Secret Santa Revealed!

Yesterday, after all the hoop-la of gifts and I was in a sleepy stupor, nearly asleep...the phone rang. The kids have been trained to let the answering machine answer if they don't recognize the number on Caller ID.

So, we got this very nice Christmas message from our preacher and his wife, Frank and Summer, who were calling from someone else's phone out of town: saying they hoped we had a happy Christmas, and a good 12 Days of Christmas!

Thank you, Summer, for heading up all of our merriment. Your gift was more precious than just presents. Our church family really is Family to John and me, since our physical family is far away. Thanks, Sisters!

The 12th Day of Christmas!

The Secret Santas remain a secret. They certainly gave us a thrill, and we thank them for their sneakiness and kind deeds they've done for us.

Today brought treats, including Fruitcake Cookies, and a doll for Luci--how on Earth did our Secret Santa know that Sleeping Beauty is on Luci's wish list? This is a "baby princess" doll.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The boys helped Santa out by putting together a kitchen set for Luci. Wow! Good thing they started this afternoon instead of waiting until Luci fell asleep tonight. It took 3 hours to put together!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luci made a special phone call to Santa tonight. It's been a yearly event since Bryan was about 3 years old. This year, JT thinks I am just dialing Papa's number.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Did you follow Santa's journey on NORAD's Santa Tracker? Here is Santa going through China:

The 11th Day of Christmas

This is so fun! Paddle Pool. We've had several tournaments already (I never win). Yes, the kids are still in their pajamas! Thank you, Secret Santa!

The 10th Day of Christmas

Brought us things to make our brains think! Sudoku, crosswords, word search and a joke book (which JT is teasing me with, above), and some pretty cool mechanical pencils. I love all of these things! And don't tell the kids, but these fall into my "painless learning" category.

What do you get when you cross a piranha with a nose?

I don't know, but I wouldn't pick it!

The 8th and 9th Day of Christmas

The Secret Santas struck again! This morning on the front porch was a big "Santa's Bag" with more gifts, for days 8 through 12. (I actually saw it at 11:45 Saturday night, after Luci woke me up. It had to wait until morning because turning the alarm off and then back on would've woken the kids up.) The bag had a message attached, saying, "Ho Ho Ho! 5 days to go!" Such fun! But I'm concerned, Secret Santa--I hope you weren't driving out in that bad storm that went through last night.

.

You all are just too too kind. Really. I am overwhelmed at your generosity and just wanting us to feel loved during John's deployment. Consider your mission successful!

.

The 8th Day of Christmas was a Webkinz Snowman. I've seen the Webkinz animals and really wanted one (I mean Luci has seen them and wanted one...) but never have gotten one. So thank you, Santa--this is such a cute one, perfect for this time of year.

I'm blaming JT on us opening the 9th Day of Christmas...he counted up and read on the tags that the 11th Day was to be opened on the 23rd, and the 12 Day on the 24th. His funny logic said that we need to open the 9th Day, too.

.

And look at what a lovely statuette Day 9 brought! This is just right for us this year. I have a set of the Nativity scene but haven't put it out in a few years because Luci might break some of the pieces. It's from Japan, from the years when my parents lived there and where I was born, so it's irreplaceable. This statuette is perfect because Luci can handle it without dropping, and it makes a nice addition to our table's centerpiece with our Advent candle wreath. Perfect for focusing our thoughts on our Bible study. Today, besides being showered with gifts, we had lots to do! Worship in the morning, lunch at McDonalds, shopping for a few last minute gifts, then home. This evening we had our church's Christmas party. The kids sang and did a couple of skits. Luci was in the group which tried to sing Jingle Bells. Santa came, and Luci made a visit! Surprise! She knew it was Josh, one of Bryan's best friends. Otherwise, she would not have gotten close.

JT and Luci and the dog.

Cole and Luci, and the dog again. Luci, if you and Cole do eventually get married (as they plan to do!), then this photo will surely make the reception table. Love that finger, sweety.

More Secret Santa Surprises!

Yes, Julie--Several someones (not me!) left a bunch of wonderful gifts to cheer us up on this most different Christmas holiday. One for each day. Are you in on this, Julie, and just trying to throw me off the scent?
.
Today's gift is a cute set of snowman mugs with "Gourmet Hot Chocolate." Yum! The mint is the best flavor. Thank you, Secret Santa!

This morning we got to play with Kalyn and her mom, Kathy. We had a blast! Here are the girls in their princess dresses. Kalyn's been coming to our house for about two years now. I remember the first visit...Kalyn, I love how you have blossomed with your parents and how much you smile and laugh with us now! Here is Kalyn being so silly. She is sitting in a little rubbermaid container. When you're all grown up, you won't believe you were ever this tiny!

Luci being silly, too, but you can't see the container!Here it is. Just the right size for a 3 or 4 year old!

We finally have a clue...

OK, either Trina R. is involved in this, or the Secret Santa shops at Mars Hill Book Store. These are gorgeous note cards! John will get a couple in the mail this year, but the rest will be for my girly friends. Mom and Dad, here's Luci with her new baby doll. We started reading Luke 2 this morning and she ran to get her baby and put her quilt (that Jessi made) on her head so she could "be Mary." Awww.

For our Secret Santas...and one for my Mom!

Dear Secret Santas,
Than you for making it so much fun to get up! (Except for Bryan--did you see the photo in the previous post? Being 16 and getting up before noon just don't go together.) You all really make us wonder just who you are. We are having fun; I hope you are too.
.
Did you see this cartoon in the paper today? "The Argyle Sweater" comic:

Mom, this one's for you: Do you remember the scarf and hat sets that Granddaddy and Mary sent Janet and me for Christmas one year? It was in Cheyenne. I was in sixth grade. Mine was blue, and Janet's was red, and they had HAPPY FACES on them! Then you spent the next six years trying to get me to stop using that scarf! It's been raining so much here that I got us all new umbrellas today--here's mine!

On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

our true friend gave to us...

a magazine (I love Mary Engelbreit! this will be fun!) and snacks and oranges to enjoy on a cold, rainy day. Thank you, S.S.!
Doesn't Bryan look lovely? He just woke up.

On the Fourth Day of Christmas....

A calendar and address book (I need organization desperately! Thank you!), a magnet (Max Lucado's saying on it--"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it!") and a panda bear, which Luci quickly appropriated for herself. Thank you, S.S.!!

And this just for fun, from three years ago...Luci's first Christmas with us. She still feels the same way about Santa Claus! The best part of this picture is Santa. Look at his expression!