A Christmas to Remember

Another wonderful, magical Christmas has come and gone.  It seems that every year is comes quicker and quicker.  We did so many fun activities to celebrate the season and it all led up to a very special day.  

On Christmas Eve I wanted to do one more walk through the mall......not to buy anything but just to soak up the last little bit of Christmas frenzy.  I tend to do all my shopping online and I realized that I actually only went to the mall maybe once since before Thanksgiving.  After a quick lunch at Panera and a brief stroll, we headed back home.  Savannah and I had cookies to decorate for Santa and we didn't have much time left.  

At 5:30 we attended the family Christmas Eve service at church.  It really is the longest 30 minute church service ever.  Having a heavy, squirming toddler in my lap and a whining preschooler asking every minute "how much longer til Santa comes" really makes the time go by slow.  After a few Christmas carols, a short children's book, and a reading of Christ's birth it was finally time to head home for dinner.  We had Savannah's favorite dinner, spaghetti and meatballs, and then it was time to throw out the reindeer, take a bath, and put little man to bed.  Savannah stayed up a little later so she could prepare Santa's snack.  Then it was off to bed.  After a couple of stories she was sound asleep.  

decorating Christmas cookies

throwing out the reindeer food

picking out a few special cookies for Santa

all ready and waiting for Santa

Surprisingly everyone slept in Christmas morning.  Walker woke up around 7:30 and shortly after we had to wake Savannah up so we could all go downstairs and see what Santa brought.  Evidently everyone was on the nice list because there were goodies everywhere.

HE CAME!!!!

the first glimpse of their gifts

W went straight for the car while S inspected everything else

our little stud

going through her Santa gift bag

W didn't quite know what to make of it all

S passing out all the gifts

W with all his Santa gifts

apparently he preferred the boxes over what was inside

my happy babies

taking the car out for a spin

Since this was our first Christmas with just the four of us I decided that I wasn't going to cook a huge meal and be stuck with tons of leftovers.  So we headed to the Carolina Inn for a delicious lunch.  We were even sat in our favorite room, the blue and yellow one, which made the whole meal even more special.  After indulging in a few too many desserts we returned home to spend the rest of the day in our jammies and to playing with all our new toys.  

The day ended all too soon and everyone went to bed happy, healthy (well except for a slightly sick Oscar), well fed, and very grateful.  Grateful for all that we have, all that we received, and all the wonderful memories that were made.  So with that said, Merry Christmas to All and to All a goodnight!

Christmastime

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!  This month has been one big crazy whirlwind so far and it doesn't seem to be letting up any time soon.  On Saturday December 7 Oscar, Savannah, and I attended How The Grinch Stole Christmas at DPAC.  This was Savannah's first real broadway show and for the most part she loved it.  There was a section in the middle that started to bore her but by the end she was already asking to go again.

The next day Savannah, Waker, and I attended a Santa's Workshop at the Carolina Inn.  Lucky for us that one of Savannah's good friends from school, Helen, was also there so she had a friend to sit and play with.  The girls were each given a teddy bear to stuff and dress and then they were able to visit Santa and get their faces painted.
After the workshop we rushed home to pick up Oscar and head to Greensboro to watch Disney on Ice. I must admit that the show wasn't quite as impressive as the past two years but I don't think it bothered Savannah.  Every since she has been wanting to go ice skating and she pretends to ice skate by sliding around the house on paper plates.

decorating their teddy bear's shirts

visiting Santa

waiting to get her face painted

Around the house we've been getting into the Christmas spirit, too.  From decorating the house, trimming the tree, making gingerbread houses, and wrapping presents we've had so much fun preparing for the holiday.

working on her gingerbread house

her ornament for the year--a Minnie Mouse

writing her letter to Santa

On Wednesday, December 11 we had dinner with Santa at the Country Club.  This was the first time Savannah actually sat with Santa without having a meltdown and without being forced.  Walker on the other hand was terrified of the old man.

W's meltdown is coming

Savannah listing off her many wishes

We celebrated Walker's first birthday with a small party on Tuesday, December 17 (that's a whole other post) and his actual birthday on the 18th.  That Wednesday morning we attended Savannah's first Christmas concert at her preschool.  She did so well, sang beautifully, and didn't appear shy at all.  Walker was even amazed and he sat through the whole program without so much as a peep out of him.  

even Santa attended the concert

On Thursday the 19th we attended the annual Santa Train fundraiser at the Museum of Life and Science.  This was Walker's first Santa Train and he was definitely not impressed with Santa but he loved the train ride.  Savannah even got her face painted afterwards.

My birthday was on Saturday the 21st and it was spent mostly battling the dreaded stomach bug.  Poor Savannah had been up all night throwing up and Walker had been having explosive diapers for the past two days.  We did manage to briefly get out and go for a carriage ride through downtown Chapel Hill.  It seems every year that ride gets shorter and shorter but at least this year they offered hot chocolate and cookies.  Too bad the weather was unusually warm and very un-Chirstmasy like.  

I can't believe Christmas is just a couple of days away!!  Every year it seems to come quicker and quicker.  This year has been especially exciting.  I don't know if it's because we now have two little ones to celebrate with (technically we had two last year but W was just a tiny blob) or if it's because Savannah is now at the age where she really understands the wonder and the magic of Christmas.  I'm sure it's a little of both.  I can't wait to see their happy little faces on Christmas morning.....I've heard Santa has quite a few surprises for them both :)