December 24-25

We started the day off with a Christmas Eve Brunch and then the girls opened up presents from Mimi and Papa early so they could really enjoy them and they wouldn't be so tired.

Loved this present from Mama and Daddy...it was a print of The Pink Pig and Rich's downtown in Atlanta where we went every year when I was growing up. Such fond memories...my Daddy worked right across the street at Southern Railway and he would meet us for a bowl of chili, we would visit Santa and ride The Pink Pig

Carolina Grace was just as content as could be alongside her Big Sister

Entertaining Papa

Ella Rose is such a sweet girl

Who me???

Looking at a book together

Our precious baby girl

Mimi getting excited over Ella Rose opening up her baby doll

Ella Rose's baby doll was almost as big as her

Ella Rose loves her babies

Ian & I giving each other a high 5...Outback Gift Certificates! Yea! We have so missed one of our favorite restaurants in The States

When we moved to Etschberg in 2005 we started going to the Christmas Eve concert in Etschberg so it became our tradition while we've been in Germany. This was our 4th year to go and we had such a great time although it was bitter cold.

Walking through the village of Etschberg

We are so blessed!

Opa Hans sings in the concert every year and he is the 2nd from the end

Ella Rose loved the music

Mama and Carolina Grace

Cutest little Bunny in Etschberg

Mimi and Papa with the girls

Wow 3 are looking at the camera!

Ella Rose giving Papa a big hug

The yellow house behind us is the home we lived in for 1 1/2 years. We are so glad that we moved to this village of 700 because it is where we met our former landlords, Opa Hans and Oma Erika who mean the world to us

Papa & Carolina Grace

Oma Erika also makes the most beautiful cakes and they taste FABULOUS!

Oma Erika & Carolina Grace

Ella Rose loved the cake!

Matching umbrellas for the girls

The Livingston's & The Schneider's

Back home opening up presents again...Mimi & Papa gave the girls little tutus

And Ella Rose got her very own camera

Carolina Grace talking to Papa

We gave the girls one present each on Christmas Eve and they both LOVED Elmo

But Ian loved Elmo even more than the girls I think

I gave Ian, Mimi and Papa 2009 picture calendars of the girls and Ian gave me a beautiful red coat

Christmas morning...Ian and I decided that each year we want to give the girls 3 presents each symbolizing the wise men and the gifts they brought to the baby Jesus

Yea...SANTA CAME!

Ella Rose loved her shopping cart

Both girls also got German collector dolls since they were born here

Elmo is the GREATEST!

Elmo is always talking

We aso have another tradition that we started last year...getting together with our friends at The Miller's for a potluck dinner. None of us had babies just 2 years ago and look at all of us now!

Mia was enthralled with anything having to do with Carolina Grace so she popped right into the carseat for a pose. Mia is going to have her own Baby Sister arriving in April and we can't wait to meet the newest little Miller.

All this fanfare is just wearing me out!

And of course Christmas would not be complete without a kiss under the mistletoe

The Beck's under the mistletoe

The Nichols under the mistletoe

Mia helping feed Carolina Grace

Mia, Josh, & Ella Rose

Poor Josh looks miserable between these two...

One day he'll be kicking himself

Mia, Ella Rose, Josh, & Colby

The Mama's with their babies

The Daddy's with their babies

Carolina Grace checking out Matt's hair

Back home after a long day of celebrating

We wrapped up Christmas Day by having a webcam call with Gran, Aunt Vicky, Uncle David, Misty, Rob, & their new baby Landon, and Candy and Amber all the way out in Arizona...what a treat!