Christmas Baking

Caroline and I did quite a bit of baking over the Christmas break. She LOVES mixing and stirring and of course, eating the batter! The pictures are a bit backwards, but I wanted to capture some of the moments for our family members and friends out of town.

On Christmas Eve, we made Reindeer Food. It's to help Santa's reindeer find our house from the sky and to give the reindeer some food to nibble on while Santa is doing his job! It was super easy to make and she LOVED sprinkling it on the lawn and the sidewalk.

We also make a special ornament each year to hang on the tree with Caroline's handprint. I paint her entire hand in white paint and then paint the fingers to look like snowmen. We use the clear ornaments and add 'snow' to the inside. Super cute and super easy! I didn't take a picture of the finished project, but I'll add it to next year's list, hahahahaha.

This year, we made Reindeer Magic Food. Caroline knows how much Papa loves to munch on goodies, so she made this for him. It consists of pretzels, peanuts, rice chex mix, fruit loops, m&m's, and white chocolate. Melt the white chocolate and mix ingredients. Pour onto wax paper and let dry. Break up into pieces and enjoy!

On Christmas Eve, we baked Santa some special cookies. Unfortunately, the cookies turned out AWFUL! I think we used too much flour during the 'cutting out' process which weighed the cookies down. But, Caroline had fun and they looked cute!

In case you're wondering, we have several trees in our house. This one is in our kitchen/breakfast room. It started out with just initials (our monograms) but then we started adding our homemade ornaments from Caroline. I think it may just be one of my favorite trees! And yes, we are VERY southern, so we bake in our new smocked dresses! :)

A Little Elf Magic

Percy the Elf baked this yummy cupcake for Caroline at the North Pole!! He surprised her with it on Saturday morning, which she promptly ate for breakfast! Isn't it adorable???!!!

Excuse the bedhead...we hadn't been up long!!!

Eating her cupcake for breakfast....the breakfast of champions, lol!!!

Santa Visit

We went to see Santa this weekend! The pics are acting crazy and somewhat out of order, but oh well! :) I didn't get a great picture since the elf made me stand outside of the fence to take my two personal pics. But the picture we bought turned out GREAT!

Caroline is telling Santa that she wants a 'Pizza Set' and a 'Donut Set'....both from Melissa & Doug (great toys!!) WOW! Taking pictures with and of Caroline is SUPER difficult these days! She wants to 'fake' smile, squint her eyes and be silly. All of these things I love, but not when you're sitting in the floor of a crowded mall, lol!!

My mom HATES having her pictures made, but I BEGGED her to get in the picture with us. I am going to treasure this picture one day! :)

Caroline posing with the book Santa gave her

Christmas Night at Aunt Sissy's House

At Christmas, my sister and I rotate whose house will be hosting our Christmas dinner and present exchange. This year, it was at my sister's house. Caroline was so excited about going to Aunt Sissy's that she almost had a panic attack! Tim and I decided to have her open her presents from us at home, but she demanded that we load them in the car to be opened up at Aunt Sissy's. ;) I bet you know who won that battle! Speaking of battles, I lost the wardrobe change battle....Caroline didn't want to change clothes, so she and Tim teamed up against me. I lost! :( Oh, well, she still looked adorable.

Each year, Nana always gives us a 'junk' box full of random goodies. Caroline loved this box! She got tons of stickers, magnets, candy canes, little books, bouncy balls, and much much more!
Caroline's opening her Shopping Cart from Nana and Papa. We found it at a cute boutique in Union City and she just 'had' to have it! She played with it at Thanksgiving, but we 'left' at Nana's house on 'accident'. When she opened it, she yelled out "two buggies!"

Caroline put Shorty in the cart and walked him around while carrying her money from Aunt Janie and Uncle Preston. She really thought she was going shopping. Caroline couldn't wait to put her money in her piggy bank at home!

Nana and Papa got her this cute Cookie Set that she loves. Her friend Ruth has it and Caroline hasn't stopped talking about it! We've been having lots of tea parties and eating lots of cookies the last few days. :)

Caroline LOVES puzzles! I found this one back in September. It's quite difficult and I immediately regretted my decision to give it to her now. But, by the second day, Caroline mastered it! I hope she continues to be great at putting things together.

So exicted over stickers! Tim and I groaned when we saw this present...we'll be picking up stickers for months!

Caroline was again so excited to open up her Max and Ruby stuffed animals. She loves the cartoon and books.

We had a great Christmas this year! I hope that all of you had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you the best in the upcoming new year!

Ho Ho Ho!! Santa Claus came to town!

Me: "Merry Christmas, Caroline!" I said as I walked into her bedroom.
Caroline: "Huh? Oh, Merry Christmas!" popping up from the covers
Me: "Guess who came to see you last night?"
Caroline: "SANTA!!!" she yelled as she jumped out of the bed and started running to the hall!

Santa left some goodies for Caroline this morning!
Caroline looking over at her new pink cars.

Smiling over her Lemon Merinque doll to go with her new pink car

Noticing that Santa ate her cookies she made for him last night and drank the milk

Pez Snowman stocking stuffer

Strawberry Shortcake Monogrammed Sippy Cup

Ecstatic over her new purple car!

Digging in her stocking....what else???

Look Mommy! I got a sucker!

Playing with her pink Strawberry Shortcake car

Checking out her new table and chairs with her babies

Trying on her new lipgloss

Aren't I beautiful with my new lipgloss? :)

Caroline insisted that I take a picture of her new pink baby with naked baby in her new pink Caroline chair!

Loving that she is able to eat a sucker for breakfast!

Posing with her pink baby in her pink chair