That's one way to clean the snow off the slide! 

Finally it's warm enough to go outside - dang near 30 degrees. 

Charleston even got a present. He likes it but prefers the cozy box - gettin' old. 

'Get it over with mama, I wanna open my presents!' 

Almost ready to dig in! Just a few more under the tree. 

Justin and Tyler read the names and divied up all presents into piles.  

Also a big hit from Santa, Imaginext Pirate Ship. They also got a treasure chest and have been playing pirates. I love the imaginative play! 

Christmas morning, Air Hockey was a big hit! 

Presents 'round the tree. Since their door is directly across from ours I'm thinking I'm going to tie a string to their door knob and the other end to ours. I'll leave our door open about an inch and close theirs tight. So, when they wake in the morning and yank the door open to run out of their room, our door will slam shut and wake us up. Of course, if any of us have to pee during the night we might be in trouble. Guess I'm just going to have to set the alarm for 5am - Goodness I hope they don't get up before then. 

They were having fun making cookies for Santa. They are very excited about tonight - I hope they go to bed early!  

Justin decorating his cookies for Santa. 

Tyler putting Nerd's candy on cookies. 

What a smile!  

Tyler decorating cookies with icing. 

I couldn't decide which was prettier so I figured I'd put both up. Our first snowfall yeilded 7.6 inches - Green Bay. 

Pretty, huh? 

Justin with hot chocolate and a candy cane. They both wanted to go out and play in the snow but at 12 degrees (don't know what the wind chill was) I decided to offer hot chocolate instead. 

Tyler having hot chocolate with candy cane. 

Read backwards

When reading the captions for Tylers preschool play don't start at the top - go to the picture with him in front of the Christmas tree and move your way to the top.

I had taken pictures of Justin's school performance but it was dark in there and I really don't know how to use all the features of my digital camera - so needless to say they didn't turn out well. But I do have it all on video.

The kids didn't know there was going to be a special visitor! Tyler had said something about him being a fake - I was so embarrassed. But he only said that because he had previously seen Santa and told him what he wanted for Christmas, etc. He knew this one was different. But Tyler sure was talkative, on and on, about what Justin wanted, that he didn't know what he wanted, and that they were both on Santa's good list. 

"Can 7 little reindeer drive my sled?"

Well in the end no reindeer were left so Santa said, "We'd better call Rudolf."

It was really cute!

So the 'elves called Santa and Santa said' 

All the reindeer were on one side singing, "8 little reindeer playing in the snow, I fell down and hurt his nose." (or something like that) 

Tyler prior to his preschool Christmas play. Poor guy's had a leaky cauldron so his upper lip is a bit raw. The day before he also had some blue ice ceam - try getting blue ice cream off a raw upper lip; It just wasn't going to happen.  

Justin and Tyler posing for a picture we made for Grandma Lowe. Is this a sweet picture or what? (I'm good aren't I - Shannon?) Anyway, it is an excellent picture. 

Tyler and Grandma! Justin was dissapointed he didn't get to go see grandma. But she'll be keeping both the boys for 2-3 days when I have the baby. 

Tyler's favorite thing to do at Grandma's is play witth the girls' fancy shoes. Don't worry - he's all boy!