Christmas!

On the day before the night before Christmas, Xander decided

he best write Santa a letter. He also wrote one for Clare, since she

apparently only told Santa she wanted "tree up!" for Christmaswhen they visited with him.

We made more cookies, so we could leave some out for Santa.


We did lots of coloring in a Christmas coloring book. Clare likes to pretend
she's a lefty like her brother, but I think she's actually right handed.


Hugging the tree on Christmas Eve.




On Christmas Eve, the kids put on a Christmas assembly/concert
for us in Xander's room, after we all ate popcorn and watched
"How The Grinch Stole Christmas" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas."








Showing Meowy the Christmas tree.


Last night for a treat from the advent calendar.




Long after Clare and Xander's bedtimes...Santa did find our house!


Totally tickled by the dollhouse she got from Grammy Eve and Grandpa Bill.


Santa ate the cookies we left out.


Playing together.


Xander colored many pictures to give to Michael for Christmas.
He also made him a picture of a stage with napkins taped to the sides
that open like curtains.


Happy.


Yes! Xander has been wanting some dry erase markers like his kindergarten
teacher Mrs. Swett's.


One of many amazing buildings he made with the architectural blocks
from Grandma Mary.


A crane from Mommy and Daddy.


Clare loved this tea set from Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Liz.

And this doll, named Bea, from Grandma Mary. She kept making me
change Bea's boots and put on and take off her rain coat.

It ended up taking Clare hours to open all her gifts because,
just like with this puzzle from Grandpa Charlie and Grandma Liz,
she'd get so excited about whatever she'd just opened that she
couldn't be convinced to open anything else until she'd played
for awhile.

Xander immediately went up and tried out his dry erase markers.


This is the gift Xander made us at school.


Another tea party.


Cool rocket ship from Grammy Eve and Grandpa Bill.


Xander also put on many concerts with the circus band he got from
Grammy Eve and Grandpa Bill. Stage courtesy of the block set from
Grandma Mary. Constantly repurposing stuff, this one.


Both kids loved their Paper Jams guitars from Santa.


Putting pretend Christmas lights on Clare's dollhouse.


Probably my favorite moment from a day full of great moments.