Merry Christmas!

We were awakened very early by the pitter patter of little feet - little Xander feet. "Mama - I did not hear jingle bells - I think Santa didn't come yet." I reassured him that of course Santa visited him - he just was sleeping so good that he missed the bells. "Mama - I don't think he ate his cookies - maybe he was too full from eating everyone elses cookies." Even Santa with a full tummy from eating cookies all night, had room in his tummy for our homemade sugar cookies - I am sure of it. Xander, Daddy and I spent an hour or so thinking about all the Santa wonders we could - and then we woke up sissy.

The kids rushed into the living room - and both went straight to Mikaela's pile of presents. Xander was anxious to help her start opening. Tommy and I giggled and directed him to his own stash. "Santa brought me a talking bird - a talking bird!" Xander tore through all his presents quickly - opened none to play with, just kept unwrapping. Along with the talking bird, Santa was kind enough to bring Xander a firehouse (very cool - with doors that open and close), a dinosaur mountain (for dinosaurs to live in), a batmobile with action figures (so far, no one is crazy about Aquaman - but Superman with his rocket ship is a favorite), and his first Superman comic book.

Mikaela daintily opened each gift. No wrapping paper was torn. After opening a gift, she took it out of the box, admired it, showed it off, and found a spot for it on her vanity. Santa brought her a vanity (a big girl one!), new dress up clothes (the fancy Cinderella dress is the biggest hit), more lip gloss than a girl should wear at one time, and a music box (complete with a spinning ballerina). The littlest pet shop diary was a big hit - it even barks at your little brother if he tries to open it instead of you. She exclaimed quickly "Santa brought me everything I wanted!"

Tommy and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them, playing with them, and enjoying their sheer excitement.