And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

"I love presents!  Presents, presents, presents!"

Christmas 2011 was another successful holiday for everyone involved.  For Libby and Mary, it was a five-day marathon of presents, food and family that left everyone with a little bit of holiday shell-shock.  In layman's terms, Libby and Mary cleaned house.  The theme of the year was Disney Princesses and Little People.  Thankfully, Santa came through and brought Libby a set of Princess Barbies, so all is right with the world.  Mary, on the other hand, got a little bit of everything, but the Little People were definitely the hit for her.

Princess Barbies!

Christmas kicked off on Friday night with dinner at Grammie and Papa Yandek's with Papa's family.  On Christmas Eve, it was back to Grammie and Papa Yandek's for dinner with Grammie's family.  Of course, the hit of the weekend for the girls was the arrival of Uncle Tony and Aunt Nellie.  As soon as they showed up, it was if Mom and Dad didn't exist. At both gatherings, there were presents to open; those gifts would have sufficed in making it a successful Christmas.  However, it was only the beginning!

Oh really, another present for Libby?!?!?!

The girls also got to have breakfast on Christmas Eve with Grammie and Papa Hanna, which was a very nice treat, since Mom usually has to work on Christmas Eve.  The other new addition to the Christmas Eve festivities was the Dance Party.  Libby and Mary got the party started and made sure that everyone got in on the fun!

Mary rocking her new monkey hat

Christmas morning was spent at home opening presents from Santa--Disney Princess Barbies, Disney Princess Kitchen, Disney Princess Piano/Vanity.  You get the idea.  Again, all this would have been enough. But, not so fast, my friend!  After mass at St. Patrick's, it was back to Grammie and Papa Yandek's for more presents and more Uncle Tony and Aunt Nellie.  There was more Christmas Carnage there, before moving on to Grammie and Papa Hanna's for naps (the best Christmas present of all for Mom and Dad!), dinner, and, you guessed it, more presents!

Christmas Eve Dance Party with Dad and Uncle Tony

The holiday finally wrapped up on Tuesday night with another round of Christmas at Grammie and Papa Hanna's.  Since Uncle Jerry and Aunt Lauren were out of town, we got to do it all over again with Claire, Corinne and Declan.  More food.  More presents.  More presents.  And more presents.  And it all ended with Libby's very first sleep over at Uncle Jerry and Aunt Lauren's.  Another success!  In all, it's been a great couple weeks of Christmas Holiday.  If only it could be Christmas all year!

More Santa and Some Snow (Finally)!

Two goofballs in front of the tree

It's been non-stop Christmas for Libby and Mary.  In the span of one week, they had three different audiences with Santa Claus, each time doing their best to monopolize as much of his time as possible.  There are some kids who are scared silly by the sight of the big guy in the red suit.  Not Libby and Mary.  From the minute he walks through the door, Libby is all over him.  Mom and Dad have to fight to get her out of the way of other people's pictures, as she refuses to step outside Santa's personal space.  Mary isn't quite as enthusiastic, and sometimes even seems unimpressed, but she is certainly not shy around St. Nick.

Santa at Libby and Mary's House

After seeing Santa at Dad's Christmas brunch, Santa came to the house to see the girls on Wednesday.  Libby was so excited, she danced around the house singing Christmas songs while impatiently waiting for him to arrive.  Santa brought the girls each a Disney Princess doll, after Libby told Santa she wanted "Princess Barbies" and Mary wanted "a toy."  For his troubles, Libby gave Santa a bag of homemade cookies.  Libby's hoping he remembers that on Saturday night...

With Santa at Family Christmas Party

The next go-round was on Friday night at Mom's Family Christmas Party.  As usual, it was a great time.  Libby and Mary had plenty of time to play with cousins--Claire, Corinne, Declan, Moira, Fiona, Emma, Nicholas, Grace, et al.  They made Christmas pictures and ornaments, ate way too many cookies and got to see Great-Grandma.  Oh yeah, and Santa was there.  Once again, if you didn't know any better, you would think Libby was Santa's sidekick/personal assistant.

She's no angel...

Christmas week officially kicked off with some snow on Saturday/Sunday.  Of course, it was gone by Monday, but Libby was able to get out and play on Sunday afternoon.  She and Dad made two snowmen, shoveled, and made multiple snow angels.  After having their fill of snow, Libby and Dad went inside for cookies and hot chocolate.  It was easily one of the best days of the year!

Christmastime Is Here

Libby and Mary with Santa

The Christmas Season has officially arrived for the Yandek Ladies.  In the days since Thanksgiving, which was an enjoyable holiday in it's own right, the girls have done their best to get in to the Christmas Spirit.  It seems everywhere they go--daycare, Grammie and Papa Yandek's, Grammie and Papa Hanna's--there are Christmas toys, decorations, books, music and cookies: all the good stuff that makes Christmas Christmas.  Libby has grown quite fond of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," watching both a number of times.  Likewise, she has quite a few songs in her repertoire, and she will sing them for you almost on command!

Dad, Libby, Corinne and Claire Decorating Cookies

Both Libby and Mary helped decorate the tree...Libby put all her ornaments in one spot--it's very cute and not too difficult to find--and Mary has done her part by rearranging the ornaments from time to time.  The girls are enjoying all their Christmas books and all the other decorations throughout the house.  Libby will gladly tell you how she "decorationed" the tree or "decorationed" the playroom or "decorationed" the living room.  The girls also have two Christmas Countdown Calendars that they look forward to every day.

Libby Showing off Her Gifts from St. Nick

Of course, it wouldn't be Christmas without Santa, and the girls have already had their fair share.  While Libby met him on the Polar Express in November, both girls got to spend some time with him at breakfast on Sunday.  Libby tells Santa every time that she wants Disney Princess Barbies.  Hopefully, the big guy will come through for her, or she'll be extremely disappointed.  Both girls have done a great job with Santa, neither one acting shy or scared, which is good, since they will see him two more times this week!

Mary and Libby Playing in Front of the Tree

Speaking of Santa, the girls enjoyed their St. Nick's Day treats, as well.  Libby got a pair of Rapunzel Christmas socks which, for a while, she refused to take off, and candy cane full of Skittles, which is currently her all-time favorite candy.  Mary got a pair of Dora Christmas socks and a Little People Mrs. Santa car.  The were totally surprised when they found their gifts--very, very cute.  The other fun the girls had was making cookies on Saturday with Mom and Dad, Claire and Corinne, and Aunt Reen.  It was a marathon cookie-making day, to be sure.  Libby was a very good helper, especially when it came time to help eat the cookies!