Team Andersen's Adventures: CHRISTMAS EVE & CHRISTMAS DAY 2008!

Our local fire department sends the firetruck around blaring sirens and Santa comes for a visit ever year. Last year we missed it because we were in LA so we were so excited to make it this year. It was raining and cold AND by now we all know how much Nola loves Santa so we decided to try for one more visit, hoping this would be the one where she magically goes to Santa!

We all stood outside like idiots waiting in the rain for Santa and sure enough he showed up and all the kids got in line to see Santa while his helpers handed out presents for each kid (individualized by gender and age...very impressive). We definitely need to make sure we donate to them this year!

Of course when it was Nola's turn, she FREAKED...so we were out of luck again...maybe next year!

We came inside and Nola opened her present and it was a very cute puzzle! She really did like it despite the disappointing face!

After that we headed to Uncle Rob's for great food and company....sorry but I forgot the camera!

When we got home I made sure to leave cookies and milk for Santa so he wouldn't forgot to stop!

AFTER SANTA

CHRISTMAS MORNING!

Let me set the stage: I woke up Christmas morning at 6am dying for Nola to wake up and of course the ONE morning I don't want her to sleep in...SHE DOES! I had to wait till 7am....and when she did get up I wanted Jay to video her coming down the stairs. AND anyone who knows Jay knows how fast he moves so needless to say Nola was crying because she thought we were holding her captive upstairs! Jay finally got the camera rolling and Nola cried the whole way downstairs and kept crying even when she saw her presents...then she stopped crying and looked very CONFUSED about why all the stuff was there. Once we helped her open one present she tore into everything! She wanted to play with every present she opened! It was too funny!

She vacuumed the whole house...too bad it didn't really work!

After presents and breakfast we went to mass as a family and then continued on to the Grandma & Grandpa's for more present opening!

"Yeah my own Tupperware! I can't wait to start cooking!"

Nola knew exactly what to do when we got there and she saw all the presents. She looked like a professional opener! Nola even helped Grandpa open all of his presents because he wasn't feeling 100%.

So many presents! Thanks for everything Grandma,Grandpa, Uncle Keith & Aunt Heather!

After hanging out for a while, it was on to Aunt Peppy's for more presents & dinner!

Family Shot!

"Yeah Santa, I want to thank you for going above and beyond this year with everything you left me EVERYWHERE! I know I was good but I didn't know I was that good! I promise I'll try to keep up the good work! Talk to you soon!"

Grandma & Grandpa

" I guess Santa wants me to learn how to cook because he seems to have left me a kitchen at home and pots and pans everywhere else...but he forgot to leave a cookbook...I guess I'll have to wing it!"