Merry Christmas... HO HO HO

This is what we've been listening to Kari say the past few hours as her second Christmas nears its end. It's been quite an eventful last 24 hours, for sure.

Kari is telling friends and family when they call that she got toothpaste. It just happens to be the first thing she pulled out of her stocking this morning. Hard to believe she remembers that over her first American Girl doll or some of the games and toys she acquired. Overall, she was a pretty good girl today despite the overwhelming features that encompass Christmas.

Our Christmas Eve included a nice children's service at church. Both Kari and Bryce behaved wonderfully and enjoyed the time in church. Kari tried to hum along to some of the carols we sang, while Bryce gnawed on his favorite fingers du jour.

Watching a little Nemo in bed 

waiting for Daddy to come home.

This morning started early with a 6 a.m. wake up call for Kevin to assist the neighboring township with a fully involved 2-story structure fire. I ended up driving our water tanker back and forth and dropped off 15,000 gallons of water in 2 hours. I made it home by 8:30 when we began opening gifts as a family. Mommy got some spiffy new brown boots, I got a great outdoor firepit and Bryce ended up getting the short end of the stick with the portable CD player Santa dropped off. It apparently didn't make the A-list in terms of quality and might be getting returned.

A traditional Haugstad picture sitting and waiting at the 

top of the stairs to find out if Santa had brought gifts. 

 

Our Christmas dinner included a ham loaf (complete with cherry and pineapple sauce), noodles (mainly for Kari), green beans and some rosemary french bread. Tonight we've begun playing some of Kari's new games and made phone calls to grandparents and aunts/uncles to wish them all a Merry Christmas Ho Ho Ho. We hope all of you had a blessed and wonderful time with your loved ones on Christmas. We'll talk with you soon.