Richmond, VA – Beaver Dam Creek Battlefield – Happy New Year!
Back in early December, my dad sent me, my mom, brother, and sister separate emails with the following question:
“Who in our family is the most excited by, desirous of, jazzed over toys?”
Our response was unanimous: MOM!
Yes, even Mom said, “Mom.” 😉
Dad then proposed the following scenario: “Think of one toy of all the toys already out there that Mother would most want to get for Christmas. Now consider, regardless of what Mother or you can think of, I’ve found something better. Now for me to make such a boast, you have to figure I’m very confident. Let me assure you, I am.”
Ha! Dad is normally a confident man, but that last line bordered on chutzpah! 😉 To my dad’s dismay no one responded to acknowledge or challenge his assertion. As I told him later, what more could we have said? The declaration was made setting expectations very high. Yet, I had no doubt Dad found the perfect gift for Mom.
The gift arrived a few weeks before Christmas. Dad opened the box and revealed the gift to me. He had to since I was going to wrap it. 😉 I was impressed! Dad DID find the perfect gift for Mom and a unique one at that! Adding to the mystery, this wasn’t something currently available as Dad had to purchase it from a third party.
The weeks leading up to Christmas were torturous for Mom! She kept asking us for hints. She said she knew it was a toy, but WHAT toy??? Dad was enjoying the banter and with all the back and forth, he slipped up, unaware, revealing it was a doll.
“I KNEW it!” Mom replied. Then she asked, “What kind of doll?”
I gently scolded Dad and told him his over-confidence was causing him to slip up now. No more hints! Christmas was just around the corner.
Christmas finally arrived and the whole family was reunited. We asked my Godson, Andrew, and niece, Kristin, who loves toys more than them and they replied, “GRANDMA!” It was the perfect time for Grandma to open her much anticipated gift!
Dad narrated as the suspense grew. We were all riveted as we watched Mom open her gift. She gently un-wrapped the package and then opened it with a box cutter. Once open, hundreds of foam peanuts greeted her. Unfazed, Mom scooped them up and discarded them until she reached another box wrapped in a protective foam sheet. “It’s a doll!” Mom exclaimed. Though what kind of doll she still did not know.
When Mom finally pulled the gift out of the protective sheet, she was surprised! She screamed, “WHOA! Look at that!”
France’s Can-Can doll from “It’s a Small World” met my Mom’s big smile with her own cheery smile. 🙂 Mom has always loved anything Disney, especially, “It’s a Small World.” What is so wonderful about this doll is that she sings “It’s a Small World” in English and French!
I asked Mom: “Is this the best gift?” Mom answered as she looked at Dad lovingly: “Oh yeah! I need the full collection now…” 😉
We had a lovely Christmas indeed and Dad definitely gets bragging rights! 🙂 Below are some pics from my family’s Christmas:
On our annual visit to NJ to visit my Aunt Lisa, Uncle Shawn, and cousin, Caroline. Dad poses with Andrew, Kristin, and Caroline.
I took Andrew and Kristin to ICE – over 2 million pounds of hand carved ice sculptures. This Christmas’ theme was “Christmas Around the World.”
Kristin liked this ice sculpture because she said the Samoan girl has brown hair and eyes like her.
Posing with my Godsons, Andrew and Josh.
My beautiful sister-in-law, Shannon, with Josh.
Kristin loves to talk and make her Aunt Jenny and Aunt Lizzy laugh! 🙂
Annual pic with my sister, Jeanette, and brother, Michael.
A little lipstick for the Christmas celebration! 🙂
Andrew, is a budding shoe lover. He asked that I feature his new sneakers, the Under Armour Curry 3, on my blog. This is for you, Andrew! 🙂
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year! I wish all of you love and blessings in 2017! It’s going to be a great year! Let that be your mantra! 🙂
Have a wonderful week. 🙂
Lizzy’s Latest for this week is the White House Black Market Rebel Suede Moto Boots. With my new monthly schedule, my review of these boots will post on Wednesday of next week. For now enjoy the pictures! 🙂
January 17, 2017 @ 5:46 am
Wonderful post daughter. Perhaps the best yet. It was a wonderful Christmas Day. Thank you for preserving the memory here.However I must make one small correction. When I was teasing Mother about how she would never be able to guess her gift, she didn’t exclaim that she knew it was a doll until AFTER you scolded me for absent-mindedly referring to it as such. 🙂
There are a lot of interesting facts that go along with this particular photoshoot. I suppose you’ll write about some of them in your next post, but I would like to point out one now. The photo of you on the bridge that looks like it was taken by someone standing above you was in fact taken by me as I stood beside you. I had to reach/stretch way up in the air to take it. Getting it with your full face and boots took many tries. Now I see it was worth the effort.
January 17, 2017 @ 2:44 pm
Thank you, Dad! I thought it was a very cute story to share. 🙂 Yes, we took many takes of that one shot on the bridge. I’m glad I found one I liked! Thank you for being so patient on that one particular shot.
January 17, 2017 @ 6:07 pm
Simply beautiful! I love this look from head to toe! Happy Tuesday darling!
Much love, Len
http://www.lenparent.com
January 17, 2017 @ 7:11 pm
Thank you so much, Len! Happy Tuesday, indeed! 🙂
January 18, 2017 @ 12:59 am
You look beautiful 🙂
-Karishma
http://yourbeautyjournal.com/origins-clear-improvement-active-charcoal-mask-to-clear-pores-review/
January 18, 2017 @ 2:05 pm
Karishma, thank you so much. 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!
January 23, 2017 @ 5:07 am
Loving this outfit girlie, you look amazing and I hope you have an amazing 2017!
Camila,
My Vogue Style | http://www.myvoguestyle.com
January 23, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
Thank you, Camila! Happy New Year to you too! 🙂