Isley Family Life: Christmas 2014

Aaron and I both had to work in the hospital the week of Christmas, including Christmas day. I was pretty bummed I was assigned to work that week since Christmas is probably my favorite holiday, but the week didn't end up being too bad. Our census in the children's hospital was relatively low and things were quieter than usual. We got off work in time on Christmas Eve to make it to mass, so we got the celebration started in the best way possible. I had let one or both of my interns off early every day that week, and they repaid the favor by letting me go early on Christmas day, which was awesome. Aaron was let off really early, too. We got to open presents with family and enjoy a big Christmas feast. My grandparents were in town, so we enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. My grandma had all their family home videos put onto a DVD, so we enjoyed watching videos of my dad and his brothers as kids and my grandparents as young parents. It was such a great day. The fact that I thought I'd be working all day and instead only worked until noon made the celebration all the more meaningful to me. I really missed being with my family more that week, especially my Julia, but that day was a beautiful bright spot in my month. I had the week following Christmas off, so really enjoyed some quality time with Julia then. I was so grateful to my parents and sisters for making Julia's Christmas vacation magical despite how much Aaron and I had to work. My sisters were home from college and first year of teaching, and, instead of getting to sleep in every day and totally relax, were up playing with Julia. And my parents, despite needing a vacation from all the early mornings and long days taking care of Julia, did it all the way through a holiday week. Seriously, they're all the best <3

Julia dictated this letter to Santa to Elizabeth

A baby and her Baymax.

We added photos to Julia's Disney autograph book!

My grandma expertly avoided any quibbling by buying the girls identical gifts. They loved everything she bought them! And what a hip great grandma, buying Doc McStuffins and Sofia toys, among others!

If that face doesn't capture the excitement of Christmas morning, I'm not sure what does.

Julia asked Santa for a green lantern. Her favorite thing to do was to play in the dark with a small light nearby, like how she loved to play Barbies in the dark with little electric tealights from her mass set. Santa halfway delivered with this red lantern. Months later (in May), we had this exchange:

Julia: “Mommy, daddy… Is Santa real?”

Aaron: “Well, St. Nicolas is real.”

Julia: “Is Santa real?”

Kaitlin: “Why are you asking about Santa? Let’s talk about this when it’s closer to Christmas.”

Julia: “Is Santa real? Because I asked for a green lantern for Christmas and I got a red lantern. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Kaitlin: “Do you like your red lantern?”

Julia: “Yes, but it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Kaitlin: “Well, speaking of holidays… what do you want to be next Halloween?”