Christmas!

Members of Santa's good list

We have a huge number of posts to share! Let's start at Christmas...
Actually, let's start at December 23. The Norwegians call it "Lille Julaften" or "Little Christmas" and Kaitlin and I decided to start our Christmas a little early, too. We had Kaitlin and Johny over for Swedish meatballs and sugar cookies and to open presents. Then, we wouldn't have to cart presents to Minnesota just to cart them back. We also worked out a deal with Santa to come on Christmas eve morning since we were leaving for Minnesota early on Christmas Day. Something tells me that pastor's kids have to get used to a flexible Christmas celebration. Evie set out the cookies we made for Santa and a few carrots for the reindeer. She was super excited for the ladybug pillow pet Santa brought here the next morning.

The kids and I went to the early family service on Christmas eve. The Christmas story is read and kids are asked to come up and play a part. Evie, like every little girl in the congregation, wanted to be an angel. She was happy to find a preschool classmate in the angel throng and they had a little angel chat up there. Unlike last year's excitement, there were no cows fighting behind the pulpit but the shepherds looked like they could cause some trouble with their staffs. This year was more mellow.

After getting the children all snug in their beds on Christmas eve, it was my job to finish the packing and take down the tree before we left the next morning. I think I'm starting to understand why my mom always looked so tired on Christmas eve. There is a lot of doing and undoing that happens around that time of year. It is a lot of work to get 3 kids all dressed up! But they looked super cute...just look!

Evie in her Christmas best

Zevon with visions of sugar plums

Guthrie listening for reindeer hooves