What I really wanted

I brought John to work with me the past couple of days. Sharon asked him on Monday, "Did Santa bring you everything you wanted?" He said "No. And I'm not going to tell you what I wanted." Sharon laughed about it when she recounted the story to me later. 

That night when I had both kids in the car, I asked them "Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?" Gillian said "No! I wanted a big Minnie Mouse like my Mickey Mouse!" I said "Sorry, I didn't know that you wanted a new Minnie. You already have a Princess Minnie." She said "Yea, but she's little. I want a big one like my Mickey!" I asked "John, did you get everything you wanted?" He said "Yes." I said "Really? Then why did you tell Miss Sharon that you didn't?" He said "Oh yea. Well I didn't." I pressed and said "What did you want?" He wasn't budging. So I said "Did you tell Santa when we saw him the other day?" He said "No. But I did write him a friendly letter at school telling him about it. But I'm not sure if it got mailed." I said "Ok, well it's hard to get you something if he doesn't know. Can you tell me about it?" He said "I'll give you a hint. It's something you can do with a toy." Well that's vague. I asked "A table? You know so you can do your Legos on it?" He thought this was a crazy suggestion. I guessed a few more random things and then it dawned on me. I said "Did you want to give someone a toy?" He said "Yes, I wanted to do a giving tree. I wanted to give a toy to someone." He just melts my heart. I said "Johnny, I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I promise next year we will do a giving tree and you will help pick out the toy." My sweet little boy didn't want something else for himself, he wanted to help someone in need. What a wonderful little man!

Olaf in summer party

Gillian, like every other little girl, is obsessed with Frozen. She loves Elsa and Anna and I just knew she would want a Frozen themed birthday party. I found a cookie cutter for Olaf and planned her entire party around Olaf. I made it an Olaf in summer party. For those who don't know, Olaf is a snowman and he dreams of being able to play in summer. 

Gillian's party was today. Just minutes before everyone was due to arrive it started to rain. So we quickly had to change our plans. We were going to do games outside, but we had to move them inside. Luckily, Daddy had set up a tent on the deck, so we started with decorating some princess crowns and wands. Every little girl needs a crown and we needed wands to make sure that Olaf wouldn't melt! The girls were very determined and made some beautiful crowns. 

Our first game was pin the sunglasses on Olaf. This was fun. The girls really couldn't see with the blindfold on and had a hard time placing the glasses correctly. You will see that there are two that are pretty close.  Well we had one cheater and one little girl refused to put the blindfold on. Personally my favorite is the one in Olaf's hand. 

We then piled up some cups and the kids threw beach balls to knock them down. This was a huge hit. The girls loved it. They all went two times!

After the game, we had three of the girls go an decorate crowns (they were late and didn't get to decorate with the other girls). Meanwhile, Gillian took her other friends downstairs to play. If it wasn't raining, we would have done another game. But we had to make do. The girls got to play for a little bit. And then I told them it was time for pizza. They ran upstairs. All the girls ate very well. 

After pizza, it was time for cupcakes!

The cupcakes were a huge hit, along with some fancy 4 cookies!

Once everyone was done with dessert, it was time to bust open the piñata. The rain had stopped by this time. And we were able to go outside. The girls were patient and waited for their turn to pull a string. They didn't fight over the candy and each took a small amount. Since the rain was gone, the kids were able to play on the playground. They played nicely for awhile. Slowly the girls started to leave until there was three girls left plus Gillian. They played so nicely together, we didn't realize that it had gotten so late. The last girl left around 3! I see that as a sign of a good party. 

After everyone left, Gillian opened her gifts. She is a lucky girl and received a lot of nice things. Daddy asked her "What was your favorite part of the party?" She answered honestly "The presents!" 

Muddah

I picked up the kids from school today. Once I had John in the car he said to Gillian and I, "I need to talk to Gillian before dinner. In private." Gillian said "I got my Muddah's day present in my bag. And you can't have it until Muddah's day. On Muddah's day you have to be nice to your Muddah!" I'm giggling because I know what is going to happen next. John says "Shhh, Gill we will talk at home." Gillian said "It's a handprint!" John said "I she said 'It's a present.'" To keep the peace, I said "That's what I thought John." Gillian said "No. It's a handprint. And it's pink. Cause Mommy likes pink. It's for Muddah's day!" "Gill! You're ruining it!" I told him to calm down and that nothing was ruined and that I will love whatever you give me. 

When we got home, they ran upstairs and locked themselves in John's room until dinner. I love that they are so excited about trying to surprise me (and I love how Gillian says mother).

Christmas

Christmas seemed to go by very quickly this year.  It would take too long to write about all of our adventures, but here are a few of my favorite memories:

On Christmas eve, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Gillian was the last one opening presents.  Because every present she opened she would say "I love it!"  Then hug whatever she got.  She did it with everything. 

Grandma made Gillian an upside down doll (it's a doll that doesn't have feet, when you flip up her skirt there's another baby on the other side).  Gillian named her sleeping doll "Ba-nana" and as she says "the wake up baby, Ba-neeny."  Silly names, but it was the first time she has named any of her baby dolls. 

Christmas morning, Daddy woke up me and said "Their awake!"  I could hear John waking up Gillian saying "It's Christmas!"  Then they came running into our room to wake us up.  "It's Christmas wake up!"

We all went downstairs to see if Santa came.  They went running towards the big pile of presents.  Gillian wasn't slow to open her gifts, but John was more methodical.  He opened everything from Santa and was a little sad.  We asked him why he was so sad.  He said "Because I didn't get Skylanders Swap Force.  The one thing I asked Santa for!"  We told him to get the gifts from Mommy and Daddy and open them.  He was very happy to see that he got Swap Force. 

We went to Mimi and Poppy's house in the late morning on Christmas.  After opening presents there, Gillian stood up and said "Is there anymore presents for me?"

Uncle Jay and Nicole brought John and Gillian gifts.  John loved his Superman toy so much that he had to put his coat on and take it outside.  He was joined by Uncle Jay, Daddy and Uncle T.  I love that all the boys had to try out the new toy too!

The morning after Christmas as I was getting John dressed, he said to me "I wish everyday could be Christmas!"  Me too, John.  Me too. 

Let's talk

Every night, I go and check on the kids after bedtime.  Gillian still takes a nap at school, so most nights when I check on her (around 9) she is still awake.  Last night, she was awake and she invited me into her bed to snuggle with her.  I snuggled up with her and asked her to tell me about her She told me "My friends like my sparkly nails (we had just painted her fingernails and toenails)."  She then paused and I thought she was done talking to me.  So I kissed her again, and said I will see you in the morning.  She said "Let's talk about Santa Claus!"  She was so matter of fact and I had a feeling like I was being set up.  But I responded with "What about Santa Claus?"  Gillian said "Him is nice.  Him bring me and Johnny presents!"  I said "Really?  What kind of presents would you like him to bring you this year?"  She didn't hesitate and said "Babies.  I want more babies.  And a little table and chairs for my babies.  So they can have a tea party and a picnic."  And then as if she just remembered she had a brother she added "And presents for Johnny too!" 

Visit with Santa

Daddy and I decided to take the kids to see Santa today. I talked to Gillian before we left the house and asked her what she wants Santa to bring her. She said "Presents. Baby dolls. Loopsy." She was very prepared to talk to Santa. We got to the mall and waited in line. Gillian was very good on line. John really didn't spend much time on line. When we got there Daddy took him for a walk and when they got back John and I had a secret mission (we had to go get a Christmas gift from John to Gillian) so we took a walk. When John and I returned we were only 6 people from Santa! Gillian told me "I sit on Santa's lap!" The line moved pretty quickly and before we knew it it was our turn! John went right over to Santa and sat next to him. Gillian was not that excited. She cried. Daddy had to kneel next to Santa with Gillian on his knee for the picture.

Later I asked Gillian why she didn't want to sit on Santa's lap. She said "I cry!" I asked her why. She said "He have gloves and glasses. Daddy have glasses." I'm not really sure I understand her logic.