How exciting Christmas is through the eyes of a child! Maelin has absolutely embraced every aspect of the holiday season, starting with her first visit with Santa! Our lower elementary school classes participated in the annual Breakfast with Santa event, and although i prepped Maelin for it ("Santa will give you a present, but you'll have to sit on his lap..."), i wasn't sure she'd be willing. Fortunately, many of her classmates forged bravely before her, so by the time it was her turn, she was fairly confident no harm would come to her!
Here's the annual Christmas picture that Jim dreads so much each year! I have to start talking about it days in advance, just to prepare him - LOL! I'm sure his reticence has nothing to do with the fact that i'm completely anal-retentive about the whole procedure, from clothes and hair to sitting positions, and that i make him suffer through about 20 shots (and sometimes multiple sittings) before i'm even remotely satisfied. It's for posterity, dammit!!
We're all excited that bowling season has started again, because that means Leslie spends weekends with us! Last week we had an extra-special treat: Leslie's sister Brandi (who is a student majoring in Deaf Education at California State University Northridge) came and stayed two nights with us! We also took advantage of the extra time together for Leslie to open her Christmas gifts, since she won't be with us during the two-week Christmas break.
CHRISTMAS MORNING!! Maelin woke up around 7:45am (yes, we're sure it will get much earlier in years to come...) and was thrilled to realize that it was finally time to open all those presents! She got a few small things (clothes, a snow suit, Magnetix, books), but her 'big' gift was a new kitchen set with dishes and food accessories! 
After Christmas morning at our place, we got ready and headed to Grandpa Les and Grandma Pam's house for family Christmas with them. I love this shot of Maelin - i think it captures her excitement about the whole day! In the afternoon, we headed to Great Grandpa and Grandma Minkstein's house for a meal and a few more gifts. We also had Christmas Eve at Nana and Papa Gleeson's house (which was really nice) and Christmas at Great Grandma Schmidt's house last week...WHEW!Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all of our dear friends and family out there :)
Love,
Mama, Baba, Leslie and Maelin
2 comments:
Oops, the first three pics didn't come though :( Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all of you too! Gee, you couldn't tell by the smiles that Maelin enjoyed her First Christmas!! How sweet.
How exciting to have been able to have Brandi with you for a couple of days, bet you shared a tear or two when it was time for her leave again.
sounds like you had a busy Christmas too! Isn't it great to be able to share Christmas with you child? The first Christmas is so special but each year it gets better. Until they get into their teens and just want money because they would rather pick out their own clothes. One nice thing about that is it's so easy to shop for money cards!! One trip to the card shop and bam, your shopping is done for another year! Then you make two trips to the mall, first to drop them off to shop, second to drop them off to return what you don't accept as modest dress and tell them not to come home with anything that doesn't have at least 3 yards of material in it! Maybe a bit of exaggeration but you get the point.
We had an active week, three birthdays and an anniversary. My nephews on the 18th, Haley's on the 21st. My mom's 85th on the 29th and our 33rd anniversary on the 28th. December is a pretty expensive month. But we get through it somehow.
Hug Maelin for us!
Have a safe and merry new year.
Hugs and love,
Connie and Haley
Shonda
again thanks for sharing, How precious those pictures are and priceless, also Jim will be glad for all those family Photo shoots as he gets older and the girls are grown. When you look back you can never imagine them being so little or doing such cute things.
Glad to hear Brandi was with you for a couple of days When you speak to her tell Jason and I said Hi we miss her and Christy both they were two very special people
Maelin looks so happy she is a very blessed little girl
I will be getting a new great grand baby in Aug My son will be a grandpa for the first time
Love and Hugs Jason and Ellen
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