Christmas

 Christmas really is a lot more fun when you have kids.  We visited 4 Santa Clauses this year and each time Seamus asked for a garbage truck. Really?! That is what you want son?  We tried to suggest other really cool things, but even up until bedtime on Christmas Eve, he was really hoping Santa would bring him a garbage truck.

My parents came up and stayed with us Christmas Eve. We went to church, put the kids down, and then Santa's Toy Factory took over our living room.  It only took 1 1/2 hours of 4 people with 7 degrees between us to erect a firehouse.  Then, on Christmas morning all of the adults were up way before the kids, sitting in the living room, looking at each other over coffee cups, trying to make enough noise to wake the kids.... Finally, we went and woke them up.

 We got all of the kids' presents second hand except for three things.  It was pretty fun going bargain shopping.  I scored a jackpot of Thomas the Train stuff on Craigslist.

 Showing off her new moves... let me go dad! I can do this!

Santa snuck into Seamus' room and dropped off the firehouse set --- that Santa sure is a good guy!  This firehouse dollhouse has provided hours of fun already -- furniture, firemen, a firepole, helicopter, ambulance and firetruck!

Nothing says Yule Tide like an LCD flatscreen.