A Visit From Santa

We had a great Christmas. We really don't have any Christmas Eve

traditions, so we just kind of played it by ear. 

We've had a heat wave here in the south, so Christmas Eve was hot,

humid, and stormy! We had a good deal of LOUD thunder, and some 

amazing lightening. So we spent the day inside, with the AC turned up,

pretending it was cold.

These were the storm clouds outside our kitchen window.

I spent some time on Christmas Eve, baking cookies. The kids helped

ice them, and we braved the storm, and dropped cookies off at friends' houses. 

The kids had a good time with that, so maybe we'll keep that as a tradition! 

While we were out delivering cookies, our Elf {on a Shelf} Chippie, left us 

a goodbye note, and some pajamas under the tree! Dmitri had been waiting for

this ALL day! Like, the minute he woke up, he was asking if we had seen any 

presents from Chippie. 

I have not been on my elf game this year, so Chippie hasn't done too much this 

season. Dmitri actually had to remind me that he brought pajamas last year, so I 

had to make that happen, or I would have one very disappointed boy. So I got 

everyone pajamas, and snuck out into the garage, to wrap everything, while I prayed

the power wouldn't go out, because it was storming so hard!

Here's everyone in their jammies. Star Wars for the boys, Paw Patrol for the girls.

We spent the rest of Christmas Eve, watching The Santa Clause. 

The kids weren't so easy to get to sleep. Dmitri fell asleep easily at first, 

but woke up about 20 minutes later, right when we started to wrap presents.

Then Daniel had to lay in his room with him, for almost an hour!!

After he was asleep again, we made sure to lock the kids' doors, to make 

sure they didn't wander out of their room. 

So we wrapped everything, and got it all placed under the tree. 

I was up until 3:30am the night before, painting these peg guys for Dmitri. 

They're characters in his favorite video game, and there are no toys available

for them yet. So I tried painting them. I painted one last one of Christmas Eve,

after Daniel reminded me of another character that Dmitri really likes. So Daniel

had to go out on Christmas Eve, to buy another peg. The one at the end is supposed 

to be Dmitri, so he can play in the 'game.'

I also made a Paige peg person, to go with her PJ Mask pegs {I blogged about those,

a few posts back}.

I've wanted to try and make a homemade gift for my kids every Christmas. Last 

year they each got stuffed dolls {Jedi for Dmitri, and a Paige, and Lydia doll}  

So before I start about Christmas morning, I need to add this, from a couple

days before.

So I was in my room doing laundry, and they asked to take a bath. 

So I said fine, and they went into my bathroom, for a bath. While

 I was briefly downstairs, because Daniel had come home from work,

 they splashed water on the walls, floor, window, and back of the

 bathroom door. I opened the door, and screamed at them like a banshee, 

telling them two days before Christmas, and that probably got them on 

the naughty list! I tell them to get out immediately, and clean it! Dmitri 

got a towel first, while Paige was still getting dressed, and tells her 

he cleaned it all, and there's nothing for her to clean. Since she didn't

 get a chance to get herself back on the nice list........ She went into her 

really REALLY sad, almost in tears pout, and it kind of broke my mean

 mommy heart ☹️ So I took her into the bathroom, and found some extra

 spots for her to clean up. So now they're back on the nice list, for now

 So... the kids made it on the nice list. They also were nice to us, 

and slept in until 7:45. Dmitri was the first awake, and had to rush

downstairs to see what Santa left, before waking Paige and Lydia up.

Once he got over the initial excitement, he ran back upstairs, to wake the

girls up. 

So we turned on the video camera, and the kids rushed downstairs! 

They didn't have very big lists. Dmitri just asked for Minecraft Legos,

and anything Five Nights at Freddy's {the video game he likes}. 

Paige just wanted Paw Patrol toys, and Playdoh, so that was the theme of her presents.

She got lots of Paw Patrol! Lydia loves dolls, so she got her own baby doll,

and some Little People sets. 

Lydia wasn't into her presents though, as much as she was into everyone

else's! She didn't even want to open her own. She wanted everyone else's.

Paige also got fun stuff for her 'Honey' which is what she calls her 

American Girl Doll, that she got for her last birthday. 

 Daniel had picked up some new Star Wars toys for Dmitri,

and Dmitri was thrilled! 

 My favorite part of Christmas, next to the kids' excitement, is the

aftermath. Also, the hours, and hours of play, with minimal fighting. 

It's just such a fun, nice, relaxing day. 

We had been really stressed this Christmas, and had a lot going on. 

So seeing everything come together, and having a day to finally relax,

it was really, really nice. 

Lydia, finally checking out her loot.

We do have a tradition of German Pancakes on Christmas morning.

Always delicious!!

Paige, playing with her new playdoh. She will literally play with 

Playdoh for hours!

Daniel has been enjoying his time off. He spent most of Christmas

lounging on the couch, watching The Office, and eating Christmas candy.

That's pretty much his idea of a good time ;)

To round out our Christmas day, we FaceTime'd with our

family that we couldn't be with, and had a yummy Christmas dinner! 

So another great Christmas for the books. 

We were so blessed to be able to spend it together, and I loved the 

gratitude that my kids showed for the gifts they received.

I'm grateful for wonderful family, and grandparents, that are kind enough

to send them presents, and treats, and for technology, that makes being apart

easier.

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!!