Christmas at Home

Christmas Eve-Eve & Christmas Eve

On Xmas Eve Eve we made cookies for Santa! We chose non-traditional frosting colors of pink, blue and purple. Harper picked the colors (of course!). And she added sprinkles on top.

Late on xmas eve-eve Harper ended up sick, so she was up all night vomiting. We were worried she would not feel well for the holidays. But once she woke up on xmas eve, she seemed good. By mid morning, she was playing, laughing and seemed her normal self. So we were relieved. Below, because the weather was so nice, we wanted to get her outside to take in some fresh air to help in her recovery. She loves swinging. We could swing for hours - and all the while we sing songs while swinging.

Xmas eve night at the Van Maanens....with her cousins Max and Mollie.

I got such a kick out of this - Max (her 12 year old cousin) was playing Polly Pockets with her. He's so kind and patient with her!

Mommy and Harper playing a "duet".

Amy and I attempting a real duet. I'm extremely rusty on the piano. That's one thing I wish I still had the skills for - need several months of practice!

Putting cookies out for Santa. Since we do not have a chimney, Harper thought we should put the cookies in the kitchen since Santa would be coming through our front door.

After she went to bed, Santa's elves (Mommy and Daddy) got busy putting her dollhouse together! It was a fun project that went relatively smoothly!

Christmas Day

Harper with her new dollhouse. She loved it! She thought it was funny her Elf on the Shelf was hanging out in the house!

Helping Daddy shake out the presents in his stocking.

Playing with her new Pet Shops.

Max, Mollie and Harper with G'ma. This is Harper's "fake smile". Aunt Amy taught her how to fake smile. It gets her to look at the camera and half-way smile! 

Noah's funny gift from Amy. For those who do not konw, Chris's Go-Go was a real bar in Cambridge many years ago - with "dancers". A store in Des Moines recreated their t-shirts and are now selling them. Russ also got one. Noah and Russ joked they would dress the same and go out some night to the bar in Cambridge, which is in the old Chris's Go-Go location.

At long last, our little girl has discovered princesses...and loves them. Here, she's dressed in her new Ariel dress up clothes. She wore this the day after xmas too for quite some time!

Playing in the box the dress up clothes came in.

Playing with one of Max's new toys.