Christmas 2019: Four Year Old Edition

Hard to believe how time flies, but we had another holiday season upon us.  Each year, the girls get more excited and so much more fun.  This year was just pure magic - all of it.

our annual trip to Boulevard Flowers to pick out a tree - this year all of the trees had "names" and we picked Allison

you can't tell but their dresses have cars with Christmas trees on the top, so here we are

Ella, Sydney, and our temporary friend, Allison

I put an undecorated pink tree in the girls' room and I kept finding it decorated with random items - this one was the best

One of my most favorite Christmas traditions I've recently started is finding the most perfect ornament that represents Ella and Sydney's Halloween costume from that year.  I started a few years late, but it didn't really matter because they had no idea.  My goal is to get the ornament in their "Christmas box" - the box they receive when we get our Christmas tree that has new pajamas and other fun holiday-themed items in it.

2015 - Peanut Butter and Jelly
Their ornament has the little PB&J felties just like their hairbows from their costume

2016 - Minions
this was the year they LOVED the minions movies, and would call them "Mi Mi"

2017 - Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck
Best Friends

2018 - Anna and Elsa from Frozen
Sisters

2019 - Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch

As a parent, I spend a lot of time agonizing how to help mold our children into good humans.  Helping others at Christmas seems like an obvious example... but up until now, it's been a little hard to manage.  Not only has money been tight, but the girls haven't really understood.  So this year, we adopted a child from the angel tree at daycare and I took the girls with me to find him a bike.

Ella and Sydney, sweet girls: keep your privilege at the top of your mind, and always search for ways to help others.

documenting adorable Star Wars christmas pjs

On my nightly kiss before bed, I found Ella using her sloth as a pillow and she had put socks on his feet, haha

love, love, love Friday night dance class with our favorite family - tonight's dinner the little girls had their own table!

found this cute sight at the kitchen table

Getting ready for Aunt Annabeth's Gingerbread baby shower for sweet baby Kinley!

I'm obsessed with these two adorable gingerbread girls and how magical they make this season

cousins! waiting for one more...

fun day, happy momma

Grandma Georgia and I had the pleasure of escorting Anna and Elsa to a fancy party fit for a queen!  This was part of her Christmas gift for the girls, and based on how much fun we had for their birthday, we knew this Frozen party would be the best day!

Anna, Elsa, and their Grandma!

excited to get inside and snuck a peek at Anna and Elsa

sisters comparing jewels

they were super cute warming themselves up in front of this fake candle fireplace - but check out their adorable hair styles!

hugs for Olaf

and a nice little surprise visit with the jolly old man himself!

such a fun day!!

The next day was my birthday!  I took the day off (and sent the girls to daycare... :) ) but we had special dinner plans.  A few years ago we did a fancy Santa brunch at The Boathouse, and this year, I found they did dinner.  When I realized one of the nights was my birthday, I thought how much fun it would be watching the girls get fancy and see Santa would be a perfect birthday treat.

all dressed up in our fanciest Christmas attire!

sweet name hair bows

Sydney was working hard on her list to give to Santa

and Ella, too!

she's smitten with him, and he with her!

I took a picture of her list so we'd never forget that sweet handwriting and wishes!
water girl
dog
frozen car
lights

Ella wants:
doll
elephant
house
mouse
peanut
star

whispering into Santa's ear

I'm a lucky girl :)  I had such a fantastic birthday, and this Santa dinner was icing on the cake

surprised them with matching pajamas!  they were pumped

we cheated one morning, and wore the pajama top to school... i told them "shh, don't tell anyone it's pajamas!" and they got a huge kick out of that #momwin

We normally go to my dad's work for a gingerbread house decorating party.  This year they didn't have it, so my parents hosted one just for the cousins!

Papa was reading them a story

ummm yes we did

my partner elf in crime

Ella was literally taking sugar/candy shots

cute little elves

the funny thing about these two is... they will cozy up like this no matter what they're doing, and it's adorable

Grandma Stella turned 90!  So at her wish we attended church with the whole family

And after church and Grandma Georgia's open house, we scooted up to King's Dominion for a fun night courtesy of The Martin Agency

Momma and Syd riding a fun and fast ride

she loved it!

Sink family on the swings

And I barely took pictures, but we had a blast!  The girls loved all of the lights, endless cups of hot chocolate, and riding all the rides.

And just because we like to fill up our days to the brim, we went to see Santa

In an interesting turn of events, both of the girls decided to ask Santa for items they've never breathed a word of until they were sitting right there on his lap.  Ella asked for "a doll with a suitcase" and Sydney asked for Lincoln Logs.  I'm so thankful for 1) the internet and 2) we didn't wait until Christmas Eve to visit the big guy.  I had to SCOUR the internet and watch Disney Channel commercials for this doll with a suitcase.  I FINALLY figured out that she was asking for a Polly Pocket (that comes in a purple suitcase).  And Robin had some extra Lincoln Logs that we repurposed for Sydney :)

Santa is telling them to be extra sweet and give hugs to their parents <3

Maria and I drove up north to surprise Robin for her mama's birthday... complete with a birthday cake

We took the girls and split up in Target to go shopping for each other.  Ella picked out a Polly Pocket for Sydney (we need to work on buying what the recipient wants, not you), and Sydney picked out dress up jewelry for Ella.  Just like for their fourth birthday shopping trip, this was SO FUN!

gingerbread girls wrapping presents for our neighbors

wrapping Sydney's present

Dear Santa, My Sister Did It

Our annual Engagement-Anniversary dinner at Bonefish... celebrating 11 years since I said "yes!"

Christmas Eve with my favorite elves

Christmas Eve present = making necklaces

love those sweet Christmas Eve smiles

I had them try on these dresses to prep for Christmas Eve dinner, but they both ultimately decided they wanted to wear something different.  I didn't have any problems with it, just asked that we take a few pictures first. 

these are the outfits they decided on :) amazing bows on the back

Once we got home from dinner and a few visits, I read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and tucked them into bed

one of my favorite times of the season - Santa is prepping for the #doublesinks with the best ever elves

Santa spoiled them rotten

Ella loved her dress up clothes and jewelry from Sydney

I overheard Ella say: "Syd, thank you for my jewelry.  I don't like it, I love it.  And it's not pretty, it's GORGEOUS".

Nana and all but one kiddo!

And as soon as we blinked, our fun-filled Christmas season was over!  I wish I could bottle up their sweet and innocent excitement - it's simply the best.

playing Yeti in my Spaghetti

love the Christmas card from my girls 

Santa brought a TRAMPOLINE!  He even had a small scavenger hunt sending them outside to find it.  They jump on it most every day!

....and to close out 2019, we decided to get fancy and go out to eat.  This is kind of how our night went... Sydney did awesome, and Ella threw an EPIC fit.  I tried to get them to pick outfits separate from each other, and it totally backfired on me.  She eventually got over it, and we quietly rang in 2020.  Cheers!