We still leave our cookies for Santa outside on the back porch.
Reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
The morning of, the boys woke up to find letters. Fred, our elf, created a scavenger hunt to find Santa’s gift. They LOVED it! 
There were 5 clues that took them all through the house.
Again, it seems I can never get pictures at Christmas because they are always running all over the place with their cousins (which is a good thing!).
It was a Lego Christmas for sure! The boys love their Legos and they got plenty of them!!
Our elf, Fred, came back this year. The boys had fun with him again.
Here are some of the highlights…
Last year, Fred replaced our stockings with our underwear. This year he decided to hide all our underwear! The boys thought this was hysterical. Hagen was really confused – where did he put it?? We never found it! He brought it back the next morning.
One morning the boys woke up with marker all over their faces and this note from Fred. (I think he kind of out did himself on this one!) I’m just glad he found the washable markers and not the permanent ones.
Merry Christmas!
Ms. Gabe came over to make cookies with the boys. They loved helping. 
Then we made gingerbread houses.
Because of Jeremy’s work schedule, it is just too hard to coach the boys. We really like their basketball coach this season – but the hardest part for Jeremy…
Watching the game as the dad and not coach!
It looks like he is getting on to them or yelling at them. But, he isn’t. He just gives them lots of pointers and tips.
Here is Mason getting his feedback report.
Crack me up… Oh, sorry Mason, he wasn’t done with you yet. Here is your next dose of feedback!
I should have handed him a clipboard so he could draw out his plan. You know, it does help to see the plan visually. 
Now it’s the coach’s turn.
One of Jeremy’s good friends has a dad that dresses up like Santa and comes to visit special friends. It started with his grandchildren and now that they are older – he visits other kids, like us. This year the boys were super excited when he showed up!!
They had lots more questions than last year. Santa did great answering them… it just made me wish I had gotten out the video camera.
Where are the reindeer?
How do you get down the chimney?
Are the reindeer with you now?
Where is Mrs. Claus?
I loved when Mason was going over his list, he had to go get his Lego instruction book (with the Lego products in the back).
Sweet boys with Santa!
What? You have to go Santa? Where? Where are the reindeer? Can we see them? Where are they waiting? Can anyone see them?
Okay, one more reason why I needed to have my video camera out. As soon as the door was shut, Mason screams out, “HE’S A FAKE!!!! I saw the strings on his beard! That is NOT the real Santa!!!!”
Jeremy and I busted out laughing. We SO could not help it!! Then we said something like, are you sure? Well, maybe he is like the mall Santa… he isn’t real, but Santa is so busy, he sends helpers for guys like you. HA HA HA ---- SO wish I had my video camera 
Oh well!
