CHRISTMAS!!!

Luckily this year we didn't have anything big to assemble like last year, so it was just a matter of remembering where I stashed all the presents that Emily wrapped. We were on our way to bed when Emily told me we were missing a few. I can always count on her for quality control. Maybe next year I hide them all in one place.

The stage was set.

It's fun to see the girls' reactions at this age. They are genuine, but also seemed stage or dramatized at the same time. This was Hadley when she saw all the presents.

Cambri didn't really offer much of a reaction, besides sprinting for her giant squishmallow.

They started with the stockings, which contained small random toys and candy.

Cambri has been watching The Grinch two times a day all month long (not an exaggeration). So, we got her one of those tubes of candy with a Grinch head on top. She loved that thing. You should've seen the heartbreak when she accidentally sat on and broke the tube.

The girls scored some Barbies, Crybaby dolls, art supplies, lab equipment for their experiments, shoes, and a bunch of other goodies. Essentially, Hadley Cambri unwrapped something, and Hadley would then unwrap one of her own. We are at that stage where they are both into the same stuff, and if one has something, it's best that the other has one of their own. 

Harlow got her life-size stuffed doggy.

Cambri trying on her Minnie heels.

The aftermath.

They got these bouncy unicorns that had an interior similar to an exercise ball. 

Needless to say, the girls deemed Christmas a success.

*****

The rest of the day was spent trying to declutter a little while the girls played with their new toys. I got to work on smoking some ribs for dinner, and Emily started the prep work for my birthday cake, which was carrot cake this year.  She had to grate something like 3 cups of carrots. Her hands were orange for the rest of the night.

After some delicious ribs and scalloped potatoes, it was birthday time.

"This is the best cake I've ever had." - Hadley.

The cake was, indeed, awesome. I ended up finishing it on my own in a matter of a couple of days.

The girls told Emily they wanted to go to the store to get me a birthday gift. Hadley apparently had something specific in mind, and so Emily took them to the local grocery store. Cambri got me a box of Ritz crackers, and Hadley got me a bottle of Major Melon Mtn Dew.

They also got me a card from each of them. 

Harlow got a bath seat for Christmas and was excited to try it out. 

She absolutely loves taking baths with her sisters.

Here are a couple of pictures of Cambri taking care of baby Harlow.

And here is a photo to give you an idea of just how ginger Harlow currently is.

Christmas was a massive success. Eventually we got everything cleaned up and put away. The tree came down and the decorations got stored for another 11 months. The girls are at the age where it's a lot of fun, so I can't wait to do it all again next year.