This is my favorite morning of the year!  I love seeing how surprised and excited they are to see their presents all out together!  For hours, we just play with and enjoy our kids… there’s nothing better in all of the world!

Noelle was so happy!!!  She didn’t ask for much, so I don’t think she expected very much.  I love her heart.  She definitely enjoys giving more than receiving, although she was so thrilled.

Anna Kate has learned from Noelle to appreciate each others’ toys… if you put them altogether and share, you get a lot more!

 

Noelle is such a dreamer about Paris… it’s adorable.  I usually try to bring back toys from the past to see if they notice.  Noelle was the winner this year.  She was cracking up!

I found this house at my spring consignment sale last year for $10 I think.  Since I already had it, I talked up an “indoor house” to Anna Kate all year.  I would say things like, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have your own house inside our house!?!”  She went right along with it, and it was exactly what she had in her little mind.  Yay!

 

The age of dress-up!  Noelle will only do it when her friends come over and insist (age 6), but Anna Kate is changing characters constantly every single day (age 3 1/2).  My how quickly time passes… I make a big deal out of every costume change, because it is a big deal.  She’s a big deal!

Ask and you shall receive…

 

Rose enjoying her presents (after she got the hang of it all), and Daddy enjoying Rose.

This silly little powder puff was at Payless of all places on clearance for like $1.00.  I think I even got it free with a coupon.  But don’t let that fool you.  If it hadn’t been out on Christmas morning, there would have been tears.  Noelle has wished for this whatever it is for a long time! 

And she’s found some eye shadow too!

 

Got this $30 kit for free too at Khol’s on sale with a $10 coupon they sent in the mail.  I probably shouldn’t tell you guys this, but I’m extremely frugile and feel like it’s deceptive not to share some of my secrets.  Rapunzel costume was second hand… got it for almost free because it was missing the Rapunzel logo, but I sewed on another one from something else.  No biggie.  Rapunzel hair, $1, Dollar Tree!  The princess castle was Rose’s gift from Poppa and Rara (she opened it the night before), but she didn’t really find it until later in the week.  She was too busy with everything else.  Rapunzel claimed it!

 

Rose was obsessed with her hats and the recycled Christmas singing light-up snow toy!  I had to change my camera settings to try to get some of the effect of the light and her fascination!

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Here’s our cinnamon roll Christmas tree we’ve made tradition for breakfast on Christmas Day… a big treat for the Pond girls!  After our PondFam5 morning of fun, we were anxious for all of our grandparents to arrive for Christmas lunch!  And what a lunch that would be!