Christmas Dinner

Christmas Day was super relaxed and fun.  We had dinner here at our home.  Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, Grampie Dune and cousin Brittni were here to celebrate with us.  So nice to be together.  

Christmas Morning

As much fun as Christmas Morning is as a kid, I would have to say without a doubt, Christmas morning is much more fun as a parent.  It was SO much fun watching how excited the girls were as they came down the stairs to see what Santa had brought for them.  Elle wrote her letter to Santa a few weeks back and asked for a baby doll and Hannah Montana make-up and clothes. Gwen loves anything to do with babies and dress-up clothes.  Santa definitely got it right this year.  They each got their own baby dolls complete with bathtubs and diaper bags.  Elle got a highchair for her dolly and Gwen got a stroller. Elle did get Hannah Montana make-up and dress-up clothes.  She put on a concert for us complete with tickets.  She sang and danced to the song, "The Best of Both Worlds".  She is 100% serious and it is 100% HILARIOUS!  The ride-on toys were also a hit. We pulled the rug up in the kitchen so that they could make a complete circle around the kitchen island.  I can't tell you how many loops they have made in the last 24 hours.  So fun!  This morning when Elle woke up she asked me how many "more sleeps" until the next Christmas.  Lucky for Santa (he is TIRED) we have 364 more sleeps until we can do it all again.  

Christmas House

Sharing Christmas with children makes for quite a magical season.  Our little girls are just in complete awe of anything and everything to do with Christmas.  Elle was snuggled up to me on the couch the other night and said, "mama, thanks for making our house a Christmas house".  As the mom in this house, I do feel a responsibility to create the magic of Christmas for Elle and Gwen.  We have the tree up and decorated, stockings are hanging over our fireplace.  The wreaths are hung...we even have reindeer pillows on our couch, for heavens sake.  Elle calls her room the Christmas room and sleeps with Christmas lights on and has her own little tree and snowglobe lamp on her nightstand.  It is pretty magical for sure.  They each have their own advent calendars that they eat chocolate from first thing in the morning and everynight we watch a different Christmas movie curled up on the couch.  All of that is amazing and great but I am also trying to teach these little girls the real reason we are doing all of this.  I want them to know that having this "Christmas house" is my attempt at showing them the importance of this season.  Jon and I had a family night with the girls where we got out our Nativity set.  I told them the story of Jesus' birth and all about the wise men following the star.  As we talked about the story, the girls placed the pieces of the Nativity set into place.  I really want them to know why this season is so magical and so special.  And Jon's and my hope is that the McGee home will be a Christmas house all year long.   

Christmas Dresses

One of my favorite memories when I was younger was getting a new dress for Christmas Sunday.  Today we went to church and I had to have these little sisters in matching dresses.  Elle ripped her tights and shoes off the minute we walked in the door...oh well, you get the idea.  They looked adorable.  Gwen is in LOVE with this stuffed little Grinch she is holding.  She carries him everywhere she goes.  It is true love, for sure.  Elle has a paper chain in her room that she is counting down the days until Santa gets here.  He will  be here in just "4 more sleeps".

Santa Claus

We took our annual trip to the mall last night to see Santa.  The girls were really excited.  Jon was holding Gwen but when she saw santa from down the hall, she practically lept out of his arms and started screaming with glee and was jumping and waving to him.  In the first picture you can see Elle holding a bell.  Before we left she ran up to her jewelry box and carefully took it out.  She held it in her lap the whole car ride and told us that it was her gift for Santa.  When it was finally our girls turn, Gwen ran and jumped onto Santa's lap.  Elle was not crying but was a bit more weary.  She told me that she asked him to bring her a baby doll complete with diapers and wipes and powder.  Gwen gave Santa a big hug and bounced off his lap.  Elle presented Santa with her gift, which was so sweet.  He whispered back to her that it would be easier for him if she left it for him next to his milk and cookies on Christmas Eve because then he would have his bag with him.  So, the bell is now back in Elle's jewelry box waiting for Christmas Eve.  Pretty sweet.  

The Party

We had Gwen's party last night.  Grandma and Grandpa came for dinner and then Gwen's little friend, Malia came over for cake and ice cream.  Gwenners LOVED the attention and had so much fun opening her presents.  When she opened each of her presents, she would hold them up in the air and yell, "ohhhhhhh"!  So funny and so, so cute.  We sure love our Gwenners.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Gwen!

Today is Miss Gwenners birthday.  I can't believe my baby is 2!  Elle and I came downstairs to find Daddy and Gwen eating donuts.  This morning Jon woke up early, snatched Gwen out of her crib and headed out for donuts with her for her special day.  They returned home with rainbow sprinkle donuts (of course), orange juice and three balloons...this is a HUGE deal.  She dies over these little balloons and begs for them every time we are at the grocery store.  Well, today was her lucky day and daddy let her pick out as many as she wanted.  Jon has a sales meeting today and can't be with us so this was his special way of celebrating with her before he had to leave.  What a good daddy!  I love, love, love being your mommy, Gwen.  Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

xoxo

Birthday Fun

Sunday was my official birthday.  The night before my friends took me to a nice dinner.  It is so fun to sit and chat without having to worry about entertaining a child or cutting their food up for them etc.  We just talked and laughed and ate.  So fun!  The next day Jon's parents gave me the best gift I could ever ask for.  They came to our house and cooked dinner.  They brought all the food, cooked, set the table, did the dishes...it ws the best!  Jon's mom is an amazing cook so it is an extra special treat to have her cook in our kitchen.  Syd and Shea joined us and I just relaxed.  We had a delicious dinner with family and then headed off to see Santa's Train.  Each year Amtrac decorates the train and they stop down by the pier for a Christmas performance.  Elle and Gwen were soooo excited when they heard the train whistles blowing and saw the decorated train coming down the track.  It stopped right at the pier and they put on an adorable performance.  Santa was there along with Frosty the Snowman and dancing Elves.  Gwen was on Grandpa's shoulders and could not stop laughing at the singing reindeer.  A perfect ending to a wonderful birthday.  Now we just need to gear up for Miss Gwenners...just 4 days away!

It must be love when...

your husband goes with you to a Celine Dion concert!  For my 34th birthday Jon surprised me and got 4 tickets for us to see her show at the Staples Center.  We went with our friends the Ords and had amazing seats.  I loved every single minute of it.  Jon and Jonathan were REALLY good sports.  They definitely deserved these kisses after having to sway back and forth with us to the Titanic Ballad while Stacey and I were all choked-up.  Hilarious!  We have a Celine Dion concert recorded on our TV and Elle and Gwen LOVE to dance to it...it is a daily occurence at our home.  Seriously.  We got Elle a concert tee and she wears it for a nightshirt.  When I drove Elle's preschool carpool the day after I made the kids listen to my Celine CD extra loud the whole ride home.  And you thought you knew me...

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

We headed out to the Christmas tree lot tonight.  It brought back so many childhood memories for both Jon and me.  The girls played hide-n-seek in the rows of trees and sucked on candy canes.  The magic has officially begun at our house.  Decorations are going up and memories are being made.  The girls are at such an amazing age and are so excited about every light and decoration they see.  Jon and I went round and round about which tree to decide on.  I think we picked a beauty.  We tied it to the roof of our car and set off for home.  We all can't wait to see it all lit up and Elle is beyond excited about getting to put the star on top.