Christmas 2014

Christmas was very fun this year with a 5 and 2 year old.  Gabrielle completely gets it - loved talking about Santa and LOVED her Elf on a Shelf (Bubbles).  She really got into the "funny" things Bubbles did this year and forced me to be creative, rather than just moving him around the house like I did last year.  Me and my mom took Gabs on the Holly Trolley in Hastings and she got the biggest kick out of that!  We went to the Christmas breakfast at dinnertime at the Senior Center - the kids did cookie decorating, saw Santa, and we had eggs and pancakes.  We also went to the Mall to see the "good" Santa and to pay for the traditional overpriced photo.  This year's was a doozy!  I also took Gabrielle to do a Build a Bear - she chose a white kitty with a purple sparkly tutu outfit.  The kids also got to do a gingerbread house and they did surprisingly well with Gabrielle doing the work and Oliver "supervising". 

Gabrielle asked Santa for a real camera and a bouncy ball with a handle she could bounce on.  Other requests/things she got were: an Incredibles book, Jasmine costume, hair color (for colored streaks), Frozen bath set, necklace holder with "diamond" necklaces, baby pack 'n play, Puppy Surprise dog with 3 puppies, (really cool!) kids encyclopedia books - one human body and one nature, Frozen slippers, bones book, beginner chemistry set, Crayola light designer, a watch (a plastic Frozen watch for $5 she is over the moon thrilled about), two bird feeders, and much more.  She got new curtains (hot pink sheer panels with sparkles) and a big bulletin board she can hang her pictures art work on - I printed out a bunch of pictures from her birthday party, the princess party, etc that she loves to go with her board. 

She also got a big fish tank that makes bubbles and has colored lights in side (with 2 fish) and a fancy twin baby stroller.  Nick bought her a travel set from Bath and Body Works with a hand sanitizer, lotion, shower gel, and body spray ("perfume") in a sparkly pink zipper bag - Gabs claimed that that was her favorite present :)  She almost fainted when Grandma Billie got her a REAL Barbie make-up kit and make-up mirror.  Aunt Mistye got her a beach Barbie house and Uncle Greg got her neat science books and a swan lake Barbie and DVD.  She also got yoga pants (just like mom) and was so excited about those.  She got quite a few things this Christmas, but 5 is a great age for the holiday. Nothing was overly expensive, and we tend to hoard things we want/need for Christmas so there is typically quite the variety to open.

Oliver didn't get the holiday, but he learned who Santa and Elf were, he liked the Christmas tree (taking ornaments off......), and really liked opening presents.  He wasn't overly excited about the actual gifts but he liked opening them.  He got a big Step 2 art desk from Santa - it has a light, white board, hiding spot for papers, and maker holders.  He also got a Mickey Mouse microphone that sings some Mickey songs he loves, especially his favorite - the Hotdog Song.  That is probably his favorite gift.  He also got a large fuzzy blanket for his crib with sports balls all over it (so ugly!) but he loves it.  He also got a real piggy bank, toy piggy bank, a bowling set, Mickey Mouse book, his own pens and notebook, slippers, playdoh set, some sports PJs (loves), tinker toys, more blocks, and more.  Grandma Billie got him a Mickey Mouse blow-up tent thing with a ball pit that he loves too.

At the Taylor family Christmas all of the great grandkids chose names and everyone got one gift.  As each kid opened their present Oliver walked up to me with the biggest puppy dog eyes and quietly said "mommy, I want basketball......mommy, I want basketball" in the saddest little voice.  I didn't know what gift he was going to get but when he opened his big box, there was a little basketball soccer ball and football along with two other balls.  I never heard him do a little scream like that before - he was so incredibly happy - it was so cute!  He carried the 3 sports balls around the rest of the day.

G figured out how to wrap presents all by herself this year

It was a hard day at the hospital.....

Magic sand!

Making and decorating cookies for Santa

His "ha-ger" (hamburger)

The hat.  He's obsessed with it - wears to sleep, at home, at school....

His defense mechanism......

Milk & yogurt!  One is cow and one is soy....but still.

Gabs got a Build a Bear!

Cookies she decorated for Santa

Surprise!  A big girl twin stroller!

Definitely not on her list but she was pretty excited!

New fishies!!

Basketballs always get a smile

Oliver's gift from Santa - his art desk

#1 request - CAMERA!

Frozen watch

Jasmine costume :)

Liked his new sports blanket

Chemistry set was a big hit, but no surprise there

And his overpriced climbing toy and marker holder was a hit too

It's Jasmine!  But she got a horribly bad bloody nose a few minutes later.  The costume was able to be washed out though......no shortage of drama ever.

Another Santa wish - big bouncy ball

Puppy Surprise from Grandma Jojo

Bowling!  Oliver got two bowling sets, but that works out great

In love with his sports pajamas, Mickey slippers, and "hotdog" singing microphone......

Gabs wanted to learn how to change his diaper

Loves her make-up!

This can be at her high school graduation and invitations to her bridal shower someday.....

Billie was at a complete loss of what to get Oliver.....this Mickey Mouse ball contraption was a favorite!  He acts like it is little safe zone and always runs in there to hide.