Winterhaven & Christmas!

This year Christmas was even more special. My parents and one of my sisters came down to celebrate the holiday and to help out while Matt was in San Diego for a basketball tournament for 5 days. It is the first time they have been down here to celebrate Christmas since Lucas has been born. They usually come the day of Christmas or the day after so they haven't had the chance to see them the morning of. 

Since they came down we decided to take them to one of my favorite places during Christmas time in Tucson. Is a neighborhood called Winterhaven. They have been to it before when they came down a long time ago with my nieces when we rode on the horse drawn hayrides. I really love Winterhaven because it encompasses everything that I truly enjoy about the holiday. Just about every house is decorated like the Griswold house from Christmas Vacation with different themes. I love looking at the houses, the lights and the creative ways people decorate. It is just magical and memorable. I truly enjoy walking through with Lucas and Macie because they are just in awe of each house and have such excitement when they recognize a character they know from a movie or a particular symbol, like the Arizona Wildcats. Also, I love walking through with my Starbucks coffee. Just something about holding a nice caramel brulee latte and looking at Christmas lights that makes it really homey. This year I even splurged and got the kids hot chocolates to sip on as we looked at the lights. 

Macie enjoying her cup of hot chocolate ...
Maybe a little too much!

We started the night out with both kids in the double stroller! Bonus points please. Macie refuses to sit in a stroller now that she believes she is super independent. Lucas doesn't mind sitting in the stroller, but prefers to walk so he can take in every moment. It didn't last for too long because one of the first houses we saw had a hockey game and Lucas wanted out! The goal was to hit the hockey puck and hit the Grinch. We watched a few kids and adults try with no luck. Then it was Lucas' turn. They first two tries he missed. But on the third try, BAM! He hit the Grinch. He came running over shouting, "I won! I hit the Grinch!" He didn't win anything, but he was super excited! 

We made it a few more houses before Macie wanted to roam the streets on her own! She is not one to walk nicely through the streets taking in every house! She is the kid who runs from house to house to house to house! It is quite exhausting. It was a rare moment when she would pause at a house and then walk nice and slow. Macie also doesn't have the best of balance and she ended up falling about 3-4 times. Every time she would fall, she would cry, but could be persuaded to stop once you pointed out some kind of holiday item, like a candy cane. It was a great night!

Macie and Lucas in front of the fire truck decorated with U of A stuff!

Lucas hitting the Grinch with the hockey puck!

A Despicable Me themed house! Too cute!

An Elf themed house. This one was really cute!

My elf with Buddy the Elf!

This year decorating the tree was a lot of fun. Lucas was really into it and really thought about where to place each ornament. Macie just wanted to look at each one. I love that as they get older, they really start to get in the spirit of the holidays. Each of them have their own set of ornaments that they get to put on the tree along with ours. And every year they get a new one to add to their collection. Their very first ornaments are a pair of shoes, then they get one that either goes with what they love that year or their first initial. This year each of them got one that showed something they were into this year. Macie got a Doc McStuffins and Lucas got a Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. I just like the idea of them having a collection of ornaments for when they have their own trees as adults that they can share with their children. 

Lucas proud of his work.

Macie looking at the ornaments.

A new tradition this year was getting a picture taken with the Santa at the mall. We have never done this before. Usually we go to the Pancake Breakfast at my school and have their picture taken with the Santa there. This year we weren't able to go. Matt was in Yuma for a basketball tournament and I wasn't about to venture to my school alone with the two children. So when my family came down, they wanted to take them to get their picture with Santa. Matt's mom came along too. It is just something the Grandmas really wanted to do. We waited for a little over an hour in line. I know this for a fact because Matt and my sister, Shawna, had a bet about how long the line would be. The loser had to buy Starbucks the next morning for everyone. Shawna lost by 1 minute! Macie was doing great in line. So excited to see Santa. Couldn't wait to give him a hug! Lucas of course wanted to see Santa and to remind him to bring him a big basketball hoop for his present. As soon as it was our turn, Lucas ran right up to Santa. Macie on the other hand freaked out! It was the typical crying picture!

Playing in the snow while waiting to see Santa!

Priceless!
Lucas is so serious and Macie is screaming her head off!

On Christmas Eve we were tracking Santa to see where he was throughout the night and around 8:00 Lucas was checking to see where Santa was with Aunt Shawna. She showed him the video of Santa flying and said he was getting really close. Lucas took off, scaled the baby gate at the bottom of the steps and went right to bed. He knows that Santa won't come if he is awake! Finally the moment Lucas and Macie, but definitely Lucas, have been waiting for... Christmas morning! They were really good kids and slept in until 7 am! So proud of them. But as soon as they were awake, they were ready to go downstairs to see what Santa brought them.

Santa brought Macie an art easel so she can create masterpieces.
Grandma and Grandpa Fildes got her a kitchen.
She loves both of them... A lot!
Not a day goes by that she hasn't played with them.

Santa brought Lucas the Big Basketball Hoop that he wanted.
Grandma and Grandpa Fildes got him a Big Boy bike!
Again, he has used both of those every day!

I just love this picture.
It totally captures the excitement and awe that they both have about their presents.

This one is great too!
He is tearing off that paper with such excitement!
You can tell he is so happy!

Macie singing into her Doc McStuffins microphone that her Aunt Shawna got her!
She is not the greatest singer, but man does she love to sing!

Lucas with his Lacrosse set that he got from his Uncle Steve and Aunt Kathy!
Boy do they know what to get him!

They got Macie a Real Baby.

We had a really great Christmas. It was so nice that my parents were here to enjoy the holiday with the kids. I know it meant a lot to them to be here, but it meant a lot to me that they were here! It is moments like this that make you realize how important family is to each other! I know the kids really enjoyed having them here. They also loved having Aunt Shawna here to celebrate. They really enjoyed having her two dogs as well, Herbie (aka, Kerbie) and Pedro! The kids had a blast playing with them. It was also nice to have Great Grandma home on Christmas Day so that they could be with her on Christmas. She just loves watching the kids play! Macie really enjoys being around Great Grandma. They are best buddies. 

I hope you had a great Christmas!
Lucas and Macie sure did!