Christmastime 2015

I'm way behind with this post, but I don't want to skip it because it was such a great Christmas season this year!

We all love Christmas Lights! (photo by Anna)

We kicked off the Christmastime fun with a trip to Austin to visit Scott and Anna in mid December. The first night we were there Scott and Anna told us about this awesome tree filled with Christmas lights right by their house. It's in the middle of a roundabout and no picture I could take did it justice. A lot of kids were playing tag under it. Jane loved watching the kids and looking at the lights.

Love how Jane is looking at Scott (photo by Anna)

Jane wasn't the only one who enjoyed the lights. We all thought it was pretty cool to be surrounded by this umbrella tree covered in lights.

Telling Scott how awesome it is! (photo by Anna)

Also, I would like to note that Jane is wearing a spaghetti strap dress in the middle of December. It was in the 70s most of the weekend.

She was in love and didn't want to leave.

The next day we took a trip to the State Capitol. It was Jane and my first time at the Capitol. Kind of funny that Jane's first time is when she's 1 1/2 and mine is when I'm 27 even though I've lived in Texas my whole life.

It's so big!!

It's a really beautiful building! They had this huge, real Christmas tree set up in the Senate Chamber. I took the opportunity to get a picture in front of it with Jane.

Jane is weaned but I can't seem to keep her hand out of my shirt...

That night we went to a coffee house called Mozarts that is known for their awesome light show that starts every hour. We headed there after dinner and we thought we had enough time to get there to catch the 7pm show but got caught in Longhorn basketball traffic because the game had just ended. We caught the very end of the show and saw just a couple of songs. Also, it was packed, so we didn't have a very good view.

Jane watching the show with Scott and Anna

We all decided to grab a table when everyone else left after the 7pm show and stay for the 8pm show. I figured it was ok to let Jane stay up past her bedtime for lights and music, two things she adores!

It was pretty cool.

I think we all enjoyed the light show, but more than that we enjoyed watching Jane enjoy the light show. As did a good majority of the strangers around us. She loved it!! She stood up and danced most of the time. Such a good time.

Again, in shorts and a tank top. The weather was great!

That concludes the Christmas festivities while we were in Austin. 

Jane loves the Christmas Tree! So do I. :)

I put up the Christmas Tree a few days before Thanksgiving because I want at least a full month of enjoyment out of the Tree. Jane did so well with the Christmas Tree! I put the tree in our office/guest room so I could close the door if it became a problem, but it never did. I told her that she could touch the ornaments if she was gentle and didn't pull and she obeyed for the most part. :) Her favorite ornament was a guitar ornament that sang "rocking around the christmas tree". She also loved the Star Wars cantina ornament we have that talks. She would point to the tree and say "pit-tee!" she hasn't really called anything else pretty since, I'm not sure why...

I love Christmas Lights!

Jane liked the outdoor lights a lot too. I had a couple of moving lights up and she liked them the most.

Colorful lights = she loves it

We went to my grandparents house on Christmas Eve for a small Christmas with just my grandparents, Jane, my mom and me. They gave Jane the lamp in the picture above. She loves that lamp! She will carry it around with her, press the button on top and dance around it to the music.

Christmas Eve Selfie!

Last year I took a selfie with Jane in front of the Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve right before I put her to bed. I decided we should to do it again this year. I think we'll make a tradition out of it. :)

She's pretty excited about Christmas

Christmas morning we spent at home with just the three of us. (four, if you count Atlas!) I asked Jane if she was ready to open presents and she nodded her head emphatically and started rooting around the tree.

Where is that present I saw?

It was a really warm Christmas, almost 80 degrees all day. I didn't have anything that looked very Christmasy that she could wear that she wouldn't make her uncomfortably hot. So I put her in a pretty dress that she hadn't worn as much as I would like and she was about to outgrow.

She really loves the tree

I should have gotten a picture with all of us on Christmas morning, but all I got are pictures of Jane. When you have a child you sometimes forget to get pictures of anything else... oops. 

Jane found the corner to start tearing!

Jane also had all the presents but one. I had one present for Sam under the tree and Sam gave me my present early since it was a video game and I only have a limited amount of time to play it before I have a newborn again. :) Jane was excited for every present she opened. She spent a couple minutes playing with or looking at her gift after she opened it before moving on to the next one.

She's not spoiled she's loved. ;)

After we finished opening presents at our house we headed over to Kokoo and Akuya's (Sam's parents) house for Christmas lunch and more presents. I think they won biggest present for Jane. :) they gave her a toddler basketball hoop that she loves! When we go out to the back yard she will always ask for her basketball so she can shoot a few baskets from the porch chair.

Jane loved opening presents

Sandra and Charlie gave us an AMC gift card and offered to babysit Jane when we wanted to go to the movies. The perfect gift for us movie lovers! We took them up on the offer within the week so we could go see Star Wars. (which was awesome in my opinion) 

Oh hey look! I got a picture without Jane in it! ;)

After we opened presents Joseph and Sam went outside to fly the X-Wing that Joseph got for Christmas. Jane was fascinated with it. She kept explaining with her hands how it flew and fell and saying "Oh no!" when it would fall down.

Jane's "what happened?" look

We went back home after we visited some more so Jane could get a nap. (she doesn't nap well pretty much anywhere other than at home on our couch) 

Post Christmas Crash!

Jane fell asleep on the (5 minute) drive home and I took the opportunity to relax on the couch with her. A Christmas afternoon nap is something I could get used to. :) 

Jane loves to help cook

We finished off our Christmas celebrations with a New Years Day Daugherty Christmas at my parent's house. We like to do our Christmas on New Years (or whatever other day works for everyone around then) so we can all be together every year and not have to trade off years. We say Merry New Christmas Day! 

Jane is ready for her last round of presents!

Jane won for most presents at every Christmas this year. Which is not a surprise to anyone. She'll have to share her crown next year with Atlas, I'm sure. ;) 

I think Jane is a little jealous of Scott's big box. 

My mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her the only things I could think of were either for Jane or for Atlas. She also knew if she gave me money that I wouldn't spend it on myself. (the life of a mom right?) Then I realized I would really like a few more maternity pants since I would be pregnant for all the cold months this time around. So my mom took me shopping and bought me some maternity clothes which was exactly what I needed and wanted. Now I don't feel like I'm wearing the same jeans every day. Thanks mom!

Hey another picture without Jane!

I got to decorate two trees this year! My parents said they would get a real tree if I decorated it for them. I was like "Of course!!" I love decorating Christmas trees.

Jane made sure to get every piece of paper off.

Jane loved taking everyone their presents and had a lot to say even though we couldn't understand most of it. 

Jammies!

Jane got the most excited about a present that had a bunch of jammies in it. Seriously, this kid loves her some pajamas. As soon as she opened it she asked to put one of them on. I usually have a rule that she can't put on her pajamas until she's done with dinner because otherwise she wouldn't wear anything else. I made an exception this time. :)

Chilin with Uncle Scott and Aunt Anna

Notice she has already changed pajamas. She asked to put another one of her Christmas jammies on within the hour. She stayed in these for the rest of the night though. I think she just wanted to match Aunt Anna. :)

Having fun with Great Papa

Man, Christmas with kids is so much fun! I love seeing the joy in her face. Jane seemed to really enjoy everything about Christmas, the lights, the presents and the family.

Don't worry, we were careful

We polished off the night with sparklers, salami, smokies and s'mores! It was a much colder day than Christmas day. Just the right temperature to enjoy a toasting marshmallows around the fire pit.

Yay warmth!

We took turns being on "Jane Duty" while we were around the fire. At least one person was in charge of making sure Jane didn't get too close to the fire anytime we were outside. Such a great holiday season this year. So many great times with family. It was a very busy holiday season too. In a way it's good to be back to normal now that the holidays are over. I love them when they are here, but I'm also happy when it's all over. :) It's all about enjoying the present isn't it?

Ecclesiastes 3:1

To everything there is a season,

A time for every purpose under heaven;