Christmas Eve and Christmas

I am so sad that the holidays are really over, but it was so much fun this year. We started off Christmas Eve with an early present from Uncle Creed and Aunt Amanda. They brought over this super cute vacuum for Caylin. She absolutely loved it! She had seen one at her cousin's a couple of weeks ago, and cute Amanda vowed she would find one for Caylin for Christmas.

After the traditional Healey family movie on Christmas Eve (this year's flick was Tale of Desperaux, and unfortunately because of a busy toddler, I missed the entire middle section of the movie) and a much needed nap, we went to my grandparents' for pizza. Even though you can't tell much from the picture, Caylin went to town on that peppermint fat boy ice cream. She also really loves her mimi!

Opening pj's on Christmas Eve.

I'll just explain now that it's a good thing I got a picture of the new pj's the night before, because Christmas morning didn't get off to a smooth start. I'll spare the details, but I will say that I was awakened by the unmistakable sound of a dirty diaper over the monitor, and a good load of laundry and a shower soon followed for Caylin.

All month long she would tell you that Santa was going to bring her a bike, and that is the first thing she saw when she walked out to look at the tree. We had a hard time getting her off it to open anything else.


The only thing she legitimately asked for herself (without mommy or daddy feeding her ideas) was "ABC cereal." That was an easy wish to fulfill!

After opening presents at our house and getting ready, we went to my parents'. Caylin was spoiled once again. She got the cutest outfit for the baby Stella doll my mom got her last year. She also got a "fort" so that she and mimi don't have to drag out the card table and blankets every time now! This was a big hit!

new shades!

nice hat! Our little family at the Healeys.

Caylin got a tutu, wings, wand and Tinkerbell doll from Haley.

She also got the cutest princess castle from Grandma Jill and Papa Fred, along with a cute book.

Our last stop of the day was at DeeDee and Grum's (my grandparents). I love this picture of Caylin and Papa laying on her new owl sleeping bag.

The sleeping bag came in a backpack and even had a flashlight and water bottle along with it. When she put this on and started running around, time all of a sudden flashed forward about four years (although I really hope she doesn't need to take lovey to school with her!).

That night my parents and my brother came over for pizza and a movie and to see all of Caylin's new toys. She really got spoiled, but it was so fun to see her with everything. The next morning when she woke up and started looking around her room, she kept saying, "I want that! I want that!" It has been a crazy couple of weeks, but it all went by way too fast. I just keep thinking how fortunate we are and how grateful I am to have the family and friends that we do.

Merry Christmas!

I can't believe to day is Christmas Eve already. I can't explain how excited I am to see Caylin tomorrow morning and see how she reacts to all the presents under the tree. Last year I was excited, but the only thing she really cared about was a package of peanut M&Ms from my stocking. She has been singing Christmas songs all month (Up On the Housetop and Santa Cwaus is Coming to Town being her personal favorites), enjoying opening up the advent calendar each morning, and searching for Christmas lights whenever we go out in the car. She loves to help me turn the Christmas tree lights on, and has even helped take the tags off some of the presents. What a magical time of year to experience all these joys through the eyes of a child, and it has been really neat to try and teach Caylin about the true meaning of Christmas and about the birth of our Savior. I wish that the season wasn't almost over and we could keep it around longer because I think Caylin and I will both really miss everything. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and get to enjoy time with your families and friends!

(I just had to post a pic of my little girly girl - she has really become ALL girl the last little bit and it has been so fun!)

I Need Daddy!

Almost everytime Caylin wakes up, either first thing in the morning or from a nap, she calls out "Mommy, where are you?" repeatedly until I come in and get her. The other morning I can hear her call out, and I turned over to see that it was still only 6:30 in the morning. Hoping that she may go back to sleep for a bit (which happens sometimes), I stayed in bed for a minute. She kept calling out to me, but I guess she realized that wasn't working because I hear "Mommy, where are you? I need daddy!" I couldn't help but laugh, and yes, I did go in and get her.

I Am a Child of God

So last Sunday I was sitting in the foyer with Caylin during Sacrament Meeting, and she turns to me and says, out of nowhere, "I am a kild (child) of God!" It caught me a bit off guard, but I couldn't help but smile and give her a big hug.

She was in the Primary program a few weeks ago along with the rest of the Nursery, and they were supposed to get up and say "My name is . . . I am a Child of God." She got up and said her name, and I told her the I am a Child of God part a bit fast, so she just said "God," but that's better than what she had practiced, which was either "My name is God," or "My name is Caylin, I am God!"

Anyway, she has been saying "I am a kild of God" randomly the past couple of days and it is so cute. While in the store the other day, she wouldn't stop saying it. I don't know if the people around us could really hear her, but it was so cute!

This is my Caylin after a sheet of stickers. She also had to have her glasses on because mommy did too.
I thought this was so cute! She was playing with her "tato bugs" the other day and I looked over and she had created this masterpiece all by herself! The pieces are even in the right places, although a bit crooked, but I have to say I was impressed!

Bus Ride to see Santa

Last week we went with Colby's family for the annual bus ride to see Santa. I was so happy it was actually decent weather so we didn't freeze.

Caylin is not a fan of Santa, so she was really hesitant to get near him. She is so funny because as much as she doesn't want to be around him, she still has to watch him and say hi to him, but from a distance. Pretty soon there will be too many kids to get all in one picture!

Santa gave out coloring books to all the kids, and Caylin was thrilled. Hopefully next year she'll want to sit on his lap!