'Twas the Night Before Christmas

...and all through the house, the Stricklands were preparing for a wonderful Christmas Day! We started out with a fun afternoon at the park. Sydney was dressed to impress, I might add.

 Randall cooked a fabulous dinner of standing rib roast, candied carrots, roasted potatoes and green bean bundles. YUM.

 Sydney had eaten a couple of hours earlier, so she joined us at the table with peaches for dessert :)

 After dinner, we continued with our tradition of opening one gift. Sydney had to put on her shoes immediately (a gift from us), even if they did look ridiculous over her footie pajamas :-)

Randall opened a button-down shirt from my mom, and I opened a book about mothers and daughters and a set of stationery, also from my mom. Randall read The Night Before Christmas and we put Sydney to bed.

The rest of the night involved Randall - who should be hired as Santa's lead elf! - putting together Sydney's kitchen...a five-hour task. But, when we went to sleep at 2 a.m., the living room was beautiful and ready for one sweet little girl.