Holly, Jolly Christmas in Xtown

We drove to Xenia on Christmas Eve & pretty much stayed there for the next five days.  Christmas Morning was a blast and actually spilled over into the afternoon because there were so many presents. And really, we just spent the next several days hanging out, laughing at the girls, playing with new toys, watching Christmas specials on TV and dancing to Frosty the Snowman. Oh and there was also sledding, drinking "bingo coffee," eating our weight in green bean casserole & chocolate pie, playing in the snow and a long-overdue Photography 101 class from DD.  Here are some of my favorite pictures out of the more-than-I-can-count total:

SLEDDING, at Shawnee Park - which just makes me smile because it's exactly where my sister & I used to go sledding. DD even found our old sled. (I couldn't go - dang bedrest - but thankfully Tia took some awesome pictures so we can all re-live it together.)

Go DD Go!

Love the facial expressions in these two!

Not only is this an adorable picture of Lyla & Tia, but check out the action in the background. Looks like Josie had her first snowy face-plant (but apparently recovered just fine).

Two tired girls getting a ride home from Tio -

Later, back at the house, it was all fun & games...

...until it was time for the special Christmas Eve jammies (Thanks Tia) to continue a Johnson holiday tradition.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

Here are some scenes from Christmas Morning. Enjoy!

Even the girls didn't know where to start...

 Santa brought Josie "Starbirds" and boy was she thrilled...

 Checking for names...

 Working hard on unwrapping...

 Really excited about her Marble Run Racetrack...

 Don't look so guilty Josie, it's Christmas - a cookie for breakfast is perfectly acceptable...

 A big thank-you hug & smooch for DD. The girls loved their Zoobie "pillow pets"!

Excuse the not-so-great picture of Josie but I wanted some evidence I was actually there on Christmas morning...

 New apron for Grandma...

 Josie & Lyla in their new art smocks...

 Getting in the first new teddy bear hug...

 SUPER-DD...

 A Snoopy Snow Cone (which has lots of meaning for the Johnson family)...

 And turns out it's just as hard to grind the ice as it was 25 years ago (but so worth it) -

 My favorite - 

 Lou & Jack (Sidebar: Lou has been SOOO ready for a new baby for so long now. He adores babies & it makes me absolutely giddy to see scenes like this one!)

 Those silly (and adorable) Austins...

Hanging out on Christmas Day - Most of us never got out of our pajamas (and a certain blogger never even brushed her teeth) but the kids sure looked adorable...and spent most of the day dancing and giggling!

And in case you didn't gather from those pictures that it was one dance party after another, here's a video to see the girls in action. This one is dedicated to Tio. We wanted to make sure there was a recording of Frosty's song so he could play it every day between now and next Christmas.



Here are some photos from the rest of the weekend. 

 I should mention it wasn't all fun & games with Josie, Lyla & Frosty. There was a little jealousy there from time to time - as is obvious from the look on Josie's face here. (But all-in-all both girls should be commended overall. There were definitely times when we all had to remember they are just 2 and 3.)

 Josie loves Jack & talks about him all the time. She is going to be the best big sister ever!!!

 Movie...

 ...and a snack...

 And all 3 of them on one picture together!

 Our last night together - one last time on the DD swing for each girl before bed...

 Bedtime...almost...

And we'll end with two little monkeys jumping on the bed... (and pretend like that last tear-filled morning together never happened)....

So, Christmas 2010 - That's a wrap!!!!  (I could lay awake all night dreaming up the visions for Christmas 2011...)

I hope your holiday season was just as merry and bright!!!