The Zoe and Silas Show

12/25/13: S&Z were very excited on Christmas morning when they saw the gifts and candy canes that Santa left for them! They didn't want to open any presents until they each ate an entire candy cane. And a couple of hershey's kisses! Finally they started unwrapping the stocking gifts- Santa brought the kids a new craft table and chairs, a bunch of new art supplies, and a fort building kit. After the excitement of the Santa gifts died down we set up the craft table and they started working on some projects. Later in the afternoon Derek's family came over the 2nd annual Christmas Mexican Fiesta. This is a tradition we started last year , and one we will definitely continue in the future! The kids were spoiled with gifts as usual. It was a very merry Christmas indeed!

12/24/13: We frosted the tree cakes for Santa on Christmas Eve morning. Our little bakers were in fine form! Derek worked that evening and it was a quiet day otherwise. I cooked all afternoon and made a big Christmas Eve feast - chicken cordon bleu , steam-sauteed green beans, and mustard-roasted potatoes . And a Christmas meal wouldn't be complete without some of my mom's delicious homemade lefse! Silas was so hungry waiting for dinner that he sat down at the table an hour before everything was ready! One of our Christmas Eve traditions is to give the kids a new pair of pajamas. They were sooo excited! Of course we had to read a few special bedtime books. Santa's elves were busy after the kids went to bed. It was a very merry Christmas Eve!!!

12/14/13: Last Saturday was the only time we had to visit Santa. We headed back to Bass Pro Shops knowing it would be pretty busy on a Saturday night just two weeks before Christmas (click  here  to read about our Santa adventures last year). Sure enough, we walked in at 5:25 and the woman at the door said, "here to see Santa? here's a 'Santa Pass' for 7:30". Derek and I just looked at each other and thought "here we go again". We had all been up late the night before and there was no way in hell we were hanging around Bass Pro Shops for 2 hours. I looked at the kids and started to explain how we weren't going to see Santa after all. The Santa Pass lady overheard me and said, "oh, I forgot! i have some 5:30 passes right here". Maybe she really did forget, but the whole situation struck me as a scam to get people to shop before seeing Santa. When she realized we were going to walk out the door she pulled out a pass to get us in the store. We...

12/25/12: Discovering on Christmas morning that Santa had left candy canes on the tree!

12/23/12: Santa!

My friend Tracy told me about a house in Dedham that does some over the top decorating at Christmas. We loaded everyone into the car after nap today and headed out to see the decorations. Every year the family lets people tour their backyard.  Tonight they were also serving hot chocolate and cookies.  And best of all, SANTA WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!!  IN A SLEIGH, COMPLETE WITH REINDEER!!! I was so touched by how generous this family is,  and so happy to be able to enjoy it with my family. We will definitely be making this backyard tour an annual tradition!