First Christmas In Our New Home

We had a wonderful first Christmas in our new home! The girls had lots of surprises and really enjoyed the day.

 Ella, discovering her Christmas gifts

After looking around, Ella wanted to go put on her "Christmas" dress and get Emma up from her nap. Emma had actually been up earlier for an hour or so, but we kept her in our bedroom until she was ready to nap, so that the girls could experience Christmas morning together.

Emma discovers her Talking Zoo

I think she likes the zoo! :-)

Admiring her princess kitchen

Emma loves the piano and the princess kitchen too.

Ella picked a Shaun the Sheep to give to Emma for Christmas and was so excited to help Emma unwrap it and to give it to her.

Ella's gift "from Emma"

Stockings!

Emma's favorite stuff from her stocking was the chocolate. She's never eaten so much chocolate in one day!

 Ella, unstuffing her stocking :-)

Ella was excited to see Goldilicious, but was concerned about not having Pinkalicious. I told her she should open another present...

Emma loves her new Cabbage Patch doll

Emma got a few stuffed cats and some little cat figurines. She loves kitties!

Another exciting discovery... Pocahontis!

Emma got Belle.

 Here's the set up Playmobil ice cream parlour.

 Emma loves this Rody bouncing horse that Gramma and Papa got her!

Ella's new unicorn jewelry box and a Hidden Flower Fairies book from Gramma and Papa!

Emma, exploring her interactive Tiny Love book from Uncle Nate and Auntie Joy

Christmas Set-Up

Here's what we set up and was waiting for the girls to discover in the morning.

 Their own little piano!

 Stuffed stockings and presents wrapped under the tree

Emma's new talking zoo and a kitty holding a tin of cookies

 Ella's fairy house

 A doggy for Ella with a tin of cookies

Something Ella had specifically asked for, a princess kitchen

The Night Before Christmas

 Ella decorated "Gingys" the morning of Christmas Eve...

and put them out for Santa that night.

Christmas Treats

We've been making lots of Christmas treats the past few days. Ella's been doing most of the creative work with just a little help from Mama here and there.

 Christmas cupcakes - Ella mixed the ingredients, filled the baking cups, guided the mechanical pastry bag to pipe the frosting on, sprinkled the tops with silver sugar sprinkles, and placed the toothpick decorations in the cupcakes. :-)

 Yummy!

Making marshmallow reindeer - These were a little tricky, but we had fun with them.

Christmas tree and star shaped tuna fish sandwiches :-)

Ella's Latest Dance Performance

Ella had her second dance performance tonight at Little Gym where she's been taking dance and gym classes since we moved to North Carolina two months ago. The girls got to dress up as whatever princess they wanted to be. Ella chose her Rapunzel dress for the performance.

Practicing before the performance

Lining up to enter the gym where their performance was held

Ready to dance

 Emma, catching bubbles after the performance

Ella did great and most importantly, had fun!

Officially North Carolina Drivers

The last task of our move is complete...