What a Christmas week we've had! It was wonderful. I really enjoyed my time spent with family and friends. Here is our Christmas in pictures! Ella did a lot of sleeping...
On Christmas Eve morning we were already excited so we had to open a present! Daddy surprised everyone by doing some shopping on his own. Lilly opened up Candy Land and we taught her how to play her very first board game! It will take some time to get the hang of it but she had fun.
Ella and I went grocery shopping while Andy and Lilly went shopping for my gift (how sweet is that?). Then we met at Panera Bread for lunch. When we got home from lunch I started to cook (yes, you read the correctly - I cooked!). I made sausage and ground beef lasagna (half and half) and Grandmother's beef soup. We also made gingerbread cookies, Santa cookies, chex mix, and a marshmallow (with corn flakes) wreath. By Christmas Eve (eve) we needed to open more presents!!! Ella gave Lilly a Tinkerbell bath wand, bath dye, lotion, and bubble bath before Lilly headed up to take her bath. We were surprised to find out Lilly didn't like the bath water to change colors... But then again it had been a day of sweets and junk food so she was likely wearing thin from that combined with the anticipation of Santa.
Ella was bored while we opened presents.
Lilly bought me red gloves and a scarf! The greatest part was when I asked Lilly what she bought me and she said, "Mittens and hot chocolate!" In the car she told me they were "green" mittens which in the land of Lilly means red (it also means green as well). She spilled the beans! I love them. It's my first scarf... ever.
Lilly picked out her presents for Daddy all by herself. She got him this nice "Naughty" sleep mask, Jack Daniels coffee, and a reversible belt. He loved his mask...
After Lilly bathed it was time to put some cookies out for Santa. Lilly helped herself to some (more) cookies as well.
When Lilly woke up on Christmas morning she had forgotten what a big day it was! She laid in bed and watched her usual TV. We asked her who came last night and she said, "Meemaw?" Then we told her Santa had come so she headed downstairs!! I tried for the traditional Brinser-family-top-of-the-stairs-Christmas-morning-photo but she was in a hurry. Who can blame her?
Santa brought Lilly exactly what she asked for: a pink kitchen!!! She was so very excited. She tore the paper off while I video'd and Andy snapped pictures. We were the Christmas morning paparrazi.
Ella hung out in her way-too-small Christmas outfit (forget the pajamas that match Lilly's - I bought them in preemie size since Lilly was a peanut newborn). Santa brought her a pink pig! Exactly what Lilly had asked Santa to bring her. Santa rocks!
After opening the kitchen, pots and pans, bakeware, and some other kitchen accessories Lilly needed a break. She set this up in front of the TV and requested Curious George.
After some gifts, "sticky bums" and hot chocolate we headed over to the DiNunzio's in our pajamas. Natalie bought Lilly a Cinderella doll that sings and lights up when you brush her hair. She also got an assortment of popcorn! Ella got some clothes.
We got to see what Santa had brought their family and visited until Lilly busted her lip open on the back of the couch and was bleeding all over... We cleaned her up and headed home.
Lilly didn't realize she also had a stocking to open! Christmas is the greatest!!!
Santa also brought me and Andy gifts! I got some gift cards to my favorite clothing stores (after the weight comes off), a manicure and pedicure, fuzzy slippers, a movie theatre gift card, and bookstore gift card! I can't wait to shop! Andy got some clothes, a monogrammed dress shirt (initials on pocket), a book of photos of our family, and a Brooks Brothers gift card. It was a really nice Christmas. After lunch the girls took naps (I think we all took a nap actually) and then we headed over to our friends Ellen and John's house. This used to be our Christmas tradition each year before having kids (and Lilly's first 2 years). It was nice to see her family again. Before leaving we got a family shot - Lilly insisted on wearing matching outfits (with Ella). She had a cute red Christmas dress to wear but instead they matched which was also cute.
Loving her sister. I hadn't planned on Ella wearing this dress until springtime so she had to have bare legs...
After Ellen's house Andy dropped me and the girls off at home. I put a ham in the oven, green beans on the stove, and made a salad and biscuits while Andy went to pick up his mom for dinner. Lilly painted Babcia's nails while I cooked dinner. It was a nice meal. We made homemade butter cookies after dinner and called it a night. 
Christmas is such a nice time to spend with family and friends. It's hard being so far away from my family this time each year but it was nice spending time with Andy and the girls. And in the end it's all about the birth of Christ and togetherness. We had a very nice ending to the year 2008. We couldn't ask for more in our lives. We know we are very blessed.
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