What a special Christmas we had! It is so much fun to have a little girl running around.
Christmas Eve, we went to our church's candlelight service. It was really nice and the best part was I got to play the handbells! How magical they are, I love them! I didn't mess up except for in one part I was unsure and I decided to would be better to not play a note rather than to play the wrong bell and have it sound horrible. I was so nervous that my hands were shaking the whole time.
I have been worrying about what Claire should wear to the service for quite some time. We received this dress from Claire's baby shower but it is too short and Josh didn't like the way the skirt starts at the arm pits.
It is super cute though so I cut of the bottom and made it into a skirt. Then I made a black top to go with it. I am pretty proud of that blouse. It was my first attempt making a shirt and I didn't even have a pattern. I am amazed that it came out. Here she is dancing in her new dress.Her hair clip I got from an Etsy site called Little Lesiw. I splurged on it so I could figure out how to make them for myself. I love it.
After the service, all of my side of the family came back to our house and we had our tamales and other various Mexican sides. (It's tradition) After that, we opened the gifts! Claire was not too into opening them. She just doesn't quite get it yet. She was very pleased with everything she got though.
Her FCOR Marisol gave her some wood blocks. She was a champ at stacking them! Uncle Bubba and Claire kept challenging each other with their block balancing.
Claire's favorite gift from Nana was this fun sorter and she was busy sorting for a long time that night.
Uncle Bubba was a favorite that night apparently.
Uncle Didi and Aunt Michelle gave her a Little People house. She loved that as well and set the people up in their chairs. Uncle Didi is so silly the way he plays. Claire loves it when her uncles play with her. They do things I would never think to.
Claire finally had a break down when she saw Steve take a bite of fudge and didn't share any with her. She ran away into the bathroom and cried. That is when we knew it was time for bed. Of course she wanted to go to bed though - before Santa passed over our house.
She woke up the next morning and we took her down to her stocking. Santa had left a big rocking horse! It 'neighs' and makes trotting sounds. ($10 at Savers)She opened a few gifts from us which were mostly books from the thrift store. She also opened this dress from Mimi (great grandma)Words just do not do it justice. It has so many ruffled layers that is stands up by itself.
After a morning nap, we headed over to Josh's parents' house for our big, Christmas Day celebration. Grandpa cooked the most delicious roast. he also made Alaskan King Crab legs which were good - if you are into eating bugs that live in the water. Which I am not. I tasted it with an open mind, but no.
It was a special treat for Josh though. I just don't eat seafood. I could rant on about how gross it is but I will spare you. Chef Shelbe stirring up trouble. Oh Shelbe got a new kitten for Christmas! Jasper is his name. He is a sweety but Claire wanted to treat him a little rough so she wasn't allowed to play with him very much.This is Jeffery. He is similar to Harley in the way that he gets yelled at to go to his bed and he will go lay down, but not even two minutes later he is back under your feet. He is a sad old guy though - and not very photogenic. (he was blinking he is not really that ugly)
Claire decided she was not going to nap this day which was BAD NEWS and she was cranky the whole evening. She watched some Christmas shows with Grandma but even that was not making her happy. At night we opened presents. Claire got so many wonderful toys. She has spent all day playing with them today. This one was a set of those big cardboard blocks. There are 45 of them now scattered all over the floor. She loves stacking them up and knocking them down.
Winnie the Pooh plate, cup, fork and spoon.
Uncle Corey's girlfriend, Matea, came and joined us. She is very sweet and has the most beautiful accent - she is from Croatia.
And of course, it just wouldn't be Christmas without Claire getting at least something with a monkey on. Josh is leaving tonight for the annua,l Amor Ministries Mexico trip to build a house. Claire and I will head over to my parents' in the morning. More family is coming in on Monday for the day and my Grandma is returning to California on Tuesday. It will be nice to be near actual shopping areas so I can get in on the after Christmas savings without driving 15 miles into the depths of Phoenix.
Uncle Didi and Aunt Michelle gave her a Little People house. She loved that as well and set the people up in their chairs. Uncle Didi is so silly the way he plays. Claire loves it when her uncles play with her. They do things I would never think to.
Claire finally had a break down when she saw Steve take a bite of fudge and didn't share any with her. She ran away into the bathroom and cried. That is when we knew it was time for bed. Of course she wanted to go to bed though - before Santa passed over our house.
She woke up the next morning and we took her down to her stocking. Santa had left a big rocking horse! It 'neighs' and makes trotting sounds. ($10 at Savers)She opened a few gifts from us which were mostly books from the thrift store. She also opened this dress from Mimi (great grandma)Words just do not do it justice. It has so many ruffled layers that is stands up by itself.
After a morning nap, we headed over to Josh's parents' house for our big, Christmas Day celebration. Grandpa cooked the most delicious roast. he also made Alaskan King Crab legs which were good - if you are into eating bugs that live in the water. Which I am not. I tasted it with an open mind, but no.
It was a special treat for Josh though. I just don't eat seafood. I could rant on about how gross it is but I will spare you. Chef Shelbe stirring up trouble. Oh Shelbe got a new kitten for Christmas! Jasper is his name. He is a sweety but Claire wanted to treat him a little rough so she wasn't allowed to play with him very much.This is Jeffery. He is similar to Harley in the way that he gets yelled at to go to his bed and he will go lay down, but not even two minutes later he is back under your feet. He is a sad old guy though - and not very photogenic. (he was blinking he is not really that ugly)
Claire decided she was not going to nap this day which was BAD NEWS and she was cranky the whole evening. She watched some Christmas shows with Grandma but even that was not making her happy. At night we opened presents. Claire got so many wonderful toys. She has spent all day playing with them today. This one was a set of those big cardboard blocks. There are 45 of them now scattered all over the floor. She loves stacking them up and knocking them down.
Winnie the Pooh plate, cup, fork and spoon.
Uncle Corey's girlfriend, Matea, came and joined us. She is very sweet and has the most beautiful accent - she is from Croatia.
And of course, it just wouldn't be Christmas without Claire getting at least something with a monkey on. Josh is leaving tonight for the annua,l Amor Ministries Mexico trip to build a house. Claire and I will head over to my parents' in the morning. More family is coming in on Monday for the day and my Grandma is returning to California on Tuesday. It will be nice to be near actual shopping areas so I can get in on the after Christmas savings without driving 15 miles into the depths of Phoenix.