Christmas 2019

Christmas Day was amazing!  These sweet kiddos made it so special and everything about it was magical.  Their excitement, their gratitude, their love...it was all perfect.

They were up around 6:30 and did a great job of waiting on the steps to get a picture before going down!

 Daddy snuck downstairs first to get a picture...looks like Santa came!!! 

They went straight to the stockings first and lots of screams of excitement and candy sneaking/eating as soon as it was found.  

 Joseph unwrapping a reeses at 6:45 in the morning!

 Julia flopped back on the ground because she was so excited!  The fun has just begun sweet Julia!

 Joseph opened up one of the first presents and his reaction was priceless!!  His top gift on his list was the Mountain Cave minecraft lego set.  He understood that this particular lego set was pretty expensive so although he was hopeful he was prepared to not receive it...but, Santa came through!  As he was unwrapping it I heard him say under his breath, "Please be the mountain cave" and sure enough he opened it and went crazy!!!!  He was beyond thrilled.  It took him about 5 days to put it all together-definitely the biggest lego set he owns and it is pretty cool!  Thank you Santa!!

 Ella's top gift on her wish list was also fulfilled by Santa...an American Girl doll!!  She was SO excited and even more excited that the doll looks like her! 

Santa was great to everyone this year as Julia also received her top gift on her wish list...a Kindie Kid.  She saw this on a Target ad around Thanksgiving and never stopped talking about it.  Santa must have been listening and made Julia a very happy girl with Jessiecakes!

 And, Charlotte, God bless her!  She was SO much fun to have around this year!  Every.single.present was better than the next and her reaction was just incredible.  So much joy!!  Ironic thing was that she did receive a tablet which I totally thought was going to be her top gift but she wasn't over the top excited about it...was more thrilled about her puppy that barks and does backflips.  Ha!  I'm sure she'll end up putting the tablet to good use though!

A letter from Santa and Jingle!!

 After a wonderful morning at home we headed to Nani and Poppa's for the rest of the day and dinner.  We missed the Zicklers but it was so great to be with everyone else. 

We played "Would you rather" Christmas style and of course, the name game!

 One of my favorite traditions-Gram's Delicious cake and singing Happy Birthday to Jesus. 

So thankful for such a special, memorable Christmas.  I love the ages of the kids right now-I feel like we are in such a sweet spot of life and I never want to take it for granted.  I'd be lying if didn't say that I felt a little sad on Christmas night once it was all over-just as the kids were sad to say goodbye to Jingle I was feeling sad saying goodbye to all of the magic that the Christmas season brings but do so with a joyful and grateful heart.  

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is just as special to me as Christmas Day.  I love the excitement and anticipation for the following day and this year didn't disappoint.  

We spent the morning at home-Rich and I both went for a run, the kids played, and then we got ready for the night.  We met Nani, Poppa and the Ozecks at church for the Christmas Eve mass at 4:00 which meant leaving the house at 3:15...and we were still in the hall, close to the back but at least able to all get seats!  Msgr. Dennis was the priest that said mass and he did a great job directing it at the kids even calling them up to the altar.  At the end of the service he riled up all of the kids by saying that he gave them all permission to open one present tonight-the kids went crazy!  During his homily he told a story about how it is important to hold your parent's hand when you are small and how that is the same as holding God's hand so you won't get lost.  We didn't talk about the homily on the way home or later that night but two days after Christmas Julia and I were walking up the stairs and she said to me, "I have to hold God's hand so I don't get lost."  It almost brought tears to my eyes that she remembered and really seemed to understand it.  Sweet girl!  Even when we don't think they're listening, sometimes they are!

After mass everyone came over to our house where we had all sorts of delicious appetizers for dinner, played and hung out together.

Merry Christmas Eve from the Ducotes!

  

How does this always happen?!?  

Bribed them for this one!

Christmas karaoke with Poppa

I had heard about a street in Westwood that goes all out with their lights and on Christmas Eve Santa is around giving out cookies so we decided to check it out and it was great!  The houses had free hot chocolate and cookies for everyone and it was a great way to end the night with the Ozecks and Nani and Poppa.  

We then came back home and let the kids open up their gift from Nonna and Pop Pop since the Ducote tradition is to open all gifts, other than Santa gifts on Christmas Eve.  The kids loved opening their special gifts and got everyone even more excited for the following morning (and harder to get to sleep!  Ha!)

We left some cookies and carrots for Santa and the reindeer and a note from Julia that said, "Pull String".  The kids have heard the story numerous times about when I was a little girl that I tied a string to my wrist and asked Santa to pull it in hopes that he would pull it so hard that I'd wake up.  Unfortunately, it didn't happen for me but this year Julia was hopeful it may work for her...you'll have to read the Christmas entry to see if it worked ;) 

  We also all said good bye to Jingle who will be surely missed but are thankful for such a wonderful Christmas season full of memories with her!  

All snuggled in with her string attached.  

Love, love, love Christmas Eve and am so thankful for these amazing memories and times with our family.

Ella's Birthday!

Gosh, we love this girl and we can't believe that she is 7!!! She has grown up so much especially this past year and it is hard to put into words how much joy she brings to our family.  Ella's birthday fell on Sunday this year, over Christmas break, so the school celebrated her on Friday, the last day before winter break.  Her birthday was announced during Friday Flag which was a fun treat and we brought in donuts for her class.  It was a perfect way to start winter break and kick off her birthday festivities coming ahead!  

Ella is strong, confident, and wants to be heard but not in a loud or obnoxious manner.  She is so creative and is always cutting, drawing, glueing, painting or creating.  I can't tell you how many socks have been cut and containers have been made.  She likes to be a part of the crowd but also thrives on playing alone and is so comfortable in her own skin doing her own thing (the only thing that seems to truly bother her is when Joseph makes fun of her arms being hairy which we've talked about so hopefully no longer bothers her and takes place).  She is beautiful, cuddly (when she wants to be), loving, kind, such a great helper, smart (even though she doesn't realize it sometimes), a great athlete and an amazing friend, daughter and sister.  I have loved watching her relationships with Joseph, Julia and Charlotte develop especially this past year.  She and Joseph have a truly special bond.  They can spend hours with each other just talking and truly get along so well (even though I mentioned about the teasing of the arm hair earlier but that rarely happens.)  She and Julia also have a very special relationship and they can spend hours and hours in their room playing, imagining and creating and although they have different personalities they don't clash; rather they complement one another well.  And, she can baby Charlotte, which Charlotte totally eats up, but they can also play really well together and as Charlotte has gotten older I love watching all four of the play together.  Charlotte is the one who probably gets under Ella's skin the most but it is mostly because Charlotte is still in the toddler stage so just isn't at the maturity level but Ella is patient and if frustrated handles it well.  My favorite thing about Ella is that she can play with anyone-she hangs with the older boys, but she also loves spending time with girls of all ages...and everyone wants to be around her.  She has the BEST belly laugh/cackle and the thickest most beautiful long hair.  I love describing Ella with a tough outer shell but once you crack it she is the sweetest, kindest girl there is.  We just adore her and we are so proud of her!

For her birthday this year she wanted a sleepover with the Ozecks and a day with the girls getting her nails done.  We had to make some minor changes to the sleepover since the Ozecks flight was delayed so they spent the night on her birthday instead of the night leading up to it, but that ended up probably working out even better. 

She woke up on her birthday (Sunday) and we had breakfast and she opened presents.  She was a little nervous before opening up presents because Jingle was nowhere to be found...until the last present that she opened and Jingle was inside!!!!  I wish that I had gotten it on video because her reaction was priceless but we'll always have that memory!  So fun!  

She received some awesome presents including a Swiss Army Knife from Michael and John, hair chalk which was a huge hit from Nonna and Pop Pop, jeans from the Zicklers, a teal (her favorite color) wallet from Uncle Bubba and Aunt Hollie that had $5.00 inside it which she screamed so loud when she found it and a fit bit from us.  She was SO excited for all of her presents!!! 

We then went to church-we told her we have to show thanks for what an amazing birthday girl she is and she convinced me to let her wear her new jeans and Under Armour sweatshirt to church so that made it ok for her.  Directly after church we headed to Jersey Mike's for lunch with the Ozeck kids and Nani.  After lunch, Daddy took the boys and Charlotte home and Nani, Syd, Julia, Ella and myself headed to Cherry Blossom to get our nails and toes done!!  Since Ella was the birthday girl she got both done and everyone else chose either toes or nails.  It was Julia and Ella's first time and it was so special!!  

Does life get better than this?!?

Following the spa appointment we headed home for the kids to play for a bit and then celebrated with her favorite dinner (Sloppy Joes!) and ice cream cake, without any whipped cream, per her request!  It was special having Syd and Cole with us.  

We then bundled up (kind of, wasn't too chilly) and headed to Candy Cane Lane in Poway.  I remember going here growing up but this was the first time for us as a family and it was amazing!  We will definitely make this a tradition.  

Ella, we are so thankful for you and that you are in our family.  We can't wait to watch you grow this upcoming year and see all of the amazing things you do.  Happy 7th Birthday!  We love you!