Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008...

We have the coolest neighbor! He's what I always imgained a mountain man to look like. He's incredibly generous and the nicest man!! As you'll see he has the perfect facial hair for being santa. He dressed up and suprised the kids. He let me know he was coming so I tried to prepare them a little by telling them that santa called and he was coming by our house to meet them since he was already in town for the library, christmas party, and craft show. Casey's always been a little wary of Santa (at least until Christmas morning). I was pretty sure they'd recognize him so I put in a disclaimer that I didn't know if it would be santa himself or one of his special helpers. He came in our back sliding glass door. Here's their reactions. As you can see Cally was excited, Casey was a little skeptical and a little confused, and Annabelle was just plan worried bracing herself on the ottoman....

That was until the presents started coming out. They recognized it was Lance almost right away.

Annabelle was keeping her distance...

So the lies began (I imagine the following years are only going to be worse--I better get more creative)...We went to the library the next day and it was a different santa. He was handing out candy, but Casey wouldn't go sit on his lap. I asked him why and he said, "that's not santa, Lance is santa". So I explained that Lance was just his helper. He still wasn't so sure, but afterwards santa came up to him and handed him a candy cane. Casey finally sat on his lap and told him what he wanted for Christmas.

Then we went to the branch christmas party. Casey again was scared to sit on his lap and was hiding out in the hall. Dan, our friend, told him to just go sit on his lap for the candy and prize. So with Cally holding his had he sat on his lap. Santa began with the usual "So what would you like for Christmas?" Casey frustrated that santa had short term memory loss replied "Santa, I already told you what I want". So Santa began trying to guess. Casey just sat there looking bewildered with a frown on his face so I started making shooting gun actions. So Santa finally remembered and all was well as Casey relieved said, "yeah, you remembered".

We went to Wyoming this year again for Christmas and had a great time with cousins. We stopped by my sisters house on our way to meet their newest cousin Paxton. We almost beat her home from the hospital, she had gotten there minutes before we did. She was such a great sport. He is a beautiful baby.

Here's a "few" pictures of christmas morning....

Cally (my sweet Cally) spent all of her saved money on presents for her family (she also bought herself something little:)). Her school had a secret santa shop. She bought very thoughtful gifts. Annabelle is opening a little stuffed froggie. Casey got a tire tape measure (he loves tape measures). Mom got a calculator since she's always misplacing hers. Dad got a football keychain that said "Pro Dad".

It's so little could it be anything good? Yes!

Cally asked santa for: 1. A dog with a bone 2. A horse with a carrot 3. A jewelry box with a clock instead of a mirror 4. An island princess lap top computer. She had such a specific list that it was a little hard for santa to find. Luckily the day before the family left for Wyoming santa luckily found a dog with a bone (remote). He/She ran into Target to return some shoes and there it was sitting on the returned shelf. That was a close one. The look on her face makes me think she might have been thinking "I knew he'd come through"...

This doll seriously looks just like Annabelle. Blue eyes, white hair, cute as can be.

Nana gave this way cute christmas outfit to Annabelle.

Santa remembered afterall. It was broken within a day. Thankfully grandma has some really strong glue...

Cally is obsessed with Hannah Montana so we're feeding her obsession with lots of Hannah Montana stuff:)...

Doll from Nana...

My friend Tami called me up on the deadline of Oprah's free snapfish picture book giveaway. I was able to get online minutes before it closed and get one made. So here's my thrifty yet thoughtful christmas gift to Matt. A book of our trip to Hawaii. He's so proud of it....

And to finish....I just had to giggle at my California born and raised husband shoveling snow in subzero temperatures in shorts, boots, and a coat.