The Christmas week kicked off with a brief visit from our dear friends Emily and Robert.  They blew in for a night and the kids relished every moment of it.

Our little elves forged through the neighborhood delivering cookies and candies.

Followed by some Christmas dinner prep.

Steven read The Night Before Christmas on the eve of as he does each year followed by making a plate for Santa and his reindeer.

Each year they get to open one gift on Christmas Eve that we select and this years was Auntie Jen Jen's.  They received "Snuggy" type blankets in the shape of mermaid tails and sharks.

Attack of the wide mouthed shark.

 All day and night we were marking our map to the status of Santa's progress via the Santa Tracker.  They went to bed when he was around Virginia, quickly working his way towards us.

The morning of they anxiously waited at the top of the stairs until they were allowed to come downstairs.  (although Heath snuck down early that morning to scope it out)

And then the first sight.  If you can't see the video below, click on the following link.  Christmas morning 2016

Then the havoc surrounding unwrapping of the gifts commenced.

With a brief break for a game of Toss Across.

One of the big hits of the day were Heath's Pokemon cards.

Another stop so Daddy could put together Ashlyn's new hair salon station for her doll while she intently watched on.

The second big hit of the day was Ashlyn's new karaoke machine.  Once again it was a fun and magical holiday.

oSApgj