Christmas Day, I woke up to find this letter typed up with a monogram included by Gingerbread the Elf (aka Kevin or daddy):
GingerBread’s Letter…
Dear Emma & Lily,
I want to Thank You for welcoming me into your family.
I had the best time watching over you and have told
Santa of all the nice things you have done, from:
1. Donating your old toys and clothes to the children of Long Beach
2. Emma, Santa is so happy to hear that you
love school and were so nice to “Veronica“.
3. Lily, Santa is so proud to hear that you are
going potty like a big girl.
4. Emma & Lily, continue to be good to one another.
5. Finally, Emma & Lily, be good to your mommy
and daddy.They love you more than you know.
Santa said I can stay for the rest of the year
and I can’t wait to come back next year
to see how you’ve grown.
Merry Christmas & Love,
GBE
Gingerbread Elf
My girls were sound asleep when I first laid eyes on the above letter and very shortly I was awoken by Lily and then Emma, who could barely contain themselves running into our living room to find out the Santa had visited the night before. This was the first year that my girls were really so very much into Christmas and Santa. I wish I could have stopped time for just a few minutes, but alas it doesn’t work that way.
Barbie’s Dreamhouse Was a Hit!!
Nevertheless, Emma’s first words were, “My Barbie Dollhouse, Santa remembered!” She was so very excited and both girls after getting over the initial shock of Barbie’s Dreamhouse and the brand new Craft Table that Santa, aka Kevin (daddy) had even autographed with his very own artwork, didn’t know where to start first with all the wrapped presents. We might have gone a bit overboard, but seriously I swear it didn’t look like that much when we had purchased these presents. The girls took about 15 minutes to tear into all of Kevin’s beautiful wrapping and Emma asked, “Where is my Easy Bake Oven?” I swear this kid truly had a one track mind between the dollhouse and that oven. We had saved it for last and when we handed the girls the wrapped package, Emma’s eyes twinkled. When they got the wrapping off, we heard in unison, “The Easy Bake Oven.”
Santa’s (aka Kevin/Daddy’s) Artwork…
The girls ended up making out like bandits between our gifts, which also included the craft table, Princess Dress-up clothes and matching shoes, The Easy Bake Oven, Minnie Boutique’s Small House and matching figures; my family, who got them all sorts of clothes and toys; as well as Kevin’s family who did the same. I will say one thing my kids are definitely spoiled rotten by all that come in contact with them in our family. And if Emma got something, Lily got the same to minimize the arguments for when they play together, because we have learned in the past that when one girl is playing with some toy the other usually wants the same thing.
But true to form the biggest hits for Emma and Lily (too) were The Barbie Dreamhouse and The Easy Bake Oven that Santa was asked for from the beginning this past year.
Easy Bake Oven Red Velvet with Pink Icing Cupcakes…
Emma hasn’t stopped playing with her dollhouse, except for food, bathroom breaks, a trip to Nanny Huldie’s House for more present/dinner and to make Red Velvet Cupcakes with pink icing from her new Easy Bake Oven with me.
All-in-all, a wonderful Christmas was had by all. My girls wore themselves out and passed out early sleeping all night long dreaming of Barbies, Easy Bake Ovens and whatever else little princesses dream. Just can’t believe it is all over and am more than a bit teary eyed about that one, because it just went too fast. We hope you too had a very wonderful, Merry Christmas.
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Jane Marsh says
Merry Christmas, Janine; it sounds like you had a wonderful day!
JanineHuldie says
Jane we did and hope your family did, too. Merry Christmas!!
Kera says
Awe, such a happy scene! I love being able to buy the gifts that our kids ask for and seeing the look on their faces when they open them up. I'm looking forward to that the most with my daughter. She's still too young to "get" the idea of gifts and Christmas, but I could tell that she was happy by her babbling and screaming and tearing through the paper 🙂 Glad your family had an amazing Christmas!
JanineHuldie says
Oh Kera, I remember that with Emma at first and then with Lily. This was truly the first year that they seemed to get it and watching their faces and hearing the squeals of delight was so heartwarming for me and exciting, too!! Merry Christmas again and actually just came from your post and glad to see you guys had a great one, too 🙂
Rachel Harper says
Sounds like a beautiful Christmas, I can picture it as you write! They'll treasure this Christmas for sure!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Rachel and Merry Christmas to you and your family, too!!
JanineHuldie says
I was thinking the same thing when I read your post this morning. Merry Christmas to you and your family Julie!!
JanineHuldie says
Sorry Richard, but like I said on Facebook if it makes you feel better I got to mix, bake and cleanup, too while Emma "helped", lol!! Seriously, hope you and your wife had a very Merry Christmas, too!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Michelle and hope you too had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy the end of the year, as well!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Clark and loving the way you are thinking. Now if I only I could fast forward to May and some warmer weather, lol!!
JanineHuldie says
Oh Terrye thank you for saying that and you and your family deserve only the best of the best, too 🙂
Cyndi says
May you and yours have a prosperous New Year! You're one awesome mom and Kevin is one heck of an artist! 😉
JanineHuldie says
Thanks so much Cyndi and hope you too had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year, too!! 🙂
gigigirl says
Please tell Emma that I can't wait to taste something she bakes in her new Easy Bake Oven. Love to the girls and all of you. xxoo
JanineHuldie says
Aunt Gloria, she is sound asleep right now, but will tell her first thing in the morning!! Love you too xoxo!!
Cyndi says
May you and yours have a prosperous New Year! You’re one awesome mom and Kevin is one heck of an artist! 😉
Erika Bragdon says
Oh what fun! Isn't it the best to see their excited faces on Christmas morning?
And I love the idea of the letter from the Elf – I'm going to try that next year!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Erika and so happy to see you here. There faces said it all and were totally priceless to me. The elf letter was all my husband believe it or not and he even created a monogram to go with it. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too!!!
JanineHuldie says
Thanks Melanie and can't take credit for that letter. It was all Kevin's idea and he actually wrote it. He joked with me that anyone could be a writer, but he actually could and has been writing a screenplay in his spare time 🙂