Christmas Day

We had a fabulous, wonderful, awesome Christmas Day. It's been a really terrific whole Christmas break, really. These kiddos are just getting older and more fun.

Waiting at the top of the stair Christmas morning, about to see what Santa brought.


Checking out their stockings.


Baseball and football cards - Santa seems to know that these are always a favorite.


Will showing off a new mask.


Helen (and Will) got a new, real t-ball glove from Daddy, since they will start t-ball for the first time this spring.


Hugs from Charlie after he opened his present from Will.


Opening a joint present.


Mr. Popper's Penguins - a gift from Gramma. Perfect for movie night. (We read the book together earlier this year.)


Will specifically asked for "green sponges." And he got them. And he was so happy.


Helen got Daddy his own Superman underwear. Yes, she picked them out all by herself. She has a mind of her own.

So, after we had opened quite a few presents, Cort comes down with a big box for all the kids. They open it up, and inside are four Jeep t-shirts and a note that led them through the house until they landed on a square he had drawn with tape in the foyer. They were to wait there until he "gave the sign" to Grandad (yes, my parents were in on this too). At this point, I realized that he had bought the kids their own toy Jeep to ride. They have one at Gransan and Grandad's house and love it. Especially Will. And remember, Cort had promised Will a Jeep for scoring a goal during soccer. So there was a little toot of a horn, and Grandad opened the door, and I braced myself to see one of these:

But that is not what I saw. Not at all. Nope, my husband had gone out and bought a real, live Jeep. "For the kids." Uh hmmm. Right.

So, we are now the proud owners of a third vehicle (for a two-driver family), and we can't put both of our cars under the carport or get out of the driveway without moving a vehicle, since the Jeep is taking up space. Of course, we live in inner-city Houston. But Cort says we can drive it to Mango Beach, the smoothie place a few blocks away. That we otherwise would walk to, but who needs exercise? Oh, and did I mention that it doesn't work with car seats? And that I can't drive it at all (I never learned how to drive a stick shift)?

But boy, is Cort happy and proud. The kids love it too.

So, later that day we took the Jeep over to the local high school football field for the second annual Christmas Day flag football game. The kids had a blast. So did Cort, at least until Helen had to go to the bathroom, and he had to take her . . . because I can't drive the Jeep.

Helen close on Charlie's tail.


Joe making a run.


Huddling up.


A touchdown for Will!


Teammates.


The boys' team, talking strategy.

A merry, merry Christmas indeed.