Christmas with the Gutchells

This was the second year we've hosted Christmas for our family. It was so fun! I just love Christmas - having everyone together, good food, yummy drinks, all the kids running around - the noise, the craziness - I love it! My family is amazing and I feel so lucky to have them in my lives and to live so close to them :)

She only has eyes...

for her Uncle Jimmy...boy, does she love him!!

Baking cookies with cousin T

Acadia and I went to "Brown Grandma's" house with my sister in law to bake cookies to bring to the Ronald McDonald House. She loves, loves, LOVES her cousin T!! They have such a blast together. They get along so well and really had fun making the cookies.

On the way to the Ronald McDonald House, I explained to Acadia where we were going and why they people lived there. It's such a complicated thing to explain to a 3 year old and I didn't want to get into too much detail about it. All I wanted her to know was that there were sick people there (Like a hospital?? She asked) and that we were bringing them some cookies to help brighten their day. She then told me that she wasn't feeling well and that maybe she should have a cookie too. Well played, kid. Well played.

Then I thanked my lucky stars that my children were healthy and happy!! We are so very blessed - visiting the RMH reinforced how amazingly lucky we are...

The Nutcracker

We took Acadia to her very first ballet tonight! Every year when Miche and I were young, my mom would take us to The Nutcracker and this is a tradition I also want to start with my girls. I remember getting dressed up, going out to dinner with my family and loving the ballet!

Acadia liked the show WAY more than I ever thought possible. I had no idea if she would sit through the show or get bored near the end. Turns out - not only did she love it, but she didn't even want to get up during intermission for fear of missing a minute of the ballet!

We took her to Sweetwaters for dinner where she ordered her meal all on her own for the first time - too cute! Her meal even came with an ice cream which was a super big treat :)

After dinner we took her to Barnes and Noble to pick out a Christmas gift for Emma. This is the first year we have done this and I'm excited to do this ever year with both girls, once Emma is old enough. Out of all the books and toys in the store, Acadia chose the Incredible Hulk book. She said it would make Emma laugh :)

Acadia asked to take some pictures with our camera:

Yummy dessert!

Downtown at night

Picking out a book for Emma

Walking to the register with Daddy after finding the perfect gift


Waiting in line - we gave her the money for the book and let her pay for it all by herself. She told the cash register, This is a present for Emma!

On our way to The Nutcracker!

Congrats, Miche!!

Miche finished up her last exam this week and she was officially DONE school today!! We went out with our family to celebrate. Uncle Timmy went and bought way too many rounds of shots for me to remember. We never, ever do shots sooooo YIKES! I think Miche and I had to stop at 3 or 4 - we didn't want to get sick!

Congrats, Sissy - we are beyond proud of you!!!

Shots?? Don't mind if we do!