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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!


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