MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone (at least to everyone who celebrates Christmas). If you don't celebrate it, then instead Happy December 25th.



We'll open presents tomorrow. Today, we made some sugar cookies for Santa (and some for our neighbors Mr. Paul and Miss Betty, and their daughter and son-in-law). Ohh, and the kids ate a lot of frosting. This could explain why they went running up and down the hill for 10 minutes (our hill is at about a 60 degree angle for those who have not yet visited us). They sang a few Christmas songs (Jingle Bell Rock, and Reindeer Rap). Matthew dazzled us with his dancing moves that rivaled Steve Martin in "The Jerk". Right now, we are watching the Grinch.

We did have a new feature in our pre-Christmas festivities. The girls wrote last Friday to Santa asking if they could have an elf. See, all these kids at school have written to elves and then (magically) these elves appear in their houses. Magically. The elves turn into stuffed animals during the day, and at night make their "secret reports" to Santa. And, they also do mischief. Our elf has hung himself from ceiling fans (by his clothes, not to kill himself!), turned chairs over, put chairs on tables, etc.. Some in the house have wondered out loud if our little elf might do good and nice things (like baking cookies or cakes or cleaning up bedrooms) instead of mischief. I said that I didn't think our elf, Eugene, was that kind of elf. Those helpful elves have to stay at the north pole. The elves that get to come to houses are sort of like elves-in-training or delinquent elves. Anyway, when Allison first read the letter from Eugene (see above picture of Allison and Eugene)explaining how this was his first house and how he hoped he wouldn't do too much damage, she couldn't pronounce his name. She called him "Egu". Mom also had trouble, and Allison has to keep correcting her when she refers to Eugene the Elf as "Egu the Elf". Mom is really dumb. Sadly, Eugene will be hitching a ride with Santa tonight and heading back to the north pole. We hope he can find our house next Christmas, wherever that will be!

We heard that Santa was on his way. We've checked NORAD to make sure the kids are in bed on time. He's getting close! Here's the link for you to track him: http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

Matthew has nice rosy cheeks as he is going to bed. When dad asked him why his face was so red, he calmly answered, "I just pooped." He's a charming package.

Merry Christmas to everyone :)


(Ohh, and as you can see in the picture, Allison got an early Christmas present...her other front tooth!)