A Merry Christmas Eve | Annual Christmas Pajama Photos

I find myself with a little time to spare on Christmas Eve, as the girls are tucked in their beds for a nap, Santa cookies are made and frosted, Christmas movies are halfway watched and all of our hearts are just so full.  Our morning has been so well spent, starting with a big breakfast thoughtfully prepared by my husband…he loves to prepare and enjoy a hot breakfast with all his girls.  Next up, cuddling all together on the couch for a Christmas movie while our sugar cookie dough cooled and having my heart repeatedly melt listening to my oldest say, “Merry Christmas Eve, Mommy” a million beautiful times in her tiny voice.  Later, we found ourselves elbows deep in frosting, creating the most beautiful Christmas cookies to leave for Santa tonight.  Watching our toddler be so creative with her cookie decorating was so fun to watch.  And lastly, finishing up editing our annual Christmas pajama photos of the girls.

I took my own advice this year from The Thoughtful Christmas and intentionally did a lot of Christmas work ahead of time.  Annual Christmas pajama photos were taken weeks ago, gifts were wrapped and stockings were filled the first week of December, Christmas shopping was completed early, and our Christmas letter was written and card sent out after Thanksgiving. All to ensure I could truly slow down, relax and enjoy the Christmas season with these two babes.  Completing a lot of Christmas tasks ahead of time made doing more fun activities during the Christmas season more enjoyable.  A checked off to do list gave us the freedom to enjoy little things with the girls, like train rides to see Santa Claus, library Christmas events, and cookie exchanges with friends.

To learn more about how I photograph my children’s Christmas season, be sure to read The Thoughtful Christmas: A Complete Guide To Intentionally Photographing Your Holiday Memories.

A Merry Christmas Eve  | Annual Christmas Pajama Photos

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We have a second little one wearing Christmas pajamas this year and joining in on our Elf of the Shelf fun.  She wants to do everything her big sister does and it’s truly been a magical season watching the girls enjoy the surprises we planned for them throughout the days leading up until Christmas.  It’s been 24 days of endless chatter about hoping Santa brings our oldest a baby crib (check!) and loving on our Elf on the Shelf, Oliver…who hides every morning for the girls to find.  And while most parents stress about their kids playing with the Christmas tree, our girls both surprised us this year by not fussing with the ornaments.  Instead, they enjoyed it with eyes of wonderment and left the decor alone.  (Lucky us!)

To learn more about how I photograph my children’s Christmas season, be sure to read The Thoughtful Christmas: A Complete Guide To Intentionally Photographing Your Holiday Memories.

While it is getting harder and harder to get photos of the girls together because they are both so fast, it is so worth it in the end.  Anyone who knows me will tell you I am very simplistic.  I am truly not about things, but instead really cherish my photos.  At the end of the day, photos of my girls are the only thing that I will truly keep and savor.  (Which is why my husband is so diligent with our photo storage system, ensuring that my photos are always protected since he knows I would be heart broken without them).  I love our family memories and, while it can be challenging to photograph two silly girls, I always end up with the photos I want.  Photos of them being them.  Photos of them loving each other so darn much, being silly, and giving me their true smiles.  I can just hear their laughter and sweet little voices when I look at these photos.

I love how photos contain a beautiful reminder of the little things that made our Christmas season so wonderful.  Like how our oldest loves “Jingle Bells,” and we taught her to sing Christmas carols in one afternoon.  And how our youngest loves it when her sister holds her tight, especially now that she is learning to stand and can get closer and closer to her big sister.

I snuck the girls’ stockings downstairs during nap to get a quick photo of them before tucking them away until the morning.  This year, I wanted to get them each an ornament that represents them to hang with their stocking and I found these sweet little ballerinas that were just perfect!  Not only can the girls enjoy them this year, but they can hang on our tree in the years to come, always reminding us of what the girls were like in 2018.  One was a sweet dear who loved looking at their miniature playroom Christmas tree (found here)and the other was a sweet pea who wore pink glasses and adored candy canes (found here).  Truly, these ornaments couldn’t have been more perfect for the girls.  I squealed when I found them.

Merry Christmas!

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