Monday, January 28, 2019

Christmas

As Lilah gets older I feel more pressure to make the Holidays so special for her. I know she is going to have such a short little childhood before she is forced to grow up in this crazy world and I just want to make sure she has fond memories to look back on. 


I thought we would start our traditions by decorating Christmas cookies. 


We let Lilah decorate most of the cookies with some help from daddy. 



The cuties little cookies for Santa. 


For Christmas dinner, we all wore our Christmas jammies. I made enchiladas, beans, rice, and chips and salsa. 


We watched the Nativity and tried to remember the real meaning for the season. It makes me sad how commercialized Christmas is and I want my kid's to focus more on our Savior and his birth. 


After dinner, Mike warmed up some apple crumb pie and ice cream. 




Next came the presents. I didn't buy Lilah a lot of presents because I didn't want the whole night to be about getting gifts, but I decided that she doesn't have to necessarily get just toys. She can also get clothes and coloring accessories. I told Mike I am already making a list for myself so I can shop throughout the year that way it won't be so stressful during December. 


My neighbor is so sweet and got Lilah a little doll. 










Michael was laughing because he didn't like his presents, haha! We decided next year we will spend money on a present for both of us that we would both enjoy. We decided we rather have a new dishwasher or a new sink than 2 small presents for each of us. 





Lilah opened up a little bike from grandma on Christmas morning since her present didn't arrive on time. She loved her little bike and she looked so cute!


When we woke up Christmas morning, we went and hung out with our Stouvenel cousins. 


Lilah had more fun presents to open. 



It was a simple Christmas. I learned of ways that we can make it more Christ centered for our family and I'm excited to implement all of my ideas for next Christmas. 






Random pics of Lilah being silly. 


Lilah's Birthday Celebration

This December we were lucky enough to have our Markham cousins come and visit. Jill and Jeff brought little Joseph over the week before Christmas and spent a couple of days here in California.


One of the mornings we went out and met up with them for breakfast. 




Since we had some more cousins in town, we decided to celebrate Lilah's birthday a little earlier. 


We decorated the house a little and ordered some Italian Food from Dominico's. 



The food was so yummy!


I made Lilah a cake. It wasn't my best but frankly I was so tired the night before and my goal was to make it a fun stress free celebration. 


Lilah LOVED having little Joseph around. 


She kept asking to hold him and give him kisses. She is going to make a great big sister. 



Time to open presents!





Lilah loved all of her presents and took time to play with all of them after opening them. 


It was fun to see her be so excited about all of the fun gifts she got. 


Everyone helping put together the little pack and play Katie got her. 









Opening up her bike from grandma





Time for cake





It was the perfect little celebration for our little Lilah. I can't believe we are celebrating her second birthday already. I am trying to savor all of the little moments among the exhaustion. It's definitely taken alot of patients and taking it day by day to keep up with this very energetic and sassy little girl but I love her more than I ever thought I could. 
Happy birthday my sweet Lilah!