Christmas Eve

Penelope and Lily sharing Pen's new doll.

Lily hanging a ball on Great-grandma's tree.

Pen hanging a ball on the tree.

Isabella in the classic toddler photo.

Isabella

Dylan hanging a ball on the tree.

Ashley and Pen helping Isabella to hang a ball.

Pen and Lily held hands all night.

Pen and Lily

Dylan being happy with his hat.

Thomas in his hat.

Ashley in her hat.

Vi opening a gift.

Pen in her new hat.

Violet adored Thomas the whole time.

Diana showing Pen how to track Santa on the computer.

My girls hanging their stockings.

Pen putting out almond milk and gingerbread boys for Santa, and some carrots for the reindeer.

For Santa

One more check on where Santa is before bed.

We spent the afternoon and evening of Christmas Eve at Great-Grandma's house. Penelope was so happy to give her cousins the gifts she made for them. She has been so excited for them to finally see the things she has spent so much time and work - joyful work - on. And both girls were thrilled to have a rare chance to play with their cousins. Penelope and Lily were attached to each other the whole time, and Violet couldn't get enough of Thomas. It was a whole lot of people in a tiny apartment, but somehow we managed.

When we returned home the girls got ready for bed, had a story and hung their stockings. Penelope left a little snack for Santa and his reindeer and checked his whereabouts on the Santa tracker before heading off to bed. My girls were so cute whispering what they thought Santa would bring them to each other as they snuggled in, and even though they were so excited it didn't take them long to fall asleep after their big afternoon with family.