christmas odds and ends

Here is our tree. This is the first year as a family that we've had a real tree. I love it and everything about it. The smell, the fullness, the branches. I was worried about the needles falling off, but it's been fine. The only time they fall off is when I rearrange something.

Zarkle is back. The kids are in love with him. Looking for him is the first thing they do every morning when they wake up. One night he emailed Santa rather than visiting. Sometimes Zarkle is lazy like that. Using the elf as leverage is total genius.

Santa came to school last week. I didn't get to go visit, but Michael happen to be off that day. Addison was a little hesitant while Michael was there, but after he left she went to visit Santa with her class. She did much better. The school emailed me this picture.

Morgan wouldn't go near Santa on her own, but she did okay on Michael's knee.

We're going to see Santa again tomorrow so hopefully we'll have better luck. Or maybe we'll have one of those tortured, crying kid pictures. Oh, I can't wait.