Christmas (Part One)

Our Christmas celebrations began with the Stomach Bug. Cole started it last Tuesday and his only lasted 5-6 hours. Then I got it and lasted a solid 36 hours. While I had it, Caroline got it even worse. Then poor Eric got it on Friday and had it worse than all of us.  Ughghhh...

We missed the Christmas celebration with my Mom's extended family. Eric missed the Illinois/Missouri Basketball game that he was pretty excited to go to.

Luckily, we were all better and healthy by the 23rd! We went to see Santa at Alton Square Mall and I'm pretty sure he was the real one. The kids were SOOO excited to sit on his lap and finally tell them what they wanted for Christmas (Caroline a Jake and the Neverland Pirate Spyglass and bunk bed for her dolls. Cole a Jake sword and a big fire station).

A conversation before we went to the mall:

Cole: "Actually I don't want to sit on his lap."
Eric: "How will Santa know what you want?"
Cole: Putting hands in the air: "He'll figure it out!!"
Eric: "How will Santa figure it out?"
Cole: "He just will. He will figure it out."
HAHA.

So, we get to the front of the line and this is what happens:

 

Cole was pleasantly surprised that Santa was a "person". Cole thought he was going to be some fake statue or something. Caroline on the other hand LOVED Santa. She was a little starstruck but told him every single thing she wanted for Christmas, how old she was, how old her mom was (thanks!) and what Cole wanted (So sweet).

 

On Christmas Eve we had our  Immediate families over including my grandma and grandpa (and Ian). My 75 and 78 year old grandparents are raising my 8 year old cousin. God bless them! They are amazing!

Here are some Christmas Eve pics: