Christmas in Dallas

We got home this evening from a perfect Christmas trip to Dallas and boy are we exhausted!!! We had such a great time with my family and Avery did so good adapting to the new environment and new schedule. She went with the flow as best she could and we all had a relaxing time. Now that she's more aware of what's going on, I tried to start some holiday traditions that I hope we will be able to do every year. On Christmas Eve day, we went up to NorthPark Mall to see the train exhibit! It was crowded, Avery was being very stubborn and just wanted to walk around by herself but it was so cool to see. And I was thrilled to learn that it benefits the Ronald McDonald House...
That night we went out to dinner to celebrate Christmas Eve...this is something we've always done in my family. Don't you just love my daughter's face in the picture below. It's a good thing that Santa had already made his naughty/nice list because Avery may have been switched to the naughty list if we had a few more days. She has become extremely stubborn and defiant over the last week or so!

Can you pick out the best present under the Christmas tree?!?! Another tradition that was brought over from my childhood was opening one present on Christmas Eve. She still doesn't grasp the concept of unwrapping presents, even after just having had a birthday. My mom had gotten her the Little People Nativity set and she loved it so much. She was obsessed with Baby Jesus and kept repeating "Bay...Bay...Bay". She is very much into babies right now! Mere and Daisy snuggling! The snow flurries started during the afternoon on Christmas Eve and it continued the rest of the day. It actually made driving to and from dinner a little tricky! The roads iced over and the snow stuck around for several days. And we woke up to this beautiful white Christmas! Santa brought Avery a Bounce & Spin Zebra which she isn't all that into yet! Hopefully it is just because of all the new things to play with. She did jump on it right away as soon as we got home and unloaded it from the car. My oozing-with-artistic-talent sister painted this adorable step stool for Avery! I wish I was this artsy...I told her she needed to open an Etsy shop!!! Dad with his Stealers Snuggie:) Avery got Bitty Baby for her birthday so of course she needed the stroller to push Bitty Baby around it. Actually she tried to sit in it more than she pushed the baby around...insert stubbornness and defiance here. There were a few tantrums when we pulled her out of the stroller.

Dad and Mom with Elvis The Elf

We used to do matching PJ's for us girls but Mom bought us all matching shirts to lounge around in all day. Even Avery had one! Hers was a little big but she looked cute regardless. Excuse my lack of makeup. I did shower that day...eventually.

The fun didn't stop on Christmas day...we had a play date with a friend on Saturday and then we met up with cousins today before we left town. Tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas with the Shelfer clan so pictures from these adventures will follow, but my eyes are closing as I type. We hope you all had a blessed Christmas!!! We sure did!