Feliz Navidad

Christmas Day

After reading the letter from Santa,

And discovering that the Reindeer had eaten their salad,

It was all about what was under the tree.

Evidently our kids made it on to Santa's "Nice" list.

Raven was pumped about his keyboard (which is "way better than a recorder").

River was thrilled with his electric guitar,

That "you don't even have to know how to play!!!!!!"

Meadow loved her new dress-up,

And her Project-Runway-For-Little-Girls (so much that she asked me to take a picture of her staring at her creations).

Can you tell that she also got her specially requested "very own red lipstick" (and eyeliner)?

Heaven Tommy

Got the Monkey she asked for...

Which happened to be Secret's favorite gift as well.

The girls spent the morning playing with the Strawberry Shortcake Cafe.

While the boys tried out the Wii.

Secret just wandered around with her new baby-doll,

And enjoyed the chaos of the morning.

Later that day (after we actually got dressed-well, except Heaven, who remained in her jammies all day),

We went and hung out at Grandma and Papa Santa Claus' house.

It was a perfect Christmas day.

Christmas Eve

I LOVE Christmas Eve!

River and his boys...

Me and my little girls...

Me and my big girls...

Xanon being smothered (literally) in love.

Meadow and Xany-Man.

Auntie Nee-Nee...

With her endless energy.

After an awesome dinner and evening at Steph's house,
Raven said it was time to "get his present".

So Jeremy was the designated getaway driver,

As some of us shoved into the back of the van,

To go Ding-Dong-Ditch a bunch of gifts to a special family.

Really. This was what Raven asked for. That the family we adopted would "have the best Christmas ever."

It was exciting and fun! Can't wait to do it again next Christmas Eve!

Breaking Them In

The girls were excited when Daddy let them

"Help" make pancakes in their new aprons.

Secret LOVED that she got a turn to stir.

Heaven didn't LOVE that Secret got a turn to stir.

Meadow LOVES that she has her own apron,
But still likes dressing up in Mommy's on occasion.
I don't blame her. My apron is P.D. cute.

Knock Knock... Who's There?

Santa and Mrs. Claus!!??

The kid's could hardly believe it when Santa found them over at Greg-and-Shell's house.
Some were pleasantly surprised:
Raven

River

Meadow

Some were unpleasantly surprised/nervous wrecks about it:
Heaven and Sienna

And some (okay, one) was scared out of her wits:
Secret Love (not in love with Mr. OR Mrs. Claus)

ALL thoroughly enjoyed the gifts that were brought that special night!

Snow Day

Every year, the Hammond's neighborhood has snow delivered for a Winter Wonderland.

This year, I went for an 18 mile run that morning, and met Jared and the kids at the park.

Which means Jare-Bear got the kids ready. He did okay with the boys.

Unfortunately, I thought Seeky WAS a boy, when I got there and saw this cute, little orphan in jammies and a snow bib.

Meadow looks fine, right?

That's what I thought until I took her to the bathroom and discovered NOTHING under her snow bib.

Later that evening, we took the kids to the mall,

To enjoy my kind of snow...

Fake Snow,

That's more like it. No snow bibs required. Perfect.