Grandma Santa?

Christmas Eve we enjoyed church with my family. Ella was thrilled to go to church at a new campus. She loved it. After church, we headed to my parent’s house for our traditional family Christmas and Chinese food. Ella tucked into her Chinese food like a champ and Lily didn’t let the lack of snow get her down, she showered the dining room with white rice for added holiday effect. Once we were done eating, we read The Night Before Christmas. Or attempted to. The girls were too hyped up to focus on a reading a storybook. But who should show up in the backyard? Santa! We invited him in, and Ella studied Santa intently. Perhaps it was the eye makeup, or perhaps it was the fact that Grandma was napping upstairs, but Ella looked Santa square in his jolly old face and asked, “Grandma Santa?”

Once Santa cleared out, the present opening began. Once again, the girls did great taking turns and watching others. They were very excited to open a quilt made by Chelsey that is a giant hop scotch board. It’s kept them busy. Once the gifts were opened, the wrapping paper cleaned up, we gathered up our sleepy little girls and made our way towards home.

Earlier that day, our Elf on the Shelf, Jingle Bells had taken off towards the North Pole. A certain four year old family member was a little nervous about this departure, as she had been a bit ornery before he left. Suddenly he was gone and Ella hadn’t left a good last impression. But, thankfully, they’re behavior had earned them a spot on the good list and Santa was on his way. Jingle Bells had left behind a new pair of pajamas in everyone’s bed! We all crawled into our new pjs and drifted off to sleep, excited for the Christmas’s that had been and the Christmas celebrations to come, Santa’s arrival and family to be seen. Someday, they’ll be old enough to stay awake long enough to leave our cookies for Santa. But for now, we’ll settle for tucking our sleepy little girls into their beds.