Happy Holidays

The holidays came and went all too quickly this year. For some reason, the month of December seems to have gone by in a blur! I enjoyed all parts of it; it's just that when looking back on it so much of it seems to run together. I'm sure a great deal of that is because school ended for me the month before and eight hours of work aside, I had few commitments past "spoil and love on my little girl." It was a blissful start to the holidays and kept me a cheerful mood through out them.

One of my best friends, Emily, and her son, Sebastian were able to come up from Florida and spend the week before Christmas here with us. Gracie (after some adjusting) enjoyed having a live-in playmate and I, of course was happy for the opportunity to catch up with someone who I don't get to see nearly enough! We did some shopping in Cincinnati, made gingerbread houses on our own and with the kiddos, visited the children's museum and looked at bridesmaid dresses. I'm pretty sure with Emily's and my sisters input I've chosen the style that will be used in my wedding. It was a busy, but extremely enjoyable week!

Gracie's loved every minute of this Christmas season. Brian and I did our best to make it special for her. We started the month by taking her to see Santa and go for a carriage ride through the Greene, a local outdoor mall. We made a big to-do about decorating our tree, went and looked at Christmas lights a few times, made and decorated numerous batches of Christmas cookies and of course sipped a lot of hot cocoa. This was such a magical year for her and it was so much fun to watch.

Christmas Eve Gracie took a red bubble bath, put her Christmas PJ's on, and opened her presents from her Daddy. Afterwards (in addition to her regular night-night stories) we read the night before Christmas and finally, we laid out some treats for Santa and his reindeer. I tucked Gracie in and laid out the presents. Then, I moved her to my bed and decorated her room. Her "new big girl room" was B and I's gift to her. After I was done I moved her back to her room and she woke up in awe.

Christmas Morning went perfectly. Gracie was thrilled to see Santa and the reindeer had nibbled on the treats she left, and was amazed Santa brought the Mickey shoes she asked for. It was so much fun to watch her and I am now more convinced then ever that there are more things more pure and beautiful then my little girl's belief in Santa.

Tomorrow will mark the end of this year. It's brought so many wonderful and unexpected things and I can hardly wait to see what the coming year has in store!