Christmas was so exciting this year for everyone since it was Maison's first Christmas. It is just so much more fun to experience it with a 'little one'. As usual, we went to my parents on Christmas Eve for our family dinner and gift exchange. We did 'secret Santas' again this year for everyone except Maison. Maison was so good and enthralled with the lights. She sat in Adam's or my lap during dinner and then quietly sat in her bouncer while we opened presents. She received more toys and clothes than you could ever imagine but she also got some really amazing and touching gifts from my family....some of the highlights: Shari gave her a performance stage with lights and a microphone...a perfect gift for a little drama queen in training. My parents gave her a Spode Santa Cookie plate...it's never too early to start her China collection, a Red Envelope ABC quilt with her name and birth date monogrammed on it (it is truly precious!) and Silver Christmas ornaments to denote her first Christmas. Nannie gave her her 1st American Girl doll so that she could build up a collection before she was old enough to play with them.
Maison all dressed up in her Christmas dress ready to open presents...
ABC monogrammed quilt and Spode Christmas plate from my parents:
The most amazing gift of all was from my brother....he requested Shari to set up a trust fund for Maison that he will be funding to pay for her education and travel expenses until she finishes school. Adam and I were both speechless at how thoughtful this was of my brother and what an unbelievable life changing gift this is for Maison. We have been VERY WORRIED about the proposed changes in the Plano school district (busing in kids from economically disadvantaged areas or large number of ESL students, redrawing lines so a large number of these kids would be in 'our' central cluster) and now we definitely have the option to send her to private school if deemed necessary. Not to mention, we will never have to worry about how to pay for college or expensive international (yet very educational ;oP ) vacations.
Ready to go to bed...gotta rest up for Christmas Day!
It is tradition in our family to open all non-Santa gifts on Christmas Eve so after all the gifts Maison got the night before she still had Santa to go on Christmas Day...
Maison coming down the stairs at Nooey's and G'daddy's to see what Santa had brought.
Maison checking out her swing and other presents from Santa.
Hanging her "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament on our tree at home.
When we were little my Dad always had us lay out all our presents and took a picture each year. So here is Maison with her 1st Christmas 'loot'...
Maison was the best 'present' of all!
It was truly a magical Christmas this year and a great first Christmas for Maison!
Um, is that your flocked tree or your mom's, cause I totally love it and want one just like it!
ReplyDeleteThey are both flocked. My parents is the one with multi-colored ornaments. Ours is the one with all red and silver ones. They are both real trees that we had flocked...
ReplyDeleteOh come on! I can't put a real tree up on Nov 1, it won't last til Christmas. They are gorgeous, I've got to find me a fake that looks just like.
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