Merry Christmas!

This Christmas we had a four day extravaganza. We started out at Sydney's Nana and Grampa's house and were joined by Uncle Matthew and Aunt Katie. Nana and Grampa bought Sydney some Christmas "creatures" (snowmen, reindeer, and santas) which she carried around and played with nonstop. She also loved decorating sugar cookies with Nana. They put frosting and sprinkles on the cookies.  Sydney loved putting sprinkles on the most.  She also liked serving everyone. :)  Sydney was also spoiled with many gifts and had a blast opening them.

Cookies with Nana

Sprinkles!

Yum!

Present time!

Pretending to go to the beach

We stayed at Nana and Grampa's through Christmas Eve, but came home that evening to prepare for Santa!  I have enjoyed starting new traditions with Sydney this year, especially since she is old enough to truly participate.  This year we made cookies for Santa- chocolate chip, of course!  Sydney helped with adding ingredients, and I think it's a miracle the cookies turned out as well as they did since she "helped" so much.  When we put the cookies out for Santa, I asked her how many she thought we should put out, and her response was "all of them!".  After we baked the cookies, Blake showed Sydney the Norad Santa tracking website.  She was definitely intrigued, and I know this will be a tradition in years to come as she becomes more aware of the fact that Santa goes to everyone's house!

Adding ingredients

Where's Santa?

I felt like a kid myself on Christmas morning.  I couldn't wait for Sydney to wake up so she could see her gifts from Santa.  We asked her if she remembered who was supposed to come the night before, and she knew it was Santa.  However, I think she was kind of like "whatever, you guys keep talking about Santa but I'm not really seeing anything".  When she came downstairs and saw her Santa pile, though, I think it all clicked together.  Her word of the morning was "Look!".  Santa brought her a bunch of creatures, per her request, and she picked each one up to check it out as she said "Look!"

Creatures!!

Look!!!!!!!

T-rex!!

And...more creatures!

As a family present, Blake and I bought an iPad.  We had it for quite a while but decided we wouldn't use it until Christmas- talk about burning a hole in your pocket!  Well, we had a blast with it on Christmas morning.  The best part was getting to do Face Time with Sydney's Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Pete, and cousing PJ.  Since they live in California, we never get to see them.  While I talk all the time about them to Sydney, it is hard to know how much she really understands.  It was amazing for Sydney to be able to hear them and see them!  She loved seeing all of PJ's toys as well as their pets.  I am so glad she will now be able to get to know her cousin, even virtually!

Christmas evening we headed up to Blake's grandmother's house.  She had tons of food, and it was great to just visit with family.  Sydney especially enjoyed playing with her cousin Amelia, who is several years older than Sydney, but is wonderful with her.  Of course, there were also some presents to open. :)

Sharing creatures with Amelia

Presents!

Ernie from Aunt Carolyn

The day after Christmas (thus the four day extravaganza), we got together with Blake's immediate family- Sydney's MeMe and Pops and Uncle Brent and (soon-to-be) Aunt Catherine.  We, of course, enjoyed more food and present opening and Sydney was much the center of attention again.  It was so nice having Catherine in the mix as well this year!

With MeMe and Pops

Aunt Catherine and Uncle Brent

Delicious food at MeMe and Pops