Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

It has certainly been a different Christmas this year, as it was just the three of us at home for the holidays awaiting our new bundle of joy. Kate has decided to call herself Kate Felix and is denying that her name is Kate Wagner. Thanks to Daddy for getting her to believe her brother's name will be Felix. 

Kate informed me on Christmas Eve morning that she wanted her "own" pie for Christmas and that I needed to make two. She is no doubt a Wagner with how much she loves pie! 

She insisted that all three of us wear our Santa hats while we opened gifts. Looks like it will be a tradition we will need to carry forward. She wasn't into opening gifts much, which we were happy with. Teaching her the true meaning of Christmas paid off for this year at least! We opened one to two gifts every couple of hours and watched her enjoy each gift as we went. First gift up was a trampoline from her Mommy and Daddy. 

 She was quite the helper putting it together. Daddy threw out a bad word while putting it together, and Kate quickly repeated it. We just laughed and had to ignore it, so she wouldn't continue to repeat it. Let's just hope she doesn't go to preschool tomorrow repeating it!

She is so thankful for all of the wonderful gifts everyone sent her. Everything from princess castles to dolls to clothes to horse stables to Dora. Thank you so much for all of the generosity! 

A stocking wouldn't be a stocking without M&Ms! "Naughty" her elf must have told Santa that she was a good girl. He brought her lots of goodies in her stocking. 

Kate and her Daddy love to dance and I love to watch them...It will be one of my favorite memories of Kate as a child. 

Kate was very excited to see Baby Jesus in the manger in the stable at church this morning, as she has been waiting for him for weeks. She is so smart that she noticed father wasn't wearing purple anymore for advent. We brought the gifts up to the alter during Mass, and she was so proud to be helping carry the bread. She kept trying to grab one on the way up. Little stinker! 

This is about as close to Santa as one could get this year. Kate was terrified of him! 

Ta-Dah

Kate and Ellie had their last day of gymnastics today until the New Year. They received ribbons for completing their class and were so excited. They did a great big "ta-dah" like Miss Linda taught them during their class. 

 A big hug and a "Merry Christmas" to each other to wrap up the morning.

 The girls exchanged gifts... Hello Kitty sparkly headphones from Ellie to Kate and a marble game from  Kate to Ellie. Kate was so proud of the card she made Ellie. She decided to take off some of the stickers after Ellie opened it to put on her own shirt. Now that is sharing.

Working on her strength on the bars while pretending to be a reindeer

Pre-school Christmas Party

Kate wasn't a fan of Santa this year, so we couldn't even get a great picture. Mommy had to squeeze in next to Santa as she clung to me. She liked her first ever candy cane that Santa still graciously handed over. When we asked her what she wants Santa to bring her for Christmas, she replies with "Pink." She posed in front of Frosty with her candy cane for a pic. 

She was all about the face painting booth and was so proud to have the Elf paint "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" on her face. 

Miss Kris worked with the kids to make their Mommy and Daddy's presents. This was the card on the present. This is the best card we've received by far! 

And, they made snowman art to hang on the wall during Winter. 

My First Dentist Appointment

I went to the dentist today for the first time and was a great patient! I opened my mouth wide while they checked out my teeth and counted to ensure I have 20. I passed with flying colors. Brushing three times a day has paid off. 

I wasn't a fan of the "tooth tickler" (aka the tooth polisher.) When they asked me if I had ever had my nails polished, I took off my shoes and socks to show them my painted toenails. We saved teeth polishing until the next time. 

By the end of the appointment, I was in LeighAnne's chair fixing up Mommy's teeth. I got a sticker and a bouncy ball at the end of my appointment and was so proud!

Macy's 8th Floor Christmas Display

Our annual tradition of visiting Macy's 8th Floor to see their Christmas Holiday Display. Kate was a little scared of all the figurines at first. Then, she warmed up and went back through for a second run. 

The mail carriers in the hot air balloons was one of her favorite displays.

Happy St. Nicholas' Day

Guess who came to visit Miss Kate last night? St. Nick! 

The legendary figure of St. Nicholas is derived from Nicholas of Myra who officiated as a bishop in 4th century Greece. During his lifetime he developed a reputation for gift-giving by putting coins into other people's shoes, which accounts for many of today's Christmas traditions that involve leaving gifts in shoes or boots

"Naughty" Elf

A little Elf showed up at our house this morning. Mommy says that this Elf will watch over me to see if I am naughty or nice and fly back to the North Pole to tell Santa every night. I will have to find him each morning when I wake up, so I know where he is watching me from. I can't touch him, as he is very magical. When Mommy asked me what I wanted to name my Elf, I quickly named him "Naughty." 

O' Christmas Tree

Only one Christmas tree at the Wagner household this year! Kate got out all of the ornaments Grandma Rose, Papa, and Nana have given her each year and hung them on the tree. 

A Christmas Carol

We kicked off the Christmas season by taking my Mom and Dad to "A Christmas Carol" at the Guthrie. It is such a great reminder of what the Christmas season is all about. May you have a blessed holiday season!

Baby Wagner's Room

Nana has been with us the last two weeks helping Mommy get ready for Baby Wagner. Let's just say that "nesting" is in full effect with only 4.5 weeks to go! 

Nana painted Baby Wagner's room grey, and we accented the room with blues and elephants. 

 Kate had to give the bed a try to ensure that it was ready to go. She laid in the crib just like she did when she was a baby, propped on her knees with her butt in the air.