Aly's gift from Mommy and Daddy

Aly's gifts from Santa

Aly's Advent Box

Aly candies from her Advent box

Aly and Grandpa Eddie playing

Aly and GG

Little princess and Aunt Cheryl

Christmas morning

Looking in her stocking

that took about 2 seconds to start eating one of those suckers from her stocking

Austin and Nate

Aly opening her new baby doll Gracie

Uncle DJ is looking for his other present, Oh wait, I forgot it at home

Aly and Papa

Alice's Gingerbread man from Austin

Melissa and Maddy

Whoo hoo, brett got some new PJ's!!! (just kidding, they weren't his)

The kids got a basket of goodies for John and Alice for there road trip

All the boys got snow shovels

Aly and Uncle DJ

Aly and MiMi

Whew, what a wonderful Christmas we had! We are so blessed to have so many generous and loving people in our lives. We have been working hard with Aly making sure she knows what Christmas is and why we celebrate it. If you ask her what is Christmas she will tell you “Jesus’s birthday.” We really want her growing up knowing that it’s not about Santa and all the presents but what all of that represents to us!

Aly was really into Christmas lights this year. We have a few snow men that we have in the front yard and everyday when we came down the street she was so excited. Everyday it was like the first time she was seeing them. She pointed out lights at every house that had them on, I know she is going to be sad when people start taking them down.

We had the annual Stone Christmas party at Aunt Lanes house on Sat the 17^th. It was a great time. It’s funny how much it has changed in the past few years. We went from it being all big kids to lots of little ones. All the kids had a great time playing and opening gifts. Aly got a new pink kitchen from Aunt Lane and an Easel with a white board and a chalk board. She loves them both but I think the Kitchen gets the award of the year for the favorite gift. She didn’t think much of it when she opened it because it was just a box but now she loves it so much!!! The Easel came in handy this year too with our Elf Rosie, Rosie enjoyed leaving Aly messages on it too!!! JV and I also got a few wonderful gifts that will go to great use!

Alice has always had a tradition of doing the Advent boxes for the grandkids and this year Aly was old enough to understand so she got to play too. She had a treat in her box everyday (usually it was teddy grahams or Reese’s pieces) and she loved picking which box to open and getting her treat. She is still asking about opening her box so its taken some explaining to make her understand that its only for Christmas.

On Christmas Eve we went to Dad’s house this year (kind of sad to think this might be the last Christmas Eve we get to spend in that house though). Again the kids had a blast and were spoiled way to much. Aly receive 3 laptop computers, a few games for the Wii, a baby doll, some PJ’s, shirts and a new bank to keep her money in (following the Dave Ramsey system). When we got home from Dad’s we set out some milk and cookies for Santa and put the little one to bed.

Christmas morning we had to wake Aly up at 8:00. She was so excited to see what Santa brought her. Here is the run down: In her stocking was some play dough, a Dora sippy cup and snack bowls, crayons and candy. Then Santa left her a Dora lap board, some coloring books and a few other books. From mommy and Daddy Aly got: A mobigo system (kind of like a game boy for little ones) a Mickey Mouse game, 2 princess books with her name in them, a shopping cart, some PJ’s, some crocs and a purse. She was so excited!!! We went to church also at 10:45 so we had to hurry out of the house. It was a great service. There wasn’t any child care so Aly stayed in there with us. Dad and Aunt Cheryl came too (along with the entire Manderscheid group) so it was good to spend a little extra time with them too!!

After church we went to the Manderscheid’s for the day. We had a wonderful brunch and then opened gifts. Aly got more wonderful things: A few games (Eleafun and 2 craft games) some clothes, a new baby doll with long hair to brush, coloring stuff, a soccer ball and a soccer goal to play with outside. I think she was on present and stimulation over load by this time. She actually asked to take a nap, Lol. We stayed over there for most of the day. The kids went down stairs and watched Kung Fu Panda 2 while the adults opened there gifts. Again we got several very nice gifts. I got a Cricut machine for scrapbooking which I’m so excited about (its an electronic paper cutter for making stickers and things to decorate my scrapbooks with). JV got some shoes, a sweatshirt and several other things. It was a great, relaxing few days.

On Monday JV and I were home from work so we got to spend the day with Aly playing with all her new games and toys. We are just so so blessed and couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas! Thank you to everyone for making it a wonderful Holiday!!!!