Christmas Day

We had everyone come to our house by 9 to see the girls open presents.  Of course, Olivia slept until almost 10 because she was exhausted and not feeling 100%.  Once she got up, she didn't want to come out, because she said she was scared of what Santa brought!  Silly girl!  I think she was just overwhelmed by it all and hearing all of the crowd out in the living room waiting for her.  Once she saw all of her presents, she dove right in!

 Checking out all that Santa brought!

Checking out the crown jewel of Christmas, the only thing she asked for, an American Girl Doll.  She chose Emily from the catalog and Santa delivered!

 She definitely loves Santa now that he brought her an American Girl doll!

 She could have spent the entire day looking at and playing with her.

 After a yummy breakfast with all of the Rays, Stobaughs and Murphys, we got ready and went over to Uncle David and Aunt Tish's for the annual Christmas lunch with all of the Pedens.  The girls had a blast playing with Cousin Colin.

 Busy at work on the coloring books from Aunt Tish and Uncle David

 Will Pike and Uncle Matt

 Eliza some how got a candy cane that was a MESS!

 

Newlyweds, Cousin Fancy and Ryan

The Stobaughs

 EXHAUSTED, but heading to Nonna and Papa's for Christmas dinner with the Rays

 Olivia named this awesome present from Nonna and Papa, Rudolf

Silly girl kept putting this gift bag on her head and saying, "Merry Christmas!!"

Christmas Eve

What an awesome treat that my mom and Bill came to Houston for Christmas!  We had all of the Murphy clan over for Christmas Eve.  When my grandmother was still alive, we always did Christmas Eve at Nana and Big Jim's house.  It was fun to bring back the old tradition.

 Aunt Murf's GIANT gift to the girls!  She said all Texas girls need their own pony :)

 Playing with Papa Bill

 Four Generations of Murphy's

Loot before Santa Arrived

 All of the Murphy clan: Uncle Matt, Big Jim, Nana, Papa Bill, Eliza, SSR, Uncle Bob, Aunt Murf, MPR and Olivia

 Big Jim's unbelievable beef tenderloin.  After grilling it, he wraps it in foil and newspaper and it is, oh so moist!

 Uncle Joel carrying Olivia :)

 Going to bed excited for Santa to come

 Best family picture from the entire Christmas season!

Daddy's Little Helper

Eliza spent at least 30 minutes "helping" Daddy dig a trench for a French drain.  She loved getting right in the dirt and copying Mike's every move.  Daddy had a shovel, so she went and found one too.  So cute!

Watching the dirt as she dumped it on the sidewalk was also quite enjoyable

Christmas Parties at School

Both my girls ready for school Christmas parties:

This picture encapsulates my girls' respective personalities.  Olivia doing what Mommy has asked her to do and Eliza planning her next move, love the tongue out.  :)

Santa Babies

The entire drive in the car to get their picture taken with Santa, Olivia is saying things like, "Maybe we can go tomorrow to take pictures with Santa" and "I am really scared of Santa, I really don't want to go".  We told her it was the only way he was going to know that she wanted an American Girl Doll for Christmas.  When we walked in, Mike has both of them in his arms and Olivia wouldn't even look at him.  She buried her face in his shoulder and wouldn't let go for anything.  I tell Mike to just go and drop them both and just quickly get it done.  Surprisingly, the always friendly and social (especially to the strangest of strangest looking men) Eliza was the one who SCREAMED bloody murder.  She turned bright red and was panic stricken.  I love love love this photo of them!  Your classic Santa photo, for sure!

A First

Her very first "lay on the floor kicking and screaming" tantrum.  I had to go grab my camera to document :)  When washing your hands for 5 minutes is just not long enough...

Christmas Cookies!

Aunt Murf and Big Jim came over to bake Christmas cookies with the girls.  We made Pfeffernüsse, the Masel Family traditional Christmas cookie.  We use the recipe that was my Great Great gandfather's family bakery's in Germany.  After you roll them and cut them, you shake them in a bag with powered sugar..  They are fabulous!!

 This picture is awfully funny because Aunt Murf and I are the blind leading the blind in the kitchen!

 She loves to bake.

 Helping Big Jim get the dough just right

 Watching carefully as Big Jim rolled out the dough

 Later that night, Olivia saw Uncle Matt pull up a chair to watch the game while eating dinner.  So she went into the playroom and got her chair to eat her dinner with him :)

Good Times at the Mall

Who knew a mall could be so fun?!  Memorial City Mall, 5 minutes from our house, is one of the girl's favorite hangouts.

Carrousel with Nonna

O with Aunt Carrie

 

 Olivia loved this tree (and requested this photo be taken) because it had purple, her favorite color :)

Us

Cousins!

Tim, Jenny, Emery and Delia came up to Houston for a weekend since we did not see them for Thanksgiving and wouldn't see them for Christmas.  The girls had so much fun with their older cousins, who are absolutely amazing with Olivia and Eliza.

 Eliza loved being the passenger with Delia

 

 Aunt Jenny's awesome idea of a fruit monster.  Fruit is way more fun to eat out of a monster's mouth!

 Writing with Pong Pong.  Yet again, she was writing that she wanted an American Girl Doll!

 Playground fun!

 This killed me!  They would get stuck and Delia would jump out and push them out of the rut while Olivia hit the gas :)

 All the girls!

 While they were here, Banff, our elf made his first appearance of the season by wrapping the tree in toilet paper (thanks Carolyn for the idea!).  Olivia and I were talking about it and I said something like, "That silly elf!  What are we going to do with him?!".  Olivia was sticking up for him and said, "It is okay Mommy, he just thought the toilet paper was ribbon.  It's okay.  He isn't bad".  Always trying to make things okay :)

 They played school a lot over the weekend.  Delia loved teaching her math and writing.

 Oh Eliza!  Since we hid all of the step stools in the house, she had to be resourceful with a trash can from her bathroom (also now put away)!

 More Eliza dog love.  She adored Rocky.  Thankfully he was game for a little Eliza love.  I think by the end of the weekend he was glad to go home, however.

"A tiss"