Merry Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012.  It really was an extra special Christmas.  Tessa is really into everything about it and Nolan really had fun with it too (minus the whole Santa experience!).  There sure is something extra special about the magic that Christmas brings.  The look in Tessa and Nolan's eyes when we talk about Christmas is priceless. 

Mom made these little Santa Christmas countdowns that Tessa enjoyed doing every morning before school.  I took the picture a while ago, hence how many days are left. 

 Santa came last night, we must have been good this year!!

 Time to dig in!!

 Another one...

 And another one...

 Wowzers, another one!

The microphone has been a favorite.  The kids have been rocking out since the moment the mic was put together. 

We might have a little rock star on hand, oh boy.  Someone loves playing with the microphone and singing.  I need to get a video, it's too funny.  Especially when Tessa and Nolan are rocking out together!  Man I love those two.

Christmas Eve 2012

Christmas Eve, the beginning of the fun-filled two days of celebrations.  The thing I was excited about the most was surprising the kids with the Disney trip that will happen next summer.  Bry and Edie helped with the surprise too.  I don't think all of the kids really comprehend just how much fun it is going to be.  We'll all be staying in one big Disney house.  We had so much fun two years ago in Hayward all staying together in the house and I can only imagine that this will be even more fun. 

 Tessa was pretty excited to give Nolan the present that she bought for him at the school gift shop.  She was so proud of herself.  She had an explanation for everything that she purchased, it was pretty cute.  She bought Nolan a little fishing game because he loves fishing.  She bought Derek an ice scrapper because it will be snowing soon (and boy did it ever snow).  She got Grandma and Grandpa Meade two containers of play-doh, one purple and one pink, because the play-doh at their house is all mixed together.  And she got me pink slippers that look just like ones that she has.  She was so proud and I loved the explanation that she had for each item :)

 Christmas Eve morning, just about to head to Grandma and Grandpa's.

 At Grandma and Grandpa Meade's, getting ready for the fun!

A little snuggle-fest before the gift opening.

Hi Bry and Edie!!  Wish you could have joined us but Skype is the next best thing to having you with us.

Bry and Edie helped with the surprise.  All the kids opened up a calendar and Bry and Edie had the same calendar in SD.  Bry flipped though the months and pointed out June.  There was a big Mickey sticker on June 15, 2013.  Disney here we come!

It was a Disney themed Christmas.  Mickey, Minnie, princesses.  The kids are going to have so much fun!

The Mitchell Christmas is always so fun.  I didn't get many pics from the evening.  Santa decided to stop by on his trip to Lodi and you can see by Nolan's face he wasn't too excited.  He went CRAZY!  Tessa was pretty excited about him this year and was really brave to sit on his lap.  It took Nolan a while to settle down but he kept screaming, "I don't like him!"  Oh Nolie... :)

 On the way out Santa stopped to get his pic taken with Grandma Meade :)

 Tessa the helper busy handing out gifts to everyone from under the tree.

We were treated to some beautiful flute playing and piano playing by Ella and Mitchell.  I should have taken a picture down the hall as well so you could see how many people were watching.  Good job guys, we hope for the same concert next year!

Our first visit by the tooth fairy

Someone lost their first tooth yesterday!  Tessa was so excited.  We thought it was going to happen soon.  Yesterday when I came home from work she told me all about it because it happened at school..."and guess what mom?  It didn't even hurt at all!"  The tooth fairy made an appearance last night but that fairy is so quick and quiet that we never even saw her.  Tessa was pretty excited to wake up and have $2 in her tooth container.  When she realized that it was money she was very excited.  She screamed, " ONE DOLLAR!"  Then when she realized it was actually two dollars and she screamed, "TWO DOLLARS MOM.  WOW, ONE FOR ME AND ONE FOR NOLIE!"  Man I love that girl.

While we were getting ready for school this morning Tessa was explaining to Nolan what happened to her tooth.  She said it didn't turn into money, no that was the fairy paying her for the tooth.  They pay for the tooth so the tooth fairy can use the tooth to turn it into fairy dust.  I have a feeling the tooth fairy will be coming back soon with a few more wiggly teeth :)