Christmas with Hannah and Lizzie

Here's the short version: We had a great Christmas. Now you can look at the pictures if you want. :)
For those who would like a little more description, here's what we did. On Christmas Eve the girls and I did some baking and some cooking (Lizzie does not like the smell of turnips boiling which she told me repeatedly throughout the hour or so it takes to cook them). Then I gave them their Christmas Eve pajamas (which they are wearing in many of these pictures) and then we went to Aunt Terry's to eat homemade pizza. After a couple hours during which the girls talked NONSTOP we finished the pizza and the snowman ice cream cake and then got in the car to take our annual look at the lights. We passed by our home on the trip and Lizzie wanted to know if -- because of our lack of lights and Christmas tree -- everyone would think we celebrated Hannukah. Then after another hour of so of NONSTOP talk, we came home.
I took NO pictures of any of the above. However once we got home, I did take pictures of the girls feeding the reindeer (this is oatmeal mixed with glitter) which they really enjoyed, even though it was raining. Of course it was only raining on the photographer.

Christmas morning was the usual bedlam, although I am happy to say that no one got out of bed until 7 a.m. The girls were thrilled to see that Santa had not only brought them the gifts they really wanted, but also that he DID remember the Christmas tree. Santa and Mrs. Claus had MANY discussions about when Santa should bring the Tree (Mrs. Claus got outvoted) and Santa assured everyone that he would put the tree up without the help of Mrs. Claus who was wrapping gifts and cooking (and eating chips and salsa.)

As it turns out, Santa was forced to go out in search of AAA batteries at 11 p.m., so Mrs. Claus ended up fixing and decorating the Christmas Tree anyway. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, it WAS Mrs. Claus who misread the box and thought the toys needed AA batteries, instead of AAA.

Here are Hannah and Lizzie with some of their favorite gifts, standing in front of that Christmas Tree they'd been waiting for, for weeks! Hannah was thrilled to get her American Girl doll and Lizzie got her favorite Webkinz. Standing between them is Butterscotch (named for a robotic pet they wanted last Christmas but didn't get), the Giddy-up and Go Pony, from Aunt Terry. Butterscotch has quickly become a part of our family and even goes with Elizabeth into the bathroom (because she's afraid if she gets off, then Hannah will get on the horse.) And here, you can see Hannah in her full riding gear: The horse actually moves by bouncing up and down on the saddle, sort of like you're posting:And here is Butterscotch joining Lizzie for dessert (he's having an apple): (I can't figure out why everything is underlined -- just ignore it!)

After the gifts we had dinner. The menu was lots of junk food for appetizers (chips, dip, chocolate santas, etc.), prime rib, turnips, fresh baked crescent rolls, creamed onions, green beans with fried onion rings, and garlic roasted potatoes. Dessert was a French Silk pie. Followed by more junk food. I was happy that the roast beef came out okay, as we had not one but TWO meat thermometer malfunctions.

Lizzie and Dad get ready to eat dig in!

And my favorite picture of Hannah eating dessert and Rob saying (I'm sure): "Well if she keeps taking bites like that, there won't be any left for me!!" Hope everyone else had a great Christmas, too!!