the angel

I had posted earlier that Peach has been asking Santa for an angel this year.  Let me back up.  Hubby and I decided not to buy gifts for each other this year.  However, we said that in the spirit of teaching Peach about giving, we'd each take her shopping to pick out something small for the other.

My turn first.  She helped me pick out a shirt.  I told her it was a secret, but as soon as we got in the car, she blurted out, "Daddy, we got you a red shirt!"  At which point my head snapped around and I half-laughed, half-scolded, "Shhh...its a secret!"

Hubby's turn.  He took her down town to my favorite shop one Saturday.  When they returned, she bolted up the stairs shouting, "Mommy, we got you a watch!"  At which point I hear Hubby groan from downstairs.  I giggled and again reminded her that Christmas presents are secrets.

Fast forward to a few opportunities for Peach to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas.  Each time she would look at Hubby and I and press her little finger to her lips, declaring, "It's a secret!"  Try as we may, we couldn't get it out of her.  And we were starting to panic, thinking that this might be the only year of believing if she didn't get this mystical secret wish that she was hoping for.

Well, she finally caved and told us she wanted an angel.  An angel?  Like...what kind of angel?  Her answer:  A Christmas Angel.

And this has been her unwavering response ever since.  "I want an angel."

Of all the toys she could choose that would be so easy for me to just pick off the shelf...she chooses an angel.  And I don't even know what kind.  Not to mention she tells me this with little more than a week to Christmas - geesh!  Even Santa has his deadlines!  What does she think this is?  Magic or something?  :)

But, I couldn't let her down, so I have been on a mission to find a 3-year-old-appropriate angel.  Let me tell ya' - it hasn't been easy.  I've found snow globe angels, crafty angels, angels with pointy daggers of wings, ceramic angels...far from kid-friendly.  I knew she would want to play with it, so it had to be less of a decoration and more of a toy.  Anyway, with time running out, I decided to get my craft on.

I made her two angels.  One to play with and another to perch on the shelf, watching over her.  The first was a doll that I attached two fairy wings to with hot glue.  The other, a small little red-headed gal that I stole borrowed some wings for from one of the angels in my Christmas collection.

And the result?  She loved them!  I was more than a little nervous that Santa wouldn't come through and she'd be left thinking that this whole Santa thing is a joke.  But, alas...he got it right!  Santa always comes through, doesn't he?  And I'm happy to say that the look on her face Christmas morning when she opened them let me know that she'll be believing again next year.

Here are the pics of Christmas morning at our house (actually Christmas Eve morning).  I'll let them speak for themselves.

In just a little while it's over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go.  

Merry Christmas!