A quick look back at Christmas

Well, since we were all sick as can be right after Christmas, I never got around to posting Christmas pics.

So here goes nothing.

First off, here is our tree. Worst. Tree. Ever. Since we were already at Costco we went all mainstream and got our tree from there.

Long story short - 3.5 hours later, after dad had dragged this tree out to the alley and we went up to our local garden to get our tree, we were back in business. And at school I made the angel to put on top... bonus.

Okay, fast-forward to Christmas Eve at Nana's. I got this awesome computer...

And Mae got one too. Thing was, after Mae opened up her computer she spent the next 25 minutes on it. See the presents behind her? Not interested, just rocked the computer. NERD ALERT! She did end up getting on this horse a little while later.

Got some awesome pics Mae and then some more with the cousins.

I've been telling you for years Eli is just a straight baller.

We left apples and a cookie for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, which were a big hit. Then Mae and I came down together and opened gifts.

Um, yeah, chapstick was a huge score, been asking for that since before Thanksgiving. Ah, the simple things.

We got mom this pancake shaper that does Sesame St. characters.

Mom, however, probably didn't need it. Did I ever tell you she is a professional. Requests Christmas morning were flying out the window - WREATH! PRESENT! SNOWFLAKE!

PRESENT! SNOWFLAKE! CHRISTMAS TREE!

SANTA HAT! ANOTHER SNOWFLAKE! CANDY CANE!

See what I mean.

And now back to our regularly scheduled nerd alert.

Spent the next three weeks puking, coughing, sneezing, ear infecting, the whole bit. But we're better now and getting set for BIRTHDAY WEEK!!!

(Dis) R-E-S-P-E-C-T

So we had some visitors today. Gavant came by to say hello and it's always good to see him. I'm pretty sure he's French or something with that name... or at least most times he looks like he's had a few too many glasses of some good French wine.

And then Wendy walked in and all helk broke loose. She played a little peek-a-boo and Mae wouldn't let her go too far without a big hug.

And then, out of nowhere, Wendy's Grandma called Mabel a nasty name... something about the sun and what sounded like a witch. I've told her in the past she should probably watch her step but she wouldn't listen. Took it a bit too far and, well, let's just say if you cross Mae the wrong way she doesn't care how old you are, you can throw that whole "respect for your elders" gig out the window.

So there was a little tussle, an arm drag by Mae... and well...

Grandma looked like she got run over by a reindeer.

EDITOR IN CHIEF NOTE: Okay, so this is probably going to blow your mind but those aren't real people. Those are actually puppets. I know, right? But it's true. My best friend Stacey is a professional puppeteer and she wrote and performs a puppet comedy show here in Chicago and brings them over from time to time. But keep that our little secret and don't tell Mae.

Christmas Morning, 2011

So the creatures all started to stir, and down the stairs we came.

Santa left me a note on the picture I drew for him. I told Dad the reindeer must've licked off the corner area so Santa could write on there.

Looks like somebody's been a good girl...

We kept needing to remind Mae that it was Christmas morning...

That is, until the sandwich set and the window markers were opened.

Apparently the glare from the sun through the windows got to Mae because she went downstairs and came back up with her Elton John shades so she could continue coloring.

I also got a really cool remote control car from Grandma.

Oh, and I'm not just a getter, I got Mom a new mug with an F on it, and Mae got her one with an M on it so she's covered for her morning coffees.

Mae got herself a new tutu from Nana and, as is her staple, wore that sucker high and tight.

Later on, we went to Nana and Papa's for dinner and Christmas night festivities. Needless to say, a very merry Christmas.

And to All a Goodnight

Okay, so it's Christmas Eve and I'm about to go to bed because apparently Santa is going to be here in a couple hours, or so says the App that Dad bought today.

Anywho, left Santa a couple things under the tree because, well, he goes through all this trouble getting other people stuff so I made him a little something-something. It's an extra sleigh. This is in case his breaks down for any reason, he can hook Dasher and the boys up to this one and keep on humming along. Stacey, Finley and I thought of it a couple weeks ago.

Also, today we were eating a snack and talking about what we were going to leave Santa to eat because we had no sweets in the house - no cookies no cupcakes, nothing. So we decided we were going to leave him chips and salsa. I know, right? But I think he's gonna love it because it's Grandma Lammel's homemade salsa, so it's not like we're just leaving him some salsa, this is the real deal.

And if you look closer you'll also see I left him a bowl full of granola to bring up to the reindeer, we figured they'd love that. And I drew him a picture. It's a fish, a distinct type of fish that no one has actually ever seen before.

Okay, gotta get to bed. And to all a goodnight!