Violet's First Performance- on stage...

One of the highlights of my Christmas holidays, heck the entire year- was getting to finally watch Violet perform on stage. I have waited for this moment. Violet is one of the most "colorful" people I know, and one example of that is through her song and dance- which we at home get to see plenty of. 

I knew she had the desire, but what she lacked was the nerve.

It definitely helped that her best bud and cousin shared the stage with her.

I'm just so proud of this little four year old.

She's going to take this world by storm.

Here's pics of my little snowflake.

The show was Rudolph performed at the Lobero Theater by the State Street Ballet's Young Dancers

I love these two cuties enjoying a moment all to themselves

Christmas 2013

I swear each year Christmas gets more special. A big reason for that is because our family just keeps growing- both in volume and in years. With each year that passes our little ladies understand more and more what the holidays are all about. Its even fun to see that they remember details of things we've done in the past, and that they appreciate these traditions we've started and look forward to them. It's teaching me that even though sometimes I feel like we might do too much or they might be too young to remember- its actually never too soon to start building their childhood memories.

decorating the tree
one fun tradition I've adopted from my family is to give each person
a special ornament each year so that over time our tree is filled with lots of memories
we also like to collect ornaments when we travel so that we can remember specific events

Christmas Eve at my parents was super fun this year
They went all out- it was like having two Christmases

Christmas morning- checking out a note Santa left her thanking her for the cookies

so excited about her Frozen castle

my joke is this was the "Frozen Christmas" :)

Gracie couldn't wait to go outside and enjoy her presents!

first big girl bike!

matching PJS! Ha!

Christmas dinner at my parents

kids table 

The Polar Express

One of our newer family traditions is to take the kids on the Fillmore train at christmas time. This year we decided to go the first weekend in the hopes that we could also cut our tree down again. Unfortunately the traffic was so crazy getting down there we just had enough time to get dinner and make the train. This train ride is so cute and I look forward to it every year now. 

The kids are encouraged to wear their christmas pajamas

 

All the kids get chocolate milk and christmas cookies :)

We finally arrive at the North Pole! We pick up Santa so we can bring him back to the station for a photo opp. 

Hey, there he is!!

The elves serve the cookies and read the night before christmas. They also give all the kids a jingle bell when we sing christmas carols.

Lots of really cool vintage decorations:

Super old vintage carousel

We got to take a pic with Santa!

                    Merry christmas!