What a blessing Ava's first Christmas was for all of us. God has blessed our family beyond what I ever imagined over the past year. It's hard to think that just a year ago Ava was living in an orphanage, without an idea of what even Christmas is.
It was the simple things about Christmas that Ava loved...the lights, baking goodies for the neighbors, checking out all the pretties on the Christmas tree, having family around. She didn't even know that presents were a part of Christmas until we started opening packages. And truthfully she didn't need the gifts to know Christmas is special...and magical. It has been so fun watching the innocence of Christmas through my daughter's eyes. One of these days I'll have to tell her about all the life lessons she has taught me :)
We celebrated Christmas in 3 different parts. The weekend before Christmas my whole family came to our home to celebrate together. The weekend was spent laughing, playing games, baking, watching basketball, opening gifts, and just hanging out. Last year we started a new tradition of cooking a big Chinese dinner the night before Christmas. This year we made Mongolian beef, pork dumplings, fried rice and ordered in Kung pow chicken and steamed buns. So yummy!! Ava got lots of cool toys. Some high lights were: a new baby doll, large building blocks, mrs potato head, piggy bank, alphabet magnets, and bubbles. Us adults had as much fun as she did playing with her new toys. Ava spent tons of time with her family and loved every minute.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we were able to hang out with just our little family. Candle light service, Christmas movies, sleeping in late, junk food, new toys, and lots of playing together. It was such a fun, laid back Christmas. Ava got a basketball goal from Santa so we spent a lot of time working on our game! She also got 4 cars that we used to race circles around the house!! So many great memories were made on this Christmas Day. I couldn't finish the day without looking back at some of our first pictures of Ava. Wow, how a year has changed all of us :)
The weekend after Christmas we made the drive to celebrate with Matt's side of the family. The weekend was filled with cousins running around crazy, loud laughing and talking by all, baking, tractor rides, 4 wheeler rides, fun on the farm, presents, and lots of cuddle time with family. I absolutely love watching Ava with her cousins. Each time she gets more and more into playing with them. I love to hear her belly laugh when she's having so much fun with family. Her and her cousin Addie hung together this weekend...I think they know the girls have to stick together. Some of Ava's favorite gifts were lots of cute clothes, games we can play together as a family, a race track with cars, and a Minnie Mouse bean chair. She knows she is one loved little girl.
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