Christmas Cheer

Everyone has told us that Allie's age this Christmas would make things pretty magical, and they were right. It was such a blessing to watch her enjoy the season. She's got an uncanny aptitude for sheer joy as it is, and she turned it on big-time for Santa and Baby Jesus (both of whom she still spontaneously includes in her bedtime prayers).

Speaking of friends and family, we kicked off the Christmas season with a girls' night out to Magnolia's in Purcellville, VA (definitely recommended for the Northern Virginianers in the group) in honor of Brady's baby brother's imminent arrival. We decided that Baby G desperately wanted us to celebrate him with shrimp and grits and good wine (soon enough, Gayle), so Kim-marie, Gayle and I were happy to oblige. Allie loved the girls' night out too as it meant one-on-one time with her second cousin Katie, her new favorite baby sitter.

Gayle, (and Baby G), Suz & Kim-marie

Now, for the real reason you've lasted through the blog this far...Christmas pictures...lots of them. Grab a straggler Christmas cookie (you still have a few more cookies allowed before the new year) and enjoy. We certainly did.

Our pre-Christmas celebration with the Wintrodes involved some very happy cousins.

Who doesn't want to dress like a princess on Christmas? Not these girls.

Sleeping bag success. I'm going to pull a Grandma Wintrode and go ahead and pat myself on the back for this gift  idea.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds (or princess sleeping bag as the case may be...insert another Grandma Wintrode backpat here).

Grandmom Wintrode managed to make the cousins matching outfits. This, apparently, was the easy part...

The photo was the hard part.

Bundled up for a trip to the Town Center to see the Christmas Clydesdales!

And VERY pleased with herself.

After a Christmas Eve bubble bath, Allie was ready to stretch out, I mean 'set' out her stocking.

And she is always ready for big snuggle-squeezes, especially for her grandparents.

Sporting her new 'cupcake-cookie-coffee' (hmm, wonder where she got that last one from?) PJs and a smile.

This was our first year of setting out cookies for Santa and she took her job VERY seriously.

Again, VERY pleased with her handy-work. This shot is post-Christmas-cookie-kissing. That's right, my girl gave every one of the cookies a kiss before putting them down on the plate for Santa and Rudolph. Rudolph lucked out with the peanut butter Hershey's kiss cookie - she was very emphatic in the division of baked goods.

 We read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' said our prayers, and she slept in until 7:30 (the first Christmas gift that day). When we got up, she was ready for action...

Alright, everybody know the gameplan?

She's got a built-in stocking-honing device.

And down to business...

Here, Abs and I will be happy to help, Grandpa.

She's not sure how to peddle quite yet...but she sure likes getting on and off.

Helping deliver golf-balls to Grandpa from Santa.

And...back on the bike.

It was a parade of PJs kind of day.

Ready to ride...just give me a push, would ya?

We've had the chance to share a few a post-Christmas visits with dear friends. Allie gave the kiss of approval (literally) to one of our favorites. 'Baby Sarah' even made it through the ranks of the toddler 'mines' to be granted access to Allie's new dollhouse. It must be true friendship.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a New Year of peace and joy.