On Friday night Caroline got to have her first experience with "Twas the Night Before Christmas". For as long as I can remember, my mom has always read this story to my brother Robert and I on Christmas Eve - complete with hand motions. I couldn't wait for Caroline to have this same opportunity! She absolutely loved it!!
Then Caroline's Daddy made some cookies for Santa and we made sure to leave him a full plate and milk and to let him know that Caroline had been good so that he would leave her lots of gifts!
On Saturday we celebrated Christmas - my mom, Joe, my step-brother Brian, Caroline and I. It was definitely a bittersweet holiday for us. I was so very excited because it was Caroline's first Christmas, but sadly we had members of our family not with us. It has been almost 6 months since Harold passed away, but it honestly some days just feels like yesterday. In Duluth (where my mom lives) they have crosses that the town will put up on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor those that have served in the military and have now passed away. A dear friend of ours got the city to put one up for Harold this year and Mom took a picture of it on Veterans Day. For Christmas Brian had it framed for her and it definitely reminded me of how much he was missed.
My brother Robert and sister-in-law Rebecca also weren't with us as they now live in Macedonia. We definitely missed having them around to share in the festivities and provide us with their witty commentary. :) Although they definitely helped in adding to the ridiculousness that was Caroline's gift bonanza. Here is a picture of my sweet girl surrounded by her bounty. Insane isn't it?? :)
She anxiously waited the opportunity to open all of her gifts and find out what she'd gotten!
Caroline had the most exhausting day ever and she slept very hard most of the afternoon and loved all of her new toys and outfits. But she especially loved the bows...
The greatest part (in my opinion) was that it snowed. In all my thirty-two years it has never snowed where I lived on Christmas Day. Caroline's first Christmas and she already gets a White Christmas! How exciting! She heard about it and immediately put on some boots and was ready to go out and play in the snow!
Too bad we said it was too cold for her! :)
All in all it was truly a wonderful Christmas and I am so glad that Caroline just loved it. I look forward to many more Christmases with her and watching her grow up. It was just so much more magical with her in our lives.
