Christmas

The only problem with this Christmas is that Gracie decided to sleep in and Isabelle woke up 45 minutes before her. How do you tell a 5 year old that they have to wait to see what Santa brought until their little sister wakes up? We finally woke her up and happiness was restored. Isabelle received the Ipod she wanted and Gracie got her Tinkerbell dolls, but the big hit was the shopping cart. Gracie filled it up with all her new toys, got the cash register from the basement and started playing store. Isabelle couldn't believe the pink Ipod was actually here and was more interested in what was in her stocking than anything else.

Gracie kept on saying: "Thank you Santa," and then a few minutes later "Thank you Santa so much!". It was a good morning opening gifts and then we went to Grandma and Grandpa Barker's for brunch and presents, then to Grandma and Grandpa Ferrans for some more presents and then home. Despite the overload for me on the girly presents, it was a great day.


Isabelle's presents

Gracies presents

Isabelle more than ready and Gracie trying to wake up

Isabelle's Ipod
Gracie and her new Cinderella Doll

Showing off the Bendaroos and the shopping cart

All Gracie's toys ready to be scanned at the store

Opening gifts

Aly got her boots she wanted

A new book to read that I read in a couple of days, good book.

Isabelle's present she made at school and Isabelle took the picture

At Barker's opening presents

More presents

Decorating the train

Gracie getting really tired

Christmas Eve

Another Christmas Eve has come and gone, every year you wait for this time to come and then it goes by way to fast. I had to work for a couple of hours in the morning but Aly was home with the girls and then we met for lunch and went and saw Aly's Grandpa to see his holiday setup. For the evening festivities we went to Grandpa and Grandma Ferran's for some good food and the traditional gift exchange between Cousins, Aunts and Uncles and Aly's parents giving a small Christmas Eve gift to everyone. We were on the road at 10:30 and the girls were soon fast asleep in the car with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads.

Were really blessed to have what we do, and Christmas time is a good reminder of how perfect Heavenly Fathers plan is, despite us not seeing the bigger picture sometimes. I am truly blessed and thank him for that plan that brought the boy Jesus to this Earth to save us all, and that part of that plan I have a family that I can be with forever. Merry Christmas everyone, and thanks for all you do for our family.

Aly's Grandpas huge Christmas Village display

Eric Barker Family Christmas Eve 2009

Opening Pajamas

Gracie and Isabelle showing off their new pajamas

Gracie opening her gift from Alexa, her favorite thing was the bracelets and necklaces she got

Isabelle's gift from Bronson

Our gift from Troy and Annette

Gracie's Christmas Eve gift from Grandpa and Grandma

Decorating the tree

The Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 28th) we got the tree all decorated. Gracie had more fun collecting ornaments on the floor than putting them on the tree and when Isabelle decided they needed to be on the tree Gracie had a small meltdown! It is now official, we are in the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving

It was the Ferran year for Thanksgiving, and it was another great year. The girls watched the parade and painted pictures this morning and then we went to Aly's parents house for the feast at 1:00.


Painting pictures while watching the Parade on TV


All ready to go

Isabelle and Grandma made these really cute place settings

Getting ready to eat

Isabelle Thanksgiving Program

Isabelle had a Thanskgiving program on November 24th and after the performance they put together a Thanksgiving feast. Isabelle did a great job but she was a little shy about performing. Here's to the start of many years of programs!

This is before it started, just a little nervous

Doing her best

Happy to be done

Hangin' Lights

The yearly tradition has been completed once again. We had a beautiful day on Saturday so Isabelle and I went and put up our Christmas Lights:

Gracie just watched from the ground

Disney on Ice

On November 14th we took the girls to see: "Disney Princesses on Ice." While it wasn't too exciting for me the girls had a fun time and we had really good seats. Here are a few pictures from that night