Christmas 2010

Thelma had to work on Christmas Eve, so it was just the kids and me.  It was fantastic!  We baked chocolate chip cookies for Santa and put out carrots for the Reindeer.  Of course we had to sample the cookies to make sure they were up to specification for Santa.  I bought the Pillsbury 'brick' of cookie dough that is made to break apart into individual pieces for easier preparation.  I figured that the kids could break them off and feel like they were the ones making cookies for Santa.

We pulled up the official Santa Tracker through NORAD.  Peanut was very excited about the whole thing and would stand on his stool in front of the computer so that he could give minute-by-minute updates on Santa's position.  I was usually called over to share in the excitement every time Santa moved on to a new location.

Waiting for Santa

I told the kids not to come out of their rooms in the morning until I went in to wake them up.  I wanted to take pictures and video of them as they discovered all of their loot.  The best laid plans don't always work as expected.  I was awoken early in the morning to sounds of delighted squealing and shouts of, "He came!  He came!" or "He brought me such-and-such!"  Not what I had planed, but a wonderful way to wake up, none-the less.

Peanut got a Nintendo DS and a bunch of action figures, cars and art supplies.  Muffin had a Toy Story Christmas and also got a lot of art supplies.  They got more stuff than more people get in 10 Christmas's.  I'm glad...they needed some magic and excitement in their lives this year.

After Santa's visit

I got a Keurig coffee maker from mom and dad and a popcorn popper from the kids.  I also got a couple of iTunes gift cards from the in-laws. 

Each of the kids got about 3 pounds of chocolate in their stockings.  I also put an apple and an orange in the toe of each stocking to balance out some of the sugary malnutrition and because it is tradition.  Santa always put fruit in my stocking.  As Peanut was cleaning out his stocking, he pulled out the orange and apple and said, "Why did Santa put this orange and apple in my stocking?  That's just crazy!"  Then he threw the orange over his shoulder.  Yeah, well, I didn't understand it when I was his age, either.

The in-laws came to visit that afternoon and we went to IHOP for our traditional no mess holiday dinner.  There were a lot of awkward moments with Thelma, but all in all, it was an enjoyable Christmas day.