Christmas Eve

The Murrays came to spend Christmas Eve with us and when Aunt Candy comes she always has to bring a surprise with her. This time she did good. At 11:00 am on Christmas Eve we had a visit from Santa Claus!!!

Now Riley has been terrified of him all year.... actually she is just terrified of all men, but still wouldn't let me get near Santa in the mall without turning her head and freezing. Reagan proved in Disney that she likes "characters" from far away, but don't get near her because she will freak out. So I was a little nervous about Santa being in the house thinking my kids were going to cause a fit and send Dylan and Harlie into the same fits and it all be a big disaster. BUT... both kids kept their distance in the beginning, but then jumped on his lap for pictures. I was really worried about how Riley would handle this and she seems a little scared in the pictures, but once she got up there she was fine and I missed the best picture.... we told her to smile and she turned and stuck her hands up to her head and gave us her "funny" face. It was like she was saying "nanny nanny boo boo.... I'm really not scared... I fooled you all this time".

The biggest problem with Santa being there on Christmas Eve was that he asked her what she wanted for Christmas and she told him roller skates. This is the 1st time she has ever said she wanted them so of course Santa hadn't planned on getting them for her. She talked all day about the skates she was going to get and when she went to bed she said "I hope Santa brings me my roller skates". Needless to say, she was a little disappointed Christmas morning because Santa didn't have her skates.... I think she got over it though:)

My sister came up with a great new tradition... she thought a very festive Red Velvet Cake would be good to have for desert for our big Christmas Eve dinner. I made cupcakes instead and we ended up not having the big dinner.... but the cupcakes were good, festive, and a fun tradition that I think I will start.