Dear Taylor & Thomas

~December 25, 2010~
Santa left the kids a letter on Christmas morning next to the plate of cookies, carrots, and fudge that he and Rudolph enjoyed.Dear Taylor & Thomas,

Thank you for being such a good girl and boy this year. You have grown so much since last year. I am especially proud of the friendship the two of you have built. I enjoy seeing you play together and share with one another.

Taylor, you are doing such a great job teaching you brother how to write, draw, and craft. You are a fantastic big sister. Keep up the great work.

Thomas, you are an incredible little brother. You are so loving and kind. I like the way you look up to your sister and look out for her as a friend. Keep it up. I think you will make a terrific big brother to Sawyer as well.

I am incredibly proud of you both. You are two of the best kids I have ever had the pleasure of watching grow up. I’d like you both to work on sleeping in your own beds all night every night. I know you enjoy your Mommy & Daddy’s bed, but you are getting bigger and they are not getting a good rest, because there is not much space in their bed with you two in it with them. I have left you both a special gift to help you sleep in your own beds all night. Please take this seriously and do a good job working on this task and taking care of your special gifts. I also want you to work on obeying Mommy & Daddy more. You do a great job with this already, but need some improvement. Take care to not throw fits and to not fight with one another. Share your toys with each other and speak nicely to one another. You are both special gifts and good friends to each other. You need to take care of each other and be kind and loving to one another always.

Eli loved it at your house and was impressed with you both. He looks forward to coming back next year.

Thanks for the cookie, brownie, chocolates and milk. Rudolph was especially grateful for the carrots.

I love you both. See you next year!

Love,
Santa

A Visit to The Big Man: Santa; followed by icecream

~December 19, 2010~

It was a totally perfect day for Santa. We were all relaxed, we weren't in a hurry (thank God, because he was way busy that day!), and it became such a fun and memorable day from start to finish. I didn't get the best pictures of the kids in his lap. Luckily, they were both looking for the photographer and neither of them were wiping their eyes when she got "the shot" we actually purchased and have prints of.

She starts out giddy and cute

Thomas was disenchanted from the start
She's "tired"Then he's suddenly struck by the sleepies

Afterwards, however, all is well and they suddenly have loads of energy

A butterfly flew past me and landed on the giant Christmas tree. This totally baffles me in the middle of December, though I should totally expect that kind of thing in Houston.

I love when they get all cute and secretive

And then set off in a game of chase!

Sweet, cute boy with the sweetest, cutest face

My lovely, silly girl

Good to the last drop

DONE!

I love Sissy's face here

Since having kids, we've never been able to pass up a fountain without making a wish

Raising his eyebrows in the attempt to stay awake though he is already in his signature sleep position with those arms

There were no attempts to fight it on her part

Seriously!? So tired and still so stinking adorable!