C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S !

It's finally here! Christmas morning. We didn't have any presents under the tree until Christmas Eve, because Matthijas couldn't resist touching. So he didn't really have a clue what was in store. But we let him open his pajamas the night before and we told him that there were more to be opened, and Arcadia help enthuse him. here they are, puffy-eyed and excited to see what was waiting on the other side of the door.



Matthijas had tried to leave the BX a number of times with this Thomas video in hand, so finally daddy broke down and bought it. And now, only a few days later, I am already thinking of ways for Thomas to suffer a fatal crash into my trash can.



Thanks to everyone who sent presents to the kids. And a special thanks goes out also to the SAFB thrift store, Once Upon a Child, the thrift stores in Belleville, IL and eBay for making this a great (and uber-cheap)Christmas for the Claus kids.



Jasper thinks George is tasty. Monkey, the other white meat.



Matthijas, a little sugar and little spice, a little bit naughty and a little bit nice.



A few days after Christmas, Santa sent an elf back to our house to deliver a present that hadn't quite finished being earned in time for Christmas delivery. Arcadia had to earn 300 chore and obedience points over the past 4 months to earn her special present. She was still 5 points behind on Christmas morning, but 3 days later she finally earned her special present, an American Girl doll she named Makenzie after her best friend who still lives in Turkey.