Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

A few weeks before Christmas, Natalie decided that she did not want to leave cookies and milk for Santa.  The through process came out in the car one day... "Santa eats a lot of cookies.  And eating a lot of cookies makes your tummy hurt.  I don't want Santa to throw up on my presents, mommy.  Do you?  Do you want Santa to throw up on your presents mommy??"  She concluded that she would like to make Santa a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips inside.  In addition, she wanted to leave apple slices and a glass of water.  Oh, and each reindeer deserved to have their own carrot.

So, twas the night before Christmas, and we're making pb&j, cutting apples and counting carrots...

Peanut butter on one side, jelly on the other... the way mommy makes it.  Chips go in the middle.

Now smoosh it together...

She set the table for him, complete with a placemat and napkin.  For anyone that recognizes our table, you may notice that she set the table for Santa in HER SEAT.  This was a big deal.

Dictating her letter to Santa...

And autographing it with a big "NH" at the bottom.

Christmas morning mommy and daddy were blown away when they realized that everyone slept in late.  Even more alarmingly, Natalie stayed in her room until her red-light alarm clock turned green.  What sort of kid does that?!?!?

 

 

Daddy got some "sombrero man" hot sauce from Natalie.

 Gus, thrilled as usual, amongst the chaos.

Grandpa Huxter sent Natalie a present wrapped in red and green plaid wrapping paper.  After she spotted it under the tree (a few days before Christmas), she held it up and asked where it came from.  Mommy explained that Grandpa sent it and that it was for her.  She scoffed and said "well I don't know why he sent that to me.  I'm not opening it.  That wrapping paper is ugly."  Turns out, her favorite gift of all was inside: a new outfit and matching outfit for her doll, Izzy.

After opening presents, we went over to Scott's parents house to spend the day with the Hayes family.  Gramma Judy was able to hold Eloise and sing to her.  The rest of the kids had a great time running around being silly.