Christmas 2011

I think it's best to start Christmas with Christmas Eve where there were cookies, a note to Santa from Tyler, and setting out Langley so he could return to the North Pole with Santa.    Tyler worked really hard on his letter for Santa.  He didn't ask for any help, just worked away.

Waiting for Santa by the stockings

 The letter is a little bit hard to read in the picture and there is some decoding that needs to be done....here is what it says....followed by my translation:

Dear Santa,
thank you for sending Langlay.  he wus mischeves wones he rapt toylit papare arawnd awar Crismis tree.  Here is a poum.  I made miself a snobol as prfict as cod be.  I thot I'd cep it as a pet and let it slep with me.  I made him sum pajamus and a piloe for his hed but then lasnight it ran uwae But frst it we the bed.  I hope yo injoye the cokes.  I worct hard on them.  give one to Langlay he wos a good elfe.  I hope you injoade this letar.
Love Tyler

Dear Santa,
Thank you for sending Langley he was mischievous.  Once he wrapped toilet paper around our Christmas tree.  Here is a poem.  I made myself a snowball as perfect as could be.  I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.  I made him some pajamas and a pillow for his head, but then last night it ran away, but first it wet the bed.  I hope you enjoy the cookies.  I worked hard on them.  Give one to Langley.  He was a good elf.  I hope you enjoy this letter.
Love Tyler

Next to his stocking Tyler also left a picture of Langley that he drew.  It was titled Langley, the best elf ever.  Santa left him a note on his drawing.

Tyler,

What a fantastic drawing!  You keep this to remember him till next year.  I thought the toilet paper on the tree was kind of naughty too :)

Ho, ho, ho

S.C.

The living room was all ready before we went to bed.

And when we woke up, Santa had left quite the pile of gifts.  I guess Tyler and Hailey were pretty good this year.

 All Hailey really really wanted for Christmas this year was a yellow stuffed animal angry bird and a newborn calico kitten.  Santa came through on the angry bird and Hailey was SO excited.

and she got a baby puppy that wags it's tail.

going through the stockings

comparing gifts

Santa also left angry bird ornaments in their stockings

 Hailey turned into a unwrapping whirlwind.  She was so excited to open gifts but Tyler was still faster than her.  I think they unwrapped gifts in record time this year.

some of Hailey's gifts

 I didn't get a lot of pictures of Tyler unwrapping.  He was going so fast it was hard to see him through all the wrapping paper.  He did set up all his gifts into a little fort though. Both kids got lots of games this year....battleship, apples to apples, zarts, dart guns, Tyler got a lego book.  Hailey got a dinosaur encyclopedia.  They each got a lego kit.  Tyler got a Lego MBA kit which comes with lots of building tips etc.  And they each got some drawing books.  Hailey got some stuffed animals

Hailey was very proud as Tyler opened her gift.

and when he was done opening her gift (a little reading light) he hugged her

running for more.

Hailey set up all her stuffed animals on her new bolster.

the aftermath

The kids also got a bunch of plank blocks from us for unlimited creation building.  Tyler has already been building with these.

As soon as all the gifts were unwrapped Tyler had to get to work on the legos!

And we had a waffle breakfast

 In the afternoon we headed out to Monroe to celebrate Christmas with Dave's family.  Some how I managed not to take any pictures.  We had a great time.  In the evening we went to Aunt Gerry's house to visit, wish everyone a Merry Christmas, take part in the annual Christmas play, and have dessert.

Tyler and Hailey were both sheep this year.



A great day!  This girl is tired and happy with her "angry birds".



Tyler proclaimed it the best Christmas ever and is so happy with all of his presents.  He was so thankful for everything.  It was very sweet.  He has been anxious to play with all the new things every day when he wakes up.