Christmas With Grandpa Traw

This is our only Christmas picture as a family.  It was taken in the hospital lobby at Baylor Hospital - Frisco.  Unfortunately, this is where we had to go to have Christmas with Great Grandpa Traw.  He was admitted to the hospital several days ago for bleeding on his brain.  We all had a nice time visiting him and he loved the dinner that Grandma brought for him. - much better than hospital food.  Great Grandpa was very happy to see us.  He was very sweet and gave Maggie a new toy phone and gave Mallory a Sofia drawing set.  The best gift that he gave was to me - it was Great Grandma's Bible.  I cried and cried and he did too.  Oh how I miss that sweet lady and what a treasure to have her Bible with her notes.  He could have given it to anyone, but he gave to me. 

McKinney Christmas

After we had Santa and got dressed, we headed over to Grandma and Papa Nick's house.  We opened gifts, went to visit Great Grandpa in the hospital, and then came home to have dinner with Uncle Jason and Aunt Ann.

The girls received some wonderful gifts this year.  Maggie's favorites were the Skye stuffed Paw Patrol dog and the Bucky pirate ship from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.  Mallory's favorites were the Kinetic Sand and Sofia the First Royal Prep set.  I received two really nice new coats - my nice black coat has seen better days and I received a great puff coat with an Eskimo hood as I like to call it.

Grandma watching the girls open their gifts.

Mallory clapping with excitement.

Santa Clause Came to Town

Santa Clause came and the girls were beside themselves.  Maggie was really into it this year and Mallory was excited more than last year as well.

The girls received candy in their stocking, new bath wash, bandaids, and a paper and stamp kit.

Mallory received the Sofia the First Floating Palace that she has been asking for since the beginning of the year.  They don't sell it in the stores anymore so another "good job, Santa!"  award needs to be handed out.

I bet you can't tell that Maggie is excited!  She received just what she asked for - the Frozen singing wand.

Santa was also able to find the Ryder toy from the show "Paw Patrol."  These toys are very hard to find so I am glad Santa was able to work his magic.

Christmas Eve at Home

As we usually do, we open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve.  Matt was shocked when he opened his hideously wrapped red box - a nice outdoor heater for the patio. He has been wanting one for a long time, but it has never been in the budget. I found one on sale and Mammy and Guy Guy went in with me to purchase it for him.

Maggie loved her pink cowgirl boots from her Daddy. 

Mallory was excited to see her little purple compact mirror from Harold.

Matt got both the girls their own Kindle and they flipped out!

Putting out reindeer food for Santa's sleigh.  Now time to go to bed. :)

EoCE Service

Wanted to share a couple of pictures of the girls in the choir at our annual Eve of Christmas Eve service.  Things went much smoother than they did last year for Mallory.  Last year, she kept yelling "mom, I'm thirsty. I need water."  She never sang and I was so embarrassed.  This year she sang and did a really good job.  Maggie just stood there, but she didn't cry.  That made me happy.  Maybe next year both of them will sing.

Greenville Christmas

This morning we headed over to Mammy and Guy Guy's for our Christmas dinner and gift exchange with them.  We all had a wonderful time with a yummy lunch and opening presents.

Maggie was very excited to receive a new CD player.  Oh how she loves to listen to music.

Both of the girls received new dresses, a daisy outfit, and some other fun things.

School Christmas Parties

Here are few pictures from Christmas parties at school.  I was in charge of Maggie's class party and it went well.  The kids had a good time and the parents did a great job of helping out.

Maggie was an angel in the chapel Christmas story.

As always, Maggie had more fun at Mallory's school because well...she was with her sister.  (I know I have said this before, but I pray they will always be this close and love each other).  Mallory's class played Bingo, danced, and they built snowmen at out of candy, pretzels, and donuts.  It was the perfect ending to a great day.

Maggie's Eye Exam

I noticed that Maggie had this white spot on her iris about six weeks ago. I called an eye doctor and we got the first appointment we could get...fast forward six weeks to now. How insane is that?  

Maggie did really well at the appointment and it was NOT a fun one.  She had to have her eyes dilated and she screamed bloody murder and we had to pin her down to the floor.  I don't blame her really. The drops burned so bad, but we had to make sure that her eyes are healthy.  The doctor doesn't think anythins is wrong, but we are going back in June.  Most likely it is just a discoloration.

When we left, Maggie got these cool shades.  I didn't think she would wear them, but she did!

Playing School

One of the things that really warms my heart is seeing the girls play together so well.  Maggie had her bath first and set up the dolls outside the bathroom to play story time.  Mallory quickly followed her lead (after bathtime) and they had just a great time.

Breathing Treatments

This sweet girl has been coughing and coughing so I finally took her to the doctor. It just keep getting crunchier sounding and nothing we had was helping.  We were afraid she had pnuemonia, but she didn't thankfully.  We did find out that the poor baby has seasonal asthma.  YUCK!  We had to do a breathing treatment in the office and then were given a breathing treatment and a prescription for meds to go in it.

Maggie has been such a trooper dealing with this.  The mask isn't comfortable and the machine is so loud.  Apparently the medication makes many kids hyper, but thankfully for us it makes Maggie sleepy.   A blessing since we have to do a treatment before bedtime. 

Hund Hound Award

I received an email yesterday, from Mrs. Rea, that Mallory would be receiving the Honorable Hunt Hound award at school this morning.   Matt, Maggie, and I all attended the award ceremony and Mallory was surprised and happy to see us.  (Mrs. Rea asked that we not tell Mallory about the award or that we were coming.)  Two students from each class win the award each month.  We are all so proud of Mallory for this accomplishment.  To receive the award, you must be chosen by the teacher and live out the Hunt Hound motto: 

I pledge to be
Honest, model
Outstanding behavior,
and strive to have an
Understanding heart.
I will stay
Neat and organized,
Demonstrate responsibility,
and
Show respect to all people.
This is our Hunt pledge.

We are so proud of our Hunt Hound!

Decorating the Christmas Trees

Today, the girls and I got out their Christmas tree and put it up while Matt was at work.  This was the first  year that Maggie REALLY got into the decorating and that made Mallory REALLY get into it as well.  

Here is a picture of them helping fluff the branches and make it look like it hasn't been in a box for a year.  We put up all the decorations minus the special ornament each of them would receive - had to wait for Daddy to come home from work to see them open the gifts.

Maggie was beyond thrilled to receive a Jake (from Jake and the Neverland Pirates) ornament.

Mallory was happy to receive a Sofia the First ornament.

Putting the new ornament on the tree and posing with them.

Since she was two, Mallory has helped Matt put the star on the top of the tree.  Maggie wanted to get in on the action this year.  Cheers!

She Lost Another Tooth

Stop!  Mallory has lost another tooth. She is growing up WAY TOO FAST!  This one came out easier than the first one.  I asked her if I could just feel how loose it was and she said yes - one quick yank and out it came. I don't really think she even felt it.  Mallory was so excited and told everyone that Mama pulled the old switchero on me to get the tooth out.