Merry Christmas!!

We had plenty of places to go on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and Ainsley enjoyed keeping busy.  Once Ainsley got a good nap in on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, we headed over to Joel's Aunt Wendy's to visit for a little bit before heading to Jennifer and Brian's to wait for Santa to arrive.

Santa arrived shortly after we got to Jennifer's.  Once Santa walked in, and Ainsley saw him, she immediately started saying "Ho, ho, ho".  Ainsley must have thought Santa needed the fishing poles she was holding, because she walked right up to him and handed them to him once he sat down.  Of course, she didn't stay by him for long and ran right back to her Daddy to sit on his lap and watch Santa from there.


Ho Ho's here!!!!

Giving Santa her fishing poles



She didn't want to get too close to him!

Ainsley and Papa Jim

All the kids sat on Santa's lap and told him what they wanted.  Drake wanted a new truck, Lani wanted an American Girl doll, and Jack wanted a new video game. 

Drake and Santa

Lani and Santa

Jack and Santa

Avelyn and Santa...she just stared at him!!!

Of course, Ainsley wouldn't have anything to do with Santa, so I had to hold her while she sat on my lap beside Santa.  Here's a video of her with Santa.  At the beginning of it, you can hear her telling us "No-No" that she doesn't want to go see Santa!  She did end up giving him a hug and blowing him a kiss!  Here's a video of it.  Santa had a candy cane for  her, so of course, she had to go and get it, but ran away as soon as she got it in her hand.  

The Grandmas had to sit by Santa, followed by Jennifer so she could tell him what she wanted.  Of course, she said the wrong thing which led to everyone making fun of her!

Bettigail, Santa, and Rita...poor Santa didn't know what he was getting in to with the conversation!

The girls with Santa

After Santa left, we had 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' read to us by Brian (who dressed up for the occasion). 

Cousin Eddie showed up Christmas Eve last year, and this is what we got this year!

Listening to the story

Drake (little Brian) had to get a book to read to everyone after his Dad was finished.  We had to listen to a Mickey Christmas book while Drake read to us.  He didn't like Ainsley bugging him while he read, either!

Oh, Drake....

Ainsley trying to look at the Mickey book while Lani tries to get her away from Drake!

I don't think he got enough attention reading, so he had to show us his awesome dance moves!

Of course, the night wouldn't be complete without Ainsley telling Lani "No-no" and pushing her away.

Ainsley fell asleep on the way home, and only woke up for a little bit while putting her pajamas on her that night.  When she woke up Christmas morning, I looked at her and said "Merry Christmas!  Santa came to see you last night!"  She excitedly looked at me and said "Ho Ho???"  It was so cute!  We brought her down to the basement so she could open her presents.

Santa came!!!

New click clack shoes!!!

Mommy got new oven mitts and a new pan!!!

Of course, we didn't stay home long.  Before we headed to Mom's, we made a quick stop at Dad's where Ainsley's new Princess car was charged.  I was excited to see her reaction to it, since she wanted it to go so bad a few nights before.  She was excited at first, but that quickly wore off when the first time she got it to go, she ran it into the living room wall and was done.  She practically jumped out of her car after she ran it into the wall and refused to get back in it!  Joel was running the video camera when she ran into the wall, but he was too busy watching Ainsley, and the video camera didn't follow her in the car, so we don't have the actual "crash" on video!

Excited to get her car moving!

Uncle Thom getting her straightened out and ready to go.....(or ready to run into the wall!)

After the crash.  She was done!

We went to Mom's later that morning for brunch and presents. 

Standing on one of Rowdy's toys

She loved Rowdy's new toy gun and trucks. 

Rowdy wants his new gun back, but Ainsley didn't want to give it up!

Rowdy liked Ainsley's new Baby Alive doll, so I guess it was an even trade! 

Ainsley and Rowdy playing with her new doll

Of course, Rowdy had to show Ainsley how to dive onto a trash bag full of wrapping paper.  She thought she was pretty big stuff jumping on it!  Here's a video of it.   

Grandma Shelly got Ainsley some chocolate covered peeps in her stocking.  Ainsley thought she needed them that morning and loved them. 

She had chocolate all over her face!

That was good!

How about a ring pop instead of chocolate???

We still had one more place to go that afternoon before calling it quits.  To Jim and Rita's we went!  The kids were waiting on us to get there so they could open presents. 

Ainsley helping Daddy put together her new ride on tractor

This is a first!  A picture where Ainsley isn't pushing Lani away!!!

Scrooge, aka Joel, had enough of Christmas by this point and was over it.  So, Jennifer had to jump on him, which led to Drake and Lani following.

Scrooge comfortable

Scrooge...not so comfortable any more!

Don't tell Grandma Rita, but her front window was a play area for a few minutes on Christmas Day.  Joel had a photoshoot with the kids in the windows, and by the looks of the pictures, let my child lick the windows!!!  Sorry, Rita!!!  Drake was in the window, too, but Joel didn't get any good pictures of him.  I'm just glad the Christmas tree was still standing!

Just licking the windows...

What better way to end a long, busy weekend, but cousin bath time???  They all actually got along relatively well for a few minutes in the bath tub, even if it meant getting water everywhere in Grandma's bathroom!!!