Christmas Day

Our Christmas day was filled with mountains of gifts, heaps of wrapping paper and family from afar. Ellen was so excited for Christmas morning, and as much as Ellen and I tried to explain to Brenna that Santa Claus would be bringing some presents,, we're not sure what she truly understood.  However, both girls understand that a couple presents and their stockings are from Santa and the rest of their presents are from family members who love them dearly.

Ellen is showing Jeff her new Tangled DVD from Santa found in her stocking.

 Brenna is hugging her chocolate penguin.

 The girls are opening their stockings (Ellen is sitting behind Brenna in this picture).

 The girls and their stockings.

 Opening more presents.

 Brenna is opening her Minnie Mouse Pony Stable toy from Santa.

Ellen opened her Frozen create-your-own snow globes from Santa.  Actually, Jason and Angela bought it for her, but when we went on the train to visit Santa at the beginning of the month, she asked Santa for two things: Ariel snow globes (she got the Frozen ones, and fortunately didn't complain it wasn't Ariel) and a twirly skirt Cinderella doll.

 It's the twirly skirt Cinderella doll!

Cutie Pie Brenna Boo.

 Color-on Lambie from Doc McStuffins from Grandpa.

 Santa pancakes for Christmas breakfast.

After breakfast we went to the Christmas service at church.  Ellen and Brenna are aware that Christmas celebrates Jesus' birth, not just presents and Santa Claus.

Play-Doh style salon from Mommy and Daddy.

 An Anna doll from Mommy and Daddy.

 Princesses Ellen and Brenna modelling their new tiaras and sparkly dress-up shoes from Mommy and Daddy.

We had our Christmas lunch at about 2:00p.m.  We had ham, buttered carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, chipolatas (mini sausages), orange and cranberry stuffing balls and glorious potato dauphinoise (creamy, garlicky, cheesey au-gratin potatoes) and salted caramel cheesecake that Ellen helped me to make on Christmas Eve.  I bought posh Green & Black's vanilla ice cream for the girls and for Jeff and me to have with our Christmas pudding later in the evening. 

 At 3:00pm the Queen spoke about light in this dark world and how Christ offers everyone hope.

 On Boxing Day, Brenna opened two remaining gifts while Ellen watched in her new, larger Elsa dress.

 Brenna's new (extremely noisy) Toot Toot garage.

Of course we had a nice Christmas and we hope that one day more family can spend the day with us.

Ellen's First Nativity

Our angel, Ellen, was in her first nativity at preschool this afternoon.  Ellen sang beautifully and we are such proud parents!  Unfortunately, we weren't permitted to take pictures during the performance, so I took a few beforehand.

It was so cute... while I was taking pictures of Ellen, Brenna gradually shuffled her way beside Ellen as if I had forgotten to include her in the picture.

This bad picture was taken as the kids were being seated. Luckily Ellen was in the middle of the room (next to Mrs. Claus) so we could see her during the whole 15-minute performance.

Christmas Cookies

Ellen, Brenna and I baked Christmas cookies today... together... the three of us... my vision of what I've always wanted to do with my children... came true.  Christmas music even played in the background.  Ellen really loved the large gingerbread cookie cutter, but only one (of two) managed not to break, so it was her's.  Having the girls in the kitchen with me can be challenging, but Ellen wanted to learn how to place the cookie cutters around the edge of the rolled-out dough and even taught Brenna how to push down "all the way". I tried a new cut-out cookie recipe today and they turned out really well.

 

 Oh, and Bunny helped, too.

 For some reason I thought Brenna would automatically attempt to spread the icing...

 but she did what any 20-month-old would do and ate most of the icing off the cookie (don't worry, the knife is blunt).

 Ellen decorating her gingerbread man.

 "No, Mom, there's no icing in my mouth!"

 Brenna really enjoyed sprinkling on the sprinkles and gold stars.

 And tasting the sprinkles.

 Ellen's beautiful gingerbread man.  I love how the gold stars are all in a line.

 Our finished creations...

Two Cheeky Girls

I know I have so many pictures and blogs to catch up on, but tonight, it's simply about our two cheeky, wonderful, gorgeous girls: one who started preschool last week and one who turned 18-months old today.

Ellen began the Autumn Term of preschool last Wednesday.  She is so happy to have the same teachers she had Spring Term, Lisa and Kerry, but they're in the "Red Room", rather than the "Rainbow Room" this year.  At preschool (nursery), Ellen enjoys playing with her friends (especially the boys, it seems), learning how to write and playing with the "technology" toys in the classroom.  She also really likes taking her Peppa lunchbox to school and having her lunch with the other children on Wednesdays when she's at school for 5 hours.  We cannot believe that Ellen will be in real school wearing a real uniform a year from now, though we aren't sure whether she'll be attending the existing Lawley Primary School (which is well-liked) or the new Lawley Primary Academy.  What a big girl she's becoming!

Brenna LOVES posing for pictures and saying "cheeeeese" with a huge smile on her face, but in this picture she was clapping or dancing... I can't remember.

 

Just one I took of Ellen this morning.  She really likes this cupcake shirt from her great grandma.

 Brenna then wanted to take pictures on the camera, but I wouldn't let her.  This is our adorable daughter having a full-out tantrum. 

 When she gets frustrated, she ruffles her hair... kind of funny ;o) 

Later this afternoon, I took a few pictures of the girls playing outside.  Here's our big 18-month old!  Brenna is such a cheeky little girl... and we love it!  She definitely keeps me on my toes and makes us laugh.  She learns a few new words a week, and Ellen gets such a kick out of Brenna's speaking. Ellen will squeal, "Brenna's just said shoe!", for example.

Here is a translation of a few intelligible words:
"Sara" = princess
"Ola" = Olaf
"Anna" = Elsa and Anna
"Si" = sit down
"Doch" = book (she cannot pronounce B's yet)
"I-en" = Ellen
"Dunny" = Bunny, as in her bunny
 She says loads more words, the newest being "owie", "eye" and "sock".

 Sister hug!

 The girls playing choo-choo train (the grass was too wet to play on).

 Another hug.

Dancing Princesses

Eva came to play yesterday, so we had a princess dance party in the lounge. This was also Brenna's first time dressing up in a princess dress... and she LOVED it.  Unfortunately, each video ends in tears.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to our wonderful Daddy.  I agree completely with what my grandma said yesterday while talking with her on the phone, "You are so lucky that Jeff is such a hands-on dad."  He really is. Jeff loves being part of the girls' lives, from playing with them throughout the day, to helping to get them dressed in the morning and getting them ready for bed in the evening. When Jeff returns home from work, excited shouts of "Daddy!" ring throughout the house.  It's a lovely, daily reunion.  The Good Lord has blessed me with such a wonderful husband and father to our girls.

For Father's Day the girls gave Jeff a box of mint chocolates, framed artwork and handmade cards.

As for "celebratory" food, I made the usual meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but shook things up with a coconut cream pie (not completely made from scratch).

Jeff has been riding to work on his motorcycle the past couple of weeks.  The girls love the "vroom vroom" of the engine and seeing Daddy looking rather debonair in his motorcycle gear.... ok, maybe Mommy does more ;o)

Cowgirl Brenna

Cowgirl Brenna makes a regular appearance at the Bolton house.  Her horse (it's Ellen's, actually), Dobbin, even makes a "neighing" sound.  Brenna doesn't make a neighing noise when we ask her what a horse says.  Instead, she makes a clicking sound with her tongue like a galloping horse.  So, she communicates that she wants to play with Dobbin by making galloping noise.  She'll try to walk around holding the hobby horse with two hands, but it quickly proves too heavy for this little cowgirl.  She loves wearing the cowgirl hat, too.

 I just love the tilt of her "Stetson" in this picture and her pouty mouth... so cute.