Marysville Christmas

We traveled to Marysville Thursday night to spend Christmas with Rob's family. On Friday, Christmas Eve, we went to church all together. On Christmas morning, Maggie got to open a couple presents when she woke up, but had to wait until after our big breakfast to open the rest. She could hardly wait either!! She loved all of her presents, but seemed pretty partial to all the clothes she got! We spent the rest of the day relaxing before Rob's aunt, uncle, and cousins came over for dinner. Rob had to work today, so we headed home early this morning. Here are some of our Christmas photos:



Best Maggie quotes from this weekend:

• "Oh, my goodness! Thank you Mommy and Daddy. What is it?"
• Me: Maggie, did you have fun this weekend? Maggie: Yes. My favorite part was Nathan. He just cracked me up!

Rudolph Cookies

Maggie and I made Christmas treats and delivered them tonight to our neighbors and friends. She loved putting the noses on all of the Rudolph cookies!

Family Day

Rob, Maggie and I had a great day together today! It was very nice to have the whole day all together since it is so rare that our work schedules coincide with each other. We took Maggie to see Santa and she wasn't even that scared this year! She was a little apprehensive, but then sat down, told him her name and what she wanted for Christmas. She even smiled a little bit for the camera! Afterwards, we went to donate the blanket that we had made together (see previous post). Then, we visited Nana and Papa. Maggie stayed with them for a little while this afternoon, too, so Rob and I could get all of our Christmas shopping done. Needless to say, she was one tired little girl when we got home tonight!

An actual smile!!

Telling Santa what she wants for Christmas.

Life Lessons

I was looking for different things we could do with Maggie this year to help her realize Christmas is about more than just presents and Santa. We have already gone through the house and donated many items including clothes and toys. Tonight, we made a blanket for Project Linus, a charity that gives blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Later, we are planning to take her and donate cans of food at a shelter and we will be making Christmas treats for all of our neighbors. I'm hoping these are all things that will become traditions in years to come.

Maggie with the blanket we made for Project Linus

Breakfast with Santa

Yesterday Nana and Papa met Maggie and I for breakfast with Santa at Applebees. Maggie was so excited to see Santa, until we got there! The entire time we were there, she kept a very watchful eye out for wherever Santa was.

"The watchful eye"

Opening the stocking of goodies she got.

Holding on tight to Papa and again "The watchful eye".

"Okay. I'll look at you Mommy, but I'm not smiling and I'm still going to hold onto Papa."

Dancing with Mrs. Clause

Maggie's Christmas Tree

Last week, when Maggie and I had some time off school for Thanksgiving Break, we put up our Christmas decorations. Maggie even has a little tree of her own in her room. She decorated it herself. Some of the ornaments on her tree are ornaments my brother and I helped my mom paint/make when we were little. The other ornaments are ones that Maggie has received each year. Rob and I get her an ornament every Christmas that relates to her somehow. After Maggie was done putting the ornaments on her tree, she put a blanket underneath and put her Nativity set up. She did a great job doing it all by herself and she was quite determined to get everything just right!!

Haircut

Maggie got her haircut tonight, a very much needed haircut if I might add! She has had her hair trimmed once before when she was 2, but nothing since. Well, the longer it got, her curls would just tangle more and more at the ends. It got really bad, especially when it was wet from her baths, the past few weeks. So, we went in for a little trim. Jenny trimmed off about an inch or so and added in some layers, too. She said the layers would help to keep the curls more separated and easier to comb through. I'm just happy the curl stayed! I was so worried that if we cut it, the curl would get cut out. Here are some pictures of before and after:

Before

After