This Christmas was as good as it gets. I remember being super excited about Santa as a child, but now I really think there is nothing quite like being a parent on Christmas. I know that a toddler is pretty easy to please when it comes to things like new toys, a taste of something sweet, or one more book before bedtime. Afterall, if I give Isabelle so much as a crumb of cake, the happy look on her face could make you think she'd been starved. But witnessing the delight of your child on Christmas is truly magical!The child who was once a scrooge just a day earlier, became a little ball of merriment with a smile you couldn't rub off if you tried. Here that smile was hiding under a Santa hat seen scurrying about the Pruden house on Christmas Eve. 
Do smiles get bigger or better than this one?
She's starting to figure out that Santa's not such a bad fellow afterall.
Nope, definitely not a bad guy....He brought her a new kitchen, and by the look of her face when she first saw this in our den on Christmas morning, Santa just got a new believer. Now let's hope that this belief can help make next Christmas season temper-tantrum free! (He knows when you've been bad or good...)
We were very pleased when we saw Isabelle's reaction on Christmas morning (see here) because Santa's elves weren't as sneaky as they should have been. Brian (er...Santa's elf) spent an entire afternoon assembling that darn kitchen and since it was just one day before Christmas Eve, we figured it would be safe in the guest room behind a closed door. Leave it to me to ruin Isabelle's first real Christmas surprise. Since I keep most of my sweaters in a dresser in there, I went in to get one like I do almost every day, not thinking to close the door behind me. Isabelle was off playing in another room with her dad (or so I thought), but when I turned around there she was turning the knobs on her little oven! Oh, despair! I quickly pulled her away and tried to distract her. Amazingly she didn't really try to go back in the guest room, and by the look of her face when she saw the kitchen on Christmas morning (for the second time!) it didn't matter either way. All she knew was that she had a brand new kitchen of her own and she was a very happy girl!
Nothing as special as the morning after Santa came to visit! Isabelle also got a starter train set and a little race car ramp (from Ellie and Brun)...no dolls for this tomboy. 
Her new rocking chair from Granddaddy and Cici so that she can "rock, rock" (as she likes to chant) at our house too.
Her stocking (made by Cici) that's almost as tall as she is.
After our first Christmas morning at home together as a family, we headed off to the extended family (wait, I mean my family...I'm not sure I can ever call that extended!). During brunch at the Prudens', Isabelle was on fire. She is obsessed with her Uncle Matthew. He makes her laugh so much, and therefore we were all in hysterics.
Do smiles get bigger or better than this one?She's starting to figure out that Santa's not such a bad fellow afterall.Nope, definitely not a bad guy....He brought her a new kitchen, and by the look of her face when she first saw this in our den on Christmas morning, Santa just got a new believer. Now let's hope that this belief can help make next Christmas season temper-tantrum free! (He knows when you've been bad or good...)We were very pleased when we saw Isabelle's reaction on Christmas morning (see here) because Santa's elves weren't as sneaky as they should have been. Brian (er...Santa's elf) spent an entire afternoon assembling that darn kitchen and since it was just one day before Christmas Eve, we figured it would be safe in the guest room behind a closed door. Leave it to me to ruin Isabelle's first real Christmas surprise. Since I keep most of my sweaters in a dresser in there, I went in to get one like I do almost every day, not thinking to close the door behind me. Isabelle was off playing in another room with her dad (or so I thought), but when I turned around there she was turning the knobs on her little oven! Oh, despair! I quickly pulled her away and tried to distract her. Amazingly she didn't really try to go back in the guest room, and by the look of her face when she saw the kitchen on Christmas morning (for the second time!) it didn't matter either way. All she knew was that she had a brand new kitchen of her own and she was a very happy girl! Nothing as special as the morning after Santa came to visit! Isabelle also got a starter train set and a little race car ramp (from Ellie and Brun)...no dolls for this tomboy. Her new rocking chair from Granddaddy and Cici so that she can "rock, rock" (as she likes to chant) at our house too.
Her stocking (made by Cici) that's almost as tall as she is.
After our first Christmas morning at home together as a family, we headed off to the extended family (wait, I mean my family...I'm not sure I can ever call that extended!). During brunch at the Prudens', Isabelle was on fire. She is obsessed with her Uncle Matthew. He makes her laugh so much, and therefore we were all in hysterics. E.T. phone home?
YAY for Christmas!
Now for stocking number 2 (of 3!)
Our little chef has her very own apron!
Now for the greatest gift of all (from Uncle Matthew, of course). Ooooh... 
A garbage truck! Just like the ones that come by our house on her favorite day of the week (trash day). Hours of entertainment with this. In addition to the garbage truck, she got a firetruck, several truck/car books. Between all of that and an awesome kitchen, I'm thinking we are heading towards the perfect career...
Hey, food trucks are all the rage. I can just see the line of people now!
Later on, we headed over to the Tucks for the annual "Chinese Christmas" gift exchange. The first hour Isabelle wouldn't let me out of her sight and she was slow to warm up to a new house full of people, but after she got some grub in her belly she turned into a new little girl. She and Betsy Grace ran around the house together like two little peas in a pod. They were both so happy playing and it makes me so excited to think of watching them grow up together. Little Sutton will be in the mix in no time at all!
We ended with the annual family photo. Pretty sure it's impossible to get the perfect picture, but we tried! Take one: starring Hill Hansberger
Take two: pretty perfect, except for the fact that it wasn't focused!
Take three: Great of everyone, but we cut out poor Mac and Sutton.
Better luck next year!
YAY for Christmas!Now for stocking number 2 (of 3!)Our little chef has her very own apron!
Now for the greatest gift of all (from Uncle Matthew, of course). Ooooh... A garbage truck! Just like the ones that come by our house on her favorite day of the week (trash day). Hours of entertainment with this. In addition to the garbage truck, she got a firetruck, several truck/car books. Between all of that and an awesome kitchen, I'm thinking we are heading towards the perfect career...Hey, food trucks are all the rage. I can just see the line of people now!Later on, we headed over to the Tucks for the annual "Chinese Christmas" gift exchange. The first hour Isabelle wouldn't let me out of her sight and she was slow to warm up to a new house full of people, but after she got some grub in her belly she turned into a new little girl. She and Betsy Grace ran around the house together like two little peas in a pod. They were both so happy playing and it makes me so excited to think of watching them grow up together. Little Sutton will be in the mix in no time at all!
We ended with the annual family photo. Pretty sure it's impossible to get the perfect picture, but we tried! Take one: starring Hill Hansberger
Take two: pretty perfect, except for the fact that it wasn't focused!
Take three: Great of everyone, but we cut out poor Mac and Sutton.
Better luck next year! Our evening ended with dinner and games back at my parents' house. It was one of the best Christmases I can remember in a long time. A child full of bliss, family in close-proximity, happiness abound. A magical day, indeed.
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