Christmas 2016.

Merry merry Christmas! Hope you all had a wonderful one. We had a great Christmas; it's so fun to watch it through your children's eyes! While we were sad to miss a trip with my family to Aruba (doctor said it was too risky this far along in a twin pregnancy to leave the country), we got to do a lot of fun things here. 

First off, my best friend Stephanie came to visit us! While it was a short visit, I treasure it and I am so glad we got to see each other. She lives in DC, so we only get to see each other a couple times a year. The last time I saw her was when we went to DC, and I told her we were pregnant. That was before we even knew it was twins! She was very excited to see my baby belly. Love you Stephanie! It was also very fun to watch her and Norah together- she loves her!

We had a two part celebration with the De Jongs on Christmas Eve and Christmas. I am so thankful to have married into such a wonderful family. 

Norah has such wonderful grandparents!

Merry Christmas from the De Jongs!

Norah sure loves her Uncle Brett and Aunt Elizabeth too. (And how awesome are their sweatshirts? Kley's family watches National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation every year, so the sweatshirts are perfect, and probably the best quote from the whole movie.)

Norah opening her presents from us! She was more excited than this picture lets on. She loves opening presents, but didn't really know how to respond because she wanted to open what was in each present after, and got overwhelmed opening all at once, but overall she enjoyed it!

Opening presents with the family.

Norah got some shape matching cupcakes.

Showing Aunt Elizabeth.

Probably Norah's favorite present- a shopping cart! She loves to get her own cart at the grocery store, and she pushed this one around all night. She even cried when they were putting it in the van to take home because she thought they were taking it away. She had to physically see it before going to bed last night to be sure it was there, and she also wanted it right away when she woke up! Too cute.

Norah got some Bitty Baby accessories and was checking them out.

Norah and I both got irons! Ha. I really needed a new one, and Norah got a play one to go along with the washer/dryer set she got. She was also washing her doll's clothes and ironing them all night.

Kley was pretty pumped about his gifts too! He got some guitar project things and woodworking tools. He literally had to explain what some of them were to me, but he was pumped!

Norah opening her washer/dryer. It goes along with her play kitchen that she already has. So cute!

Getting to work right away.

Watching Home Alone. This picture was taken at the perfect time, because they just discovered they left Kevin at home, and here is a great Uncle Frank quote saying that he forgot his reading glasses too, as if those are the same things. Ha.

Norah is buying some groceries. And she started to smile on command for the camera! Not always, but sometimes. I'll take it.

Playing a game. I think it was called Codenames. It was fun! (Perfect for me, because it didn't take a lot of intense concentration and it wasn't very long, because it's hard to focus with your kids around!)

Merry Christmas to all! So thankful that God sent His Son for us!