Christmas!

It is amazing that Christmas has once again come and gone SO quickly!  Seems like just yesterday we were getting the kids pictures with Santa...  

Elsie asked Santa for "boxes" to make forts and do crafts with, and Owen asked him for a puppy!  Santa had his work cut out for him. :)

Christmas #1:
I took the kids down to Boonville a few days early and left them with Grandma and Grandpa Cas.  They stayed for a couple of days and then Sarah and I came down on the 23rd.  We had a really nice dinner and then opened presents on Christmas Eve morning.   It was great getting to spend time with family, and Elsie and Owen had so much fun!

Playing hotwheels in the mud just like Jeff and I used to do when we were kids.  

Christmas #2:

We hightailed it back to Olathe on Christmas Eve in time to make Reindeer Food for Santa's Reindeer.  The kids were SO excited for Christmas and to see what Santa was going to bring them! 

We came downstairs on Christmas morning and found an Air Hockey table and lots of presents!

Elsie and Owen passed out the presents and then it was time to open.

Cra-Z-Sand was VERY high on the list for both kids this year.

Aside from Sarah, Elsie is the only girl I know who would get this excited over a "Make your own funky pillow" kit.  :)  

50 colored pens!

Toys EVERYWHERE!

We didn't get any pictures of this, but the kids wishes were answered by Santa.  He brought Elsie a bunch of boxes for crafts and forts.  And he also brought a cute little stuffed puppy who came with a note from Santa.  It said that Santa didn't have the perfect puppy at the North Pole and to use this one as a substitute while Mommy and Daddy begin looking for one.  That's right.  We're getting a dog!  It took a few moments for this reality to sink in on the kids.  They have been asking and asking for a dog so it was quite exciting for them to learn that the search was on.  Santa came through like a BOSS!   :)

Christmas #3:

We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Cox's house for their family Christmas on Saturday.  We were joined by Aunt Becky, Uncle Vince, and Cousin Jaden.  We had a yummy BBQ lunch and then opened presents.  Just when they thought it was done, each kid received a clue that led them on a scavenger hunt around the house and to one final present!  What fun!

Owen got "Cabbie" from the Fire and Rescue movie.  She carries little smoke jumpers who drive out of her back door.

He also got a dump truck and digger for the sandbox!

The "I Spy" game.  Fun!

Elsie got a microscope!

It was great to spend time with both of our families and share in the Christmas joy.  Too bad it goes by so fast...

Regarding the puppy search, it started the day after Christmas.  There was a chocolate lab mix named "Duffy" at the Great Plains SPCA that we wanted to go see.  We got the house all picked up and cleaned up just in case we came home with her, then headed up the road to meet her.  The kids loved her, and we decided to take her, but she had a nasty case of Kennel Cough so the vet wanted to keep her there a few more days for observation.  We got to hold her and the kids got to meet her, but we were all pretty bummed when we learned that we couldn't take her home for a few days.  At least we got to see her and we can start thinking of a more permanent name.

Merry Christmas to all!

Ryan, Sarah, Elsie, and Owen