A Very Merry Christmas

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas day in Columbus this year. On Christmas Eve we dressed up in our Christmas best and celebrated Jesus' birthday at church. Then we went to Mimi and Papa's house, where we ate dinner and played with our cousins Maya and Baran.




It got pretty late so we put on our pj's and listened to Papa read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".


We headed home and set out our cookies and milk for Santa. The girls also sprinkled some reindeer food in the front yard. Ava wrote a pretty extensive note for Santa this year, listing what she and Lily wanted for Christmas. Topping the list this year- ipad touch, cell phone, "no sleeve" dress, and video games. I'll let you guess how many of those Santa actually brought.

Even though they didn't get several things on their list, Santa still managed to bring some things that they were excited about. Ava's favorite gift was definitely her Leapster Explorer. Lily's favorite gift was anything small that she could put in a bag and carry around- hair accessories, squinkies, dolls. Bennett was happy with binkies.





We spent the rest of the day at Mimi and Papa's where we ate more delicious food and opened more gifts with our cousins.











As for me, I have all the gifts I need right here. It was a very Merry Christmas indeed!

Crazy Cousin Costanzo Christmas!

We went home to Toledo this past weekend to enjoy our annual Crazy Cousin Christmas at the Costanzo's (that's Nan and Grampa). As usual, the gift opening got a little out of hand (even though Nan tried to have the kids pick names). Then the kids, both little and big, had an all out Nerf gun war with their new gifts.












What Christmas wouldn't be complete without cookie decorating? Check out our masterpieces!





Merry Christmas to all, and to all a CRAZY night!

Lily's Christmas Program

Lily starred in her first holiday program this morning at her preschool. We were curious to see what kind of performer she would be. Would she hide behind a friend? Plug her ears? Refuse to sing? Heck no! Not only did she sing AND act out the songs for her class, but she performed all of the other class's songs too!






Bennett almost stole the show with his cuteness, but Lily was the star today!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Christmas preparations are underway in the Crane household. All the decorations are in place, inside and out. Today we picked out our Christmas tree and decorated it. Ava and Lily were VERY excited and hung most of the ornaments while Bennett watched.