Skip to main content

A Fun Filled Christmas Season


This Christmas season has been a very busy one for our family.  I have hosted a party and been to a numerous parties.  Gabby saw Santa Claus twice, made gingerbread houses, saw a performance of the “Gingerbread Man” with puppets, made a gingerbread man and ate it, counted down the days until Christmas with an Advent Calendar, made Mary, Joseph, and Jesus figurines, and went to look at Christmas lights a few times while belting out Christmas songs.  We did not forget the reason for this season.  No matter what we were doing, I tried to incorporate and tie it back into Jesus’ birth and the true meaning of Christmas.  Even Mr. Elfis tried to show Gabby that this season is about Jesus.  He read a Christmas Story one day and prayed over a nativity scene one day.

Mr. Elfis enjoying a roasted marshmallow

Gabby "helped" make cookies for the party I attended
Mess maker, the only way to have fun
As a treat, I bought Gabby, Grandma, and I tickets to the local Nutcracker performance since Gabby is obsessed with ballet.  Poor Grandma wasn't feeling well the day of the performance so we took 
Gabby’s friend Addison instead.  With all three of us very dressed up we headed to the theater.  Once we arrived, they each picked out a Nutcracker ornament for their Christmas trees and then it was time to find our seats and enjoy the performance.  They loved the first half of the performance, but Gabby was ready to go at intermission; however, Addison said she wanted to stay so we did.  Big mistake! Gabby misbehaved through 75 percent of the second half even screaming out during the performance and Addison informed me afterwards that she didn't like the ballet.  I think half of the Nutcracker would have been the perfect length for a three and four year old.  It is comical to look back on and I will likely take Gabby again next year. 

All dressed up for the Nutcracker

Counting down the minutes until we leave for the Nucracker

Waiting for the show to begin


Intermission
The crafts and reading lots of stories about Christmas throughout December helped Gabby understand the reason for Christmas and helped her excitement grow.  I must say, my plan worked a little too well.  Gabby woke up almost every morning in the month of December informing me that it was Christmas Eve (even though we had an advent calendar with chocolate to help us count down the days until Christmas).  One of the first days that Mr. Elfis arrived he wrapped about 20 Christmas and winter books so Gabby would have one a day to read.  Gabby was so excited to see the wrapped gifts that she opened her first book as soon as she awoke and then begged to open more.  I told her we could open one more when Daddy got home, but that we were to open one a day.  Well, Daddy arrived home and was working the garage and I was washing dishes and when I looked up Gabby had opened ALL of the books.  When I asked her what she was doing she simply said, “Mom, you were right they are all books,” in a disappointed voice.  Ugh! At least they weren't her presents and we were able to explain to her that she had to wait until Christmas Day.  She did a good job following these instructions after her mistake, but did it quite impatiently. 



Michael, Nanny, Uncle Patrick, and I read two Christmas stories in recordable books for Gabby so she could enjoy the story of Jesus' birth and "The Night Before Christmas" any time she wanted.  I think that we had as much fun recording the books as Gabby does reading the books.

Daddy helping Gabby construct her first ever gingerbread house


Meticulously finishing her gingerbread house


As a child I loved Christmas and couldn't sleep the night before Santa arrived.  It was my favorite holiday.  Now, as an adult, Christmas has become my favorite holiday once again, but it’s different and even more magical now, because I get to be part of making that magic.  I love Christmas more as a parent than as a child.  There is nothing sweeter than watching the excitement in Gabby as she does all of the things that go along with the Christmas season.  Merry Christmas everyone!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thanksgiving 2013

Thanksgiving Day we all with to Grandma and Papa’s house to enjoy a traditional Cajun dinner and it was delicious.  Gigi, Blakeleigh, Brandy, Nanny, Uncle Patrick, Grandma, Papa, Aunt Lisa, Aunt Christine, and Keith were all there to celebrate with us.  Gabby enjoyed the day immensely playing with Blakeleigh the entire day and even trying to snuggle with her during her nap time.  Gabby made everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to Mommy and she blew out the candles Then Brandy and Blakeleigh spent two nights with us.  We had lots of fun going to Mud Pie to make handprint Christmas cookie plates and hanging out at Grandma’s house.  Gabby enjoyed very much singing Happy Birthday to Mommy with the family and blowing out my candle.  The night of my birthday Gabby spend the night with Grandma and Papa and Nanny, Uncle Patrick, Mommy and Daddy went to the movies together for the first time ever.  It was a very fun weekend.   T...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shelbie. Sherbie? Sheldon!

So I caved. We always go to the pet store and look at all of the animals, for at least an hour each week. The day after Christmas we went to the pet store and Gabby said, "Can I have a real cat? Please..." I said no, but for some reason I decided she needed a cat and Michael was on board, so Saturday we did not tell her what we were doing, but we bought all of the stuff for a cat and then went to the pet adoptions. Gabby loves looking at all of the pets and was petting all of the kitties. We played with numerous cats and chose a 9 month old cat that has been in the pet store as long as we have been going there.   This cat always seems to perk up and give Gabby attention, so he was the only one I was truly interested in adopting.  I didn't want a kitten because they are so rambunctious with sharp kitten claws, not to mention Gabby isn't that gentle and I was afraid she might have loved it to death.  We used Gabby's Christmas money from all of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Halloween & Another Kitty Costume

Halloween this year was a whirlwind.  I had plans. Big plans, but life happens and plans change. Gabby had early release on Wednesday and Thursday this week.  We had every moment scheduled, but our schedule changed. We were blessed to have Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Sharon come for a surprise visit.  I wasn't getting much sleep and so I wasn't 100%. Wednesday Gabby spent the day with Mommy visiting with Aunt Sharon and Grandma and Grandpa once out of school. On Thursday, we still managed to spend one day with Aunt Sharon and even take her to the airport after Mommy got off of work.  Then we went to Uncle Mark's new apartment and picked up some clothes for him (Gabby is in LOVE and wants to move in immediately).  Then the fun began.  She got to  paint a black cat for Halloween and then got a Gigi's cupcake (eating nothing but the frosting).  Somehow she later convinced me to take her to the farmer's market for perusing, then some cartwheels in a...
Post a Comment
Read more