Christmas 2011! (Warning: PIP heavy!)

We were so blessed this year for Christmas. We are so grateful for all of our family and friends, and of course for all that we have!

This year was so much fun with Charlotte because she actually showed an interest in opening her presents from Santa and family!

We started off the holiday weekend by going to my parents house. Charlotte was immediately obsessed with her new table and chairs from Grandpa.

She was a very lucky little girl, and Santa had stopped by Nana and Grandpa's house just in time. She loved all of her new toys and clothes, including her new Chica doll, her easel, her Zany Zoo, and her new play house! What more could a girl ask for??


Then Santa made a visit to our house!

Santa was very good to Charlotte! She was very content and happy. She must have been a good girl this year!

However, Charlotte was NOT pleased with the clothes that Santa left in her stocking. She was not a fan, and it showed.

Christmas day was spent with Brian's family, and Charlotte was again surprised with a Santa visit there. This kid now has her very own, personalized, VW Bug. She's rollin.

She is still warming up to the idea of the car, but she has a few years to practice her racing before she lands herself into the competitive field. We will have her good and ready by the time she is 8. Have no fear.

All in all, it was a great Christmas. Charlotte was a trooper with the long hours and car rides. She was a little mad though when we wouldn't let her have dessert. Although, I think Grandpop Ecks sneaked her some ice cream somewhere in the mix. Hehe.

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!

The Santa Express!

Instead of bringing Charlotte to the mall to see Santa Claus, we decided to take her on the Santa Express. The Santa Express is a train ride at Allaire State Park in which the families take a ride around the park 3x and Santa comes and visits all of the children in the train during the ride. How did Charlotte like it, you ask?

SHE DIDN'T!! She cried as soon as Santa popped his head in the car we were in. She was not liking the experience at all. She just wanted Santa to go away, and fast.

Even though she was not thrilled in the slightest, it was still a nice afternoon with our parents and Charlotte. As soon as the whole Santa experience was over, she was back to having a blast. Hopefully next year she will enjoy Santa a little more, but for now, we will keep a distance.

I also know that Charlotte is going to love opening presents this year. How do I know? Well, she found a few presents and decided she wanted to test her unwrapping skills. Her skills are accurate and ready for Christmas morning. Now, off to hide the presents a little better.  :)

Nothing but busy...

As always, the holiday season has proven to be very, very busy. Charlotte and I have been doing a lot of Christmas shopping, so we have seen our share of busy stores this year already. I definitely prefer to do my shopping online, but for some things, you just can't avoid a store. Every year I am more amazed at how crazy the stores get, and how zoned-in shoppers get while shopping for gifts. It's amusing and scary at the same time.

Our tree is all decorated, and our house is ready for Christmas! Yay!!

On the morning of December 6th, St. Nicholas visited and left Charlotte a wonderful new Gymboree ball in her shoe that she left out for him. If you are not familiar with the celebration and feast day of St. Nicholas, read here: St. Nicholas Day. I have been celebrating this feast day since I was a little girl, and always loved the excitement of finding something in my shoe each year. St. Nicholas is also my Patron Saint, so it has always had a little more meaning for me. I love December 6th and hope that I can pass on that excitement to Charlotte as well.

I am also very, VERY excited to say that through Scentsy, I was able to donate 7 Sasha Bears to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). I am so thankful for all of those who have donated to the cause, and cannot wait for the children to be able to hold these adorable stuffed animals. I am so unbelievably happy that so many others were able to participate and able to give back to the children with me! Thank you so much everyone!

We are eagerly awaiting Christmas, and counting down the last few days until the big day arrives! We have yet to go get our pictures taken with Santa, but it is coming soon. Well, it better, because we are running out of time!! Haha!

Happy December!

The holiday season is my favorite!! I am so happy that it is December and that the songs, decorations, and movies are in full gear!

I have also deemed it OK for Charlotte to start wearing her Christmas themed duds. We have a few really cute Christmas outfits, and I want her to get as much use out of them as possible! I cannot wait for her to wear her Christmas PJs. They are absolutely adorable!! We ordered the following set from Smocked Auctions:

We have been busy shopping for Christmas and getting everything ready for the holidays. I really hope the tree can outlast the curiosity of a 15 month old. Wow. 15 months old!! I cannot believe it! Just a year ago, she was so itty bitty. It has all gone by way too fast!! Here is a look back at this time last year:

My baby isn't a baby anymore.