. She's still a little upset here but at least she's trying to tear this one off of her like she was the other one! LOL

Hands down the best part of the night was the walk we took after dinner. Mike and Nancy's new neighborhood is well known for its elaborate Christmas lights and decorations. Every house was amazing! The cars were lined up practically bumper to bumper all the way around the tract. It was extraordinary. We all bundled up and enjoyed the crisp, cool, Christmas air!

Thanks for hosting Mike and Nancy!

The Grace Cookie Factory

I know, I know... I was "gently" reminded over the last few days that I am falling very much behind in the blogging department of my life. I have no one to blame but Edward Cullen (the protagonist character from the Twilight saga of books I have been addicted to since Christmas). Anyway, I think I am back to the real world now. The holidays are over. The decorations need to be taken down. The kids need to be fed a little more regularly (just kidding). And apparently, the Growing Up Grace blog readers need a fix. So, Edward Cullen and the rest of the vampires will just have to wait.
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Our special dish to bring to Christmas at Aunt Ginny's house was the Grace Famous Sugar Cookies. The girls and I worked hard to create each cookie to be unique and decorated with love.