What Francie asked for:
From Santa, she explicitly wanted a scooter, gum, and Legos. She stuck to this wish list for over a month, which strikes me as pretty consistent for a 3 ("and a half!") year old.
From Santa, she explicitly wanted a scooter, gum, and Legos. She stuck to this wish list for over a month, which strikes me as pretty consistent for a 3 ("and a half!") year old.
What she received:
Santa did indeed pull through and get her a Micro scooter. She appeared disappointed that it wasn't wrapped under the tree. She did NOT erupt into excitement like a friend of a friend's daughter did in an IG video. Like her father, the Bean's response to gifts is anticlimactic. At one point she did tell me that she would be very sad if Santa didn't bring the items she requested. A "teachable moment," we explained that sometimes Santa brings gifts from a wish list, but some years he knows better and brings something else. Meanwhile I'm thinking "why does Santa get all the credit around here?!?"
She did also get Legos - from Logan and Max, then again from Uncle Brian and Aunt Jen, as well as a little Lego store that they all set up and played with together. And I gave her gum, along with some new nail polish, her own mints, and a chapstick that turned out to be tinted bright pink. Her favorite gift? The gum. Mama for the win.
She also received a plethora of other gifts - magnet tiles and a cool new veggie Memory/Matching game from Uncle B and Aunt Zahavah; glow-in-the-dark stars which now decorate her ceiling from her Daddy (me); a "skirt service" from Mimi where she gets to choose a fabric and receive handmade skirts and new tights and tops in the mail throughout the year; Beebee spoiled her all month with the advent calendar; she got an awesome new art easel from Mimi and Papa, with white board and chalk board and paper roll and lots of room for storage for art supplies; and a million other generous gifts from friends and family near and far! It, obvi, gave me tremendous anxiety to see all the excess, the wrapping paper piles, and the greed bubble up inside all of us. Phew, consumerism/commercialism and I have a seriously "it's complicated" relationship.
Santa did indeed pull through and get her a Micro scooter. She appeared disappointed that it wasn't wrapped under the tree. She did NOT erupt into excitement like a friend of a friend's daughter did in an IG video. Like her father, the Bean's response to gifts is anticlimactic. At one point she did tell me that she would be very sad if Santa didn't bring the items she requested. A "teachable moment," we explained that sometimes Santa brings gifts from a wish list, but some years he knows better and brings something else. Meanwhile I'm thinking "why does Santa get all the credit around here?!?"
She did also get Legos - from Logan and Max, then again from Uncle Brian and Aunt Jen, as well as a little Lego store that they all set up and played with together. And I gave her gum, along with some new nail polish, her own mints, and a chapstick that turned out to be tinted bright pink. Her favorite gift? The gum. Mama for the win.
She also received a plethora of other gifts - magnet tiles and a cool new veggie Memory/Matching game from Uncle B and Aunt Zahavah; glow-in-the-dark stars which now decorate her ceiling from her Daddy (me); a "skirt service" from Mimi where she gets to choose a fabric and receive handmade skirts and new tights and tops in the mail throughout the year; Beebee spoiled her all month with the advent calendar; she got an awesome new art easel from Mimi and Papa, with white board and chalk board and paper roll and lots of room for storage for art supplies; and a million other generous gifts from friends and family near and far! It, obvi, gave me tremendous anxiety to see all the excess, the wrapping paper piles, and the greed bubble up inside all of us. Phew, consumerism/commercialism and I have a seriously "it's complicated" relationship.
What we received:
I gave Alex some new, non-lady Levis, and a few new Western dress shirts (including a matching one for the Bean), a road atlas (because we're old school like that), and a road trip USA book to get us excited and inspired to make an epic road adventure happen this summer. Brian and Jen gave us some goodies as well as an IOU for lodging and fun during a planned trip to MI this summer, including time all together exploring the Upper Peninsula. Alex gave me new pearl earrings, which we later argued about, as we do following every gift exchange ("You always ruin presents." "It's not my fault you're not good at giving gifts." "You said you wanted new pearl earrings." "I didn't even care if they were real. And besides, my dad had some in some old jewelry box. I just didn't want to tell you in case you also bought me some. You can return them, right?" "Ugh, you're impossible!") The Close's generously gave me a few gift cards, including to SW Air - I'm thinking a Denver trip is in order!
I gave Alex some new, non-lady Levis, and a few new Western dress shirts (including a matching one for the Bean), a road atlas (because we're old school like that), and a road trip USA book to get us excited and inspired to make an epic road adventure happen this summer. Brian and Jen gave us some goodies as well as an IOU for lodging and fun during a planned trip to MI this summer, including time all together exploring the Upper Peninsula. Alex gave me new pearl earrings, which we later argued about, as we do following every gift exchange ("You always ruin presents." "It's not my fault you're not good at giving gifts." "You said you wanted new pearl earrings." "I didn't even care if they were real. And besides, my dad had some in some old jewelry box. I just didn't want to tell you in case you also bought me some. You can return them, right?" "Ugh, you're impossible!") The Close's generously gave me a few gift cards, including to SW Air - I'm thinking a Denver trip is in order!
Our favorite Tahoe times:
We had a legitimate blast in Tahoe during the holidays. There is not much that is more heart-warming than seeing your whole immediate family love on your daughter like we got to observe. She is one lucky in love little Bean. Spoiled to boot. And because it snowed, we did all the fun outdoor adventures, including building snowmen, sledding a few times, snowshoeing, and skiing. We also poked around both Tahoe City and Squaw. We ate amazing food, courtesy of everyone but me. There was a lot of sugar and alcohol consumed. And the company was nothing short of wonderful.
Papa later made this adorable video to recap our holiday fun in Tahoe. I didn't realize what a rising musical star my daughter is!
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