'Twas the Night before Christmas

Christmas Eve we spent at home as a family, including Pop and GG.  Daddy brought home Papa John’s so we didn’t have to cook. Once we got the twins to bed, Mark helped us set up the twins’ presents. Pop and GG gave them Radio Flyer Big Wheels which Pop assembled. Mark helped Daddy set up a train track good enough to be permanent for the twins and we glued it down to the table. I searched through all the moving boxes I could find that might have Thomas toys in them and we set the trains on the track. So, except for the table that I got at a yard sale, the whole thing was a “recycled” gift. Don’t judge. They don’t know, and they were extremely happy with the whole thing! They enjoyed playing “Choo-choos” the next day for hours. (As long as we could keep them from fighting over the trains.)

We hadn’t yet gotten a Christmas tree, so Pop and Gantt went over to Pop’s new house and pulled an artificial tree out of their storage. They  didn’t realize it was a little “corner” tree. However, it was just for one day and it was better than nothing! It turned out to be just what we needed to put the gifts under.

And I know Santa looks forward to his Dr. Pepper at our house - I'm sure he needs a little break from milk now and then!

Seeing Santa

On Christmas Eve, we took the boys to see Santa Claus. Mark was a good sport about going along, even though he made it clear he would STAND and not SIT on Santa’s lap. GG had made reservations and paid in advance so we didn’t have to stand in the super-long line. A fast-pass to see Santa at the mall – who knew there was such a thing?

All dressed up and ready to go!

The twins were quite excited – I guess they had seen Santa Claus on TV and on books and such, because we hadn’t made it a big deal or specifically taught them about him. You can see the expectation on their faces in the pictures.

G with Pop looking at all the decorations

I caught this photo of Brett at the end of him saying, “Santa Claus”, and you can see his little tongue sticking out as he completes the “s” sound.

However, once we got up to Santa, Brett’s bravado disappeared and he was quite nervous! Even having mom beside him wasn’t enough – he had to have GG holding him or else he was going to lose it! We got a good picture, though, and couldn’t believe when we looked at it that Gantt was actually smiling! We have few posed pictures where he is smiling, so we were pleasantly surprised! And here they are at lunch afterward - everyone had to sit in Pop's lap!!