Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas 

or Häid jõule! as the Estonians say.  

Last night was very enjoyable.  The Marines came over to watch White Christmas and enjoy some tasty treats.  The kids were quite tickled to have them over and while I typically wait to let them open a gift until after the movie, I decided to get them busy to give one particular Marine a break from their endless chatter.  So, I had them open Legos.  Clara was given the vet treatment center of the Lego Friends and Zach got his first bucket of the big kid Legos.  They were busy until bedtime!

After bed, we exposed the Marines to National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.  Most of them had not seen it before.  They didn't even know who Chevy Chase was!  I think the youngest was born in 1991, which makes me realize I'm just a tad bit older than they are.

Fast forward to this morning...very early this morning...like 2:30 am.  I woke up to Clara excitedly saying something to me, I really cannot tell you her exact words but they revealed she had been down stairs.  And then I hear Zach announcing that Santa brought his blue castle.  I don't think i had a great deal of Christmas cheer at that particular moment but we did get the kids back in bed and to sleep which meant Zach was sleeping with us because the boy was super excited and not interested in sleep.  Five hours later, Zach began stirring again so I told everyone I would call them downstairs as soon as I had a pot of coffee going.  

Here they come!  

 Santa brought me a blue castle!

 This thing spontaneously barks and walks and is the thing she wanted above all things in this world. Oh, and it pants, and makes a variety of sounds based on interactions.  As I type this, the thing is looking at me and I seriously feel compelled to pet it.  

 I must tell you that years ago, Charlie and I admired these knights in Toys R Us and talked about how much fun WE could have with them.  I'm thinking this is a gift the whole family is going to enjoy.  Santa was thoughtful enough to put a few characters fanciful characters in Clara's stocking because Clara would be drawn to the castle too.

 Santa is clever!  

 The pup she named Paws!

 Clara opening up the Barbie Glam Vacation House from Nana and Grandpa.  They got Zach a Bat Cave, but sadly it has not arrived yet but he understands it is coming.  A blue castle and a bat cave were the two items he repeatedly said he wanted so we know he will be thrilled when it arrives.  It was shipped by October 30 but we exercise patience here when dealing with the shipment of our packages. Mimi's package is still in transit as well as a friend's.  It just means the kids get to have extra days for gifts!  They are quite understanding with the packages.  It is the only life Zach has ever known and Clara has adjusted after living in Iwakuni.  

 Charlie and I were practical and gave each other wool coats.  Don't we look well rested?  

 Clara enjoys walking Paws.

We have a white Christmas too!  Well, we've had over a foot of snow on the ground for a while.  It is currently 10 degrees outside (Fahrenheit) and we are supposed to get another inch today.  However, I noticed for the first time in quite a while they are predicting a high of 41 so maybe some of this stuff will start melting!  It is already 10:30 in the morning so I don't know when this heat wave is coming but it says tomorrow's high is 18.  We'll see!