Christmas 2010

I have to say how relieved I am, as I've been updating, I have not been able to find our family Christmas pictures. I finally found the pictures after a day of sorting through pictures and I am really relieved!

This year was really special to me because it was the first year that we had our little family Christmas all by ourselves. I loved creating our own traditions and carrying on old ones. And being able to really enjoy my children opening their presents and not worry about how they would compare to their cousins presents, would they have enough, too much, too expensive, not expensive enough, ah!, I do not like that aspect of having multiple families together on Christmas morning at all.

On the contrary, I purposely did not take very many pictures Christmas morning because I wanted to have a relaxed experience and really be able to take part in my children's joy and excitement and memories of us talking and bonding.

Church Christmas party

Part of Dan's Christmas Card to his customers ~ I took all of the pictures or the trucks and carts, for their printing, shirts, cards, advertisements, and website. This is a fun embellishment on one of the pictures I took.

One night, Brie (Adam's wife), bought a gingerbread kit and helped the girls make a gingerbread house. It was Ashton's favorite activity this season.

Adam teasing Adrienne that same night

Ashton's school put on a Polar Express activity. All the children lined up their chairs like a train and took the "Polar Express" to the "North Pole" aka the gym then sang Christmas songs and watched the movie. They even got little bells!

A week or so before Christmas we went to downtown Philadelphia to watch the light show at Macy's. Macy's has a 4 story open layout so they project lights on to the huge wall and play music that corresponds!

Then we walked around next to the river.

Nativity scene with real animals!

On a different day we went to a Christmas activity at Hershey Park. We found discount tickets for $7 each! Only the children's rides were open ~which is all we need anyway~ where it is usually $40 for a child to enter even though they don't ride any of the big rides!

In Hershey, Pa the main street is lined with Hershey kiss shaped street lights and smells like chocolate. No joke.

The factory is located here.

Ashton loves pretend play. She is always pretending and coming up with fun ideas. Christmas Eve she wanted to "make cupcakes" (the oven was obviously turned off the whole time)

So excited for them to be done!

Christmas Morning I couldn't wait to wake the girls up!