Christmas In January (Simple Gifts)

Well, hello.  Is it a new year?  Because I'm kinda still stuck in December.  

Well, not really.  But there are stockings still hung.  And sparkly ornaments in decorative bowls on our tables.  Twinkie is still wearing his Santa outfit.  Kidding.  (I wish I wasn't!)
And yesterday, we officially finished the last of our Christmas celebrations.
It was a fun day with Santa GiGi.  

  Our tree is down.  That, we had to take care of last week.  Had we not, 

I'm pretty sure I would have kept it up until the summer.  Maybe even fall.  Who cares if it's just a pile of needles?!  I get so attached to our tree each year.  

This year, especially.

I don't have to say why.

But, like I did say in my last post...

You can find at least a little bit of Christmas in each day.  Magic.  Wonder.  Joy.

I'm only focusing on the 23rd, 24th and Christmas day

today...those three days certainly held magic.  But the ones that followed, even though some were tough or exhausting, or some of both...

They carried that spark too.

This Christmas Eve Eve babe certainly has a way about her.

We woke up bright and early on the 23rd and got ready for a trip to Lancaster.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord had no idea what was coming.

Pips was hungry.

And she was extra excited that her second trip to "Shady's" was one where she could really sample all the yummy goodness.

She ate all of this.

Again.  Kidding.  Mommy's plate plates.

Daddy and Uncle Nicholas stuffed themselves till they could eat no more,
while us girls continued to eat.

Her new "happy place"

Homemade muffin, eggies and blueberry oatmeal.

I think she liked loved it.

Ohhh boy!!  This is probably one of our favorite faces to date.

I'm pretty sure she was givin' the evil eye to the sweet women at the omelet and pancake station.

They said it closed at 10:30.  It was only 10:27.

And Piper's belly still had some room left for another cinnamon chip pipcake.

It's a little less scary in color, right?!
  Maybe not.

Don't get on Pips' bad side.

Phew.
She's back to her old self!!

Talk about scary...

The yetis were multiplying in the gift shop downstairs.

If you know me, you know that's absolutely terrifying...one yeti is more than enough.

The ride home was a sweet one.

I'm usually driving Miss Pippy, so rarely do I get to see all the fun she's havin' back there.

She had a blast ripping her shoes and socks off.  

And then eating them, while she hummed.

It's hard work eating at a smorgasbord and eating your socks, too!

We came home and relaxed the rest of the day...

Snuggles by the tree

Climbing all over Daddy's legs and feet

Making salt dough for Pippy's piggies to press into

We tried 734 times to get her hand prints, but every time, she'd dig her fingers into the dough.

She giggled when I pressed her tootsies in the dough.

Oh, we loved it too!

 

My favorite wrapping paper this year

Christmas Eve morning was nice 'n relaxing.

Missy rested up for her big day with a long afternoon nap.

Aunt Kelly left a bag of treats at our door.

Cheesy poofs for Steve, Ramen and creamer for me (I like to eat them together...Not kidding.  I'm not.  Gross, I know.  But oh, so good.  I'll post a recipe soon)

and yogurt snacks for Piper.
The poofs were gone in less than 24 hours.  And the pumpkin spice Ramen casserole was a hit.
Pips thought those new snackies were awesome!
That Aunt Kelly knows what makes us happy! <3

Steve couldn't wait to fill out our card.

Santa baby played us tunes all day.

Night came, and it was time to get all dressed up to visit Dee Dee.

Deeds got Piper this dress while she was still in my belly.

And the coat, for Piper's six month "birthday."

Piper loves the coat. And so do we. It is super soft.
Pips loves holding onto it.  She laughs when she touches it...I think she thinks it's a kitty cat!

"Hi Deeds!!  Don't I look purty?!  What's on the Christmas Eve menu at Dee Dee's Kitchen tonight?!"

The last of the #twentyfivedaysofpippy gifts...what a fun-filled twenty-five days that was.
I think Piper got more than enough practice at ripping wrapping paper, playing with bows and Mmm Mmming at the chocolate candies attached to her gifts.
And I know Piper felt the love from her Santa Dee Dee each and every day.

Deeds, many Christmases ago
Love the bike.
The doll, kinda freaky.

Mini photo shoot

I.can't.take.it.

*snort-laughing* 

She reminds me so much of my mom and Pop-Pop in this one.

Afterwards, we went for a visit at Aunt Anna's.

Piper giggles at Uncle Nicholas' goatee.

I think she waved for about two minutes straight here.

We came home and got Piper ready for bed and let her open one of her gifts.

"The Night Before Christmas" seemed like the perfect one to open.

I got choked up reading to her as she sat in my lap.

That moment right there...it was Christmas.

Once Moonchie was fast asleep,

Steve and I had a fancy dinner of Wawa Hoagies and Sunchips while watching
the dorkiest of dorky Christmas movies.

Mr. went to bed and I stayed downstairs a bit longer.

I sat, took in the quiet and gave thanks.

Sleeping beauty

Our Christmas...

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

  Steve and I laughed that it was the one morning, in a very long time, that we actually had to wake Piper up.  She must have been having really sweet dreams.
We spent the morning watching and helping Piper open her presents.  We went to Dee Dee's for a second round later that morning.  My mom, Nicholas and I went to visit my dad late that afternoon.
And we all had dinner and dessert here.


Christmas went by so fast.  
There were many moments that took my breath away.  
And many moments I wish I could go back and relive a little longer. 
But that's what memories are for. 
 

Simple Gifts - Jewel

 
Some memories I will always carry with me from our Christmas...

 *Standing in front of Piper's crib with Steve...staring down at our beautiful, sleeping, little miracle.

*Walking towards the tree, the three of us.  The three of us.  I've longed for the Christmas where I could say "the three of us."

*Watching Piper slowly crawl towards all the gifts under the tree.

*Seeing a beautiful mess of toys surrounding Steve and Piper. Seeing my husband and daughter and the love they share.

*Watching Piper smack her lips and give Dee Dee her smiley eyes, as she tasted the chocolate Deeds had just whipped up.

*Watching the wonder in Piper's eyes at Dee Dee's.  Trash bags and paper were even cooler than the presents.  How showered with love she was from her and Uncle Nicholas.

*The sight of Piper, so precious in her red and green Hello Kitty nightgown I picked out for her...snuggling up in Steve's arms (with her coat from Dee Dee) taking a nice, Christmas snooze.  

*My dad's face when he saw my mom, Nicholas and I walk into his room.

*The way he tapped his fingers to the beat of the music coming from the headphones that Nicholas brought him.  And the cd my mom gave him.

*His expression and the huge thumbs up he gave us after taking the first bite of his Christmas dinner...his first real meal in seven months.

*Coming home to Piper all dressed up.  I told Steve he didn't have to worry about putting her in her Christmas outfit because it was getting late.  But when I walked in the living room, there she was, in her little romper...daddy and her, smiling at me.

*Watching as Piper gave good night kisses to Dee Dee, Uncle Nicholas, Cousin Ashley and Daddy.

*Putting our sweet girl to bed, in soft, warm pajamas.  Kissing her face.  Whispering "Merry Christmas" to her a few more times.  Covering her up. 
 And thanking her for being our best gift.


 Okay, okay, now the pictures can do the talking...

#pippyvid

Ut-oh...there's that same look she gave the pancake station ladies!

 

 

#pippyvid

 

Deeds had some pretty awesome kitty paper, too!

#pippyvid

#pippyvid

My favorite gift...

It will always be love.

I hope the end of your 2013 was full of love.

And I hope 2014 is off to wonderful start.

I'll be back, remembering the days following Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Happy Wednesday.

<3

Much Love,