Merry Kris-Kiss!

Sam started off this Christmas season saying "Merry Kris-KISS!" By the end though, he was saying Christmas. It's always a little sad to see them grow out of little things like that. As I said in an earlier post, he liked talking about Santa but was nervous about talking to him much. He would see a toy he liked and I would tell him to ask Santa for it for Christmas. Sam would reply, "you just ask Santa for me."

The kids enjoyed Christmas so much this year! They were full of excitement and wonder at everything. One day I wondered if they knew how the whole Santa thing actually worked so I told them how he comes down the chimney at night and puts gifts under the tree and in our stockings and all. They seemed to get it. Julia was a bit apprehensive about Santa coming into our house and I told her it would be at night when she was sleeping. I'm not sure if that made it better or worse! She wasn't really scared though. She did say later, "I'm worried that Santa's going to wake me up at night."

Christmas music was played 24/7 at our house and in the car. They love "Up On the Housetop" and "Santa Baby." Soph is such a good little singer! She learns the lyrics fast and sings very on key. Sam also loved the pa-rum-pa-pa-pum of "The Little Drummer Boy."

They all loved playing with their Little People Nativity set. We'd act out the story of Jesus' birth. Later they brought their Little People school bus to the scene. I bet you didn't know that Mary and Joseph came to Bethlehem in a bus! Who needs a donkey....

Christmas Eve we drove to Topeka for the Yoho family get-together. Food, banjos, family, and fun!
Uncle Stu plays for three curious kiddos.
Sam charms Papa Max & Grandma Carol.
The girls got the Abby Cadabby dolls that they had been wishing for. Sam got a tool set that he is obsessed with! Also some puzzles and puppets and books. Oh and kazoos - thank you Uncle Nick! Kazoos times three! :)
We had planned on driving home that night so the kids could wake up in their own house but, as there was a blizzard going on, we decided not to risk it. So we stayed with my parents and Santa came there. (The next day we told the kids that Kansas City Christmas was the next day so Santa would be coming again). The kids were oh-so-sad to have to stay at Noni & Pop Pop's house. NOT. That could have been their only gift this year and they would have been happy!
Uncle J got Sweet Baby J a cool doll that can be turned into a nutcracker, Clara, and the prince. She's loved the Nutcracker since we saw it a couple of weeks ago. I'm thinking about putting her into ballet classes too. We'll see!The kids were excited after the show to get to see and hug both "Clara's"
.....back to Christmas....

Sophie pets her purple unicorn hobby horse.
Sam thinks his new Woody toy is cool!
It was risky, but we drove home later Christmas day. It took forever due to all of the snow and ice. The next morning, the first thing out of their mouths was, "Did Santa come?" They raced down the stairs and saw that he did come!
The girls wasted no time getting into their princess dresses to play with their new vanity. Sophie is putting eye shadow on Julia's eyes.Soph likes her new pony, "S'more."
And Santa did well getting Sam a firehouse. They've already named the two firemen that came with it Charlie Brown and Linus. Cute :)
I hope everyone had as beautiful of a Christmas as we did here!

O God our loving Father, help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. May Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake, amen.

—Robert LouisStevenson