One Final Christmas Surprise...

We were anxious to get back to Raleigh because we had one final present waiting for the girls in the backyard...yep, we got them a swing set! We have wanted to get them a playset for the backyard for a long time, and we decided the time was finally right. We finalized the details back in October, and I think that's why I got so excited about Christmas so early this year. I COULD NOT WAIT to see their expressions and make them so happy with this gift. And I thought it was neat that this present would be their the grand finale to Christmas!

The playset was installed the day after Christmas when we were in Hickory so we had only seen pictures of what it looked like (thanks for the help Donna and Marty!). So Brian and I would be seeing it for the first time too. After a long road trip, we told them about 10 minutes from the house that we had one final present to give them. We took them through the house and told them to close their eyes. Addie didn't know how to do that so she just watched Collins do it. Then we told them to OPEN!

The girls were playing happily when we heard noises outside the fence. Turns out our neighbors Kinsey and Sam had come over to deliver a birthday party invitation. So they helped the girls break in the new play set.

   

It got dark and we came in to eat dinner, and then they went out to play more. Not sure why Addie is not wearing a shirt!

After they woke up the next morning, they went straight outside to play again (in their new ballet and gymnastic outfits of course). 

Later that week, we found new ways to use our new swing set. We had a picnic downstairs and a snack upstairs in the fort. 

The weather has not been cooperative lately (really rainy or really cold) so we haven't gotten to play as much as we'd like, but there were a couple of balmy days that gave me a glimpse of the future. Lots of sun, smiles, and fun to be enjoyed in our backyard. Bring on Spring!