The Day After

Well, it's the day after Santa's big day and man, what a crazy time it was.

Joey's just getting the idea of Santa this year, so he was very excited knowing that Santa was coming. He seems to understand who Santa is but doesn't quite get the connection that Santa brings good kids presents. Still, when I got him out of bed on the 24th, he said, "Daddy ... Santa's coming and his reindeer and the chimney and presents and the tree and, and and ..." it went on from there.

So Christmas Eve we spent at my sister-in-law's house with Kell's family and had a great time, as always. Kell's brother, Paul, looks disturbingly like Jesus with his long hair and beard, so the jokes abounded all night because Paul couldn't be more opposite of what Jesus was reported to be ... LOL. The highlight for Joey was the Thomas the Tank Engine phone game he got from his Auntie Suzie and Austin which he has taken everywhere so far.

Anyway, we got home and got 44 Marion ready for the Big Guy. We wrote Santa a note that Joey signed and we put cookies and milk out for Santa to snack on. We also left some reindeer food (oatmeal and carrots) in a tin pie plate out on the porch. Joey was really excited doing that. He kept looking up at the sky and talked about the stars and how bright the full moon was that night.

The next morning, Joey came downstairs and couldn't believe his eyes ... Santa had come! He left a Little Tikes Cook & Learn Kitchen which was a huge hit. It talks to you and knows when you have the correct food in the pan or on the cutting board. Joey absolutely loves this thing and makes all kinds of creations for Mama and Daddy to try.

He also received a Little People Airport set and he likes using the helicopter and airplane to zoom around the living room. He also got a few Thomas the Tank Engine "take along" pieces for his collection and Hi, Ho Cherry-O! game, and lots of other stuff.

I gave Kell a pair of earrings from Silpada jewelry, an autographed Red Sox scorecard from Jerry Remy and Joey gave her a hard-sided glasses case for her new reading glasses.

Kell gave me a gorgeous Star Wars pop-up book which is really amazing, a Reebok knitted New England Patriots hat and a Patriots t-shirt ... very cool.

We went to my parent's house for Christmas day with Asha (my mom) and Papa (my dad) and my sister and her family. As always, everyone was very generous and Joey got a very cool racetrack/garage from Asha and Papa and a set of finger puppets, some Thomas stuff and train books from Auntie Beckie, Uncle John and his cousins Max and Jack ... among other stuff.

All in all a great day and another holiday spent with family. A lot of laughing and a lot of love to go around. Only 363 more days to go ... LOL.