We took the kids to the O'Fallon fire station on the 19th to meet Santa. This was the first time they had held a meeting with Santa. It was kind of neat. You could tour the fire station and a truck so the kids thought that was cool.
Here are the kids waiting in line to get in the fire truck.
Abby and Adam inside the truck. Adam was making a super hero pose. Duh.
Abby and Adam inside the truck.
Abby and Adam inside the truck.
Abby and Adam in front of the truck.
Here is Santa with them. The picture was taken in a 1927 pumper truck that the O'Fallon Fire Department used.
Adam inside the fire truck.
Abby and Adam in front of the fire truck.
That evening Seth and I went out to McGurk's for dinner with friends for Seth's 34th birthday.
Seth. So handsome.
Still handsome. :)
Seth's birthday was the 21st. This is the kids giving Seth one of his birthday presents. We got him an iTunes gift card and this thing called iSimple that allows his iPhone to be played through his car stereo. I got it installed at Best Buy on the 23rd. He loves it. It was a good gift.
Adam inspecting the candy at my grandma's on Christmas Eve.
My mom and the kids on Christmas Eve.
The Dorias on Christmas Eve.
Seth and Abby.
Seth looking at Adam's Spiderman car from my grandma.
Abby showing off her beads to make necklaces.
The kids were playing freeze dance and had us all laughing at their goofy poses.
After my grandma's house, we went home and got ready for Santa. This first involves putting the "reindeer food" out on the lawn. It was so windy, though, that it kept flying back at us. The reindoor food was really just oatmeal with red and green sprinkles mixed in.
After getting the kids ready for bed, putting out cookies, milk and hand santizier for Santa (Abby saw on the news that Santa was concerned about swine flu so she wanted to leave out hand sanitizer - how funny is that?), we got in Abby's bed and Seth read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Christmas morning Abby woke us up at 7:15 a.m. This was the first year she woke us up and we didn't have to wake her up first. This is the kids with the gifts as Santa left them.
Adam realizing the big gift was for him.
Adam with the Handy Manny Repair Shop - the only gift he asked Santa for.
Abby and Adam with the Wii. I have to admit, it is really fun. We've been playing it quite a bit. It's definitely worth the expense. Although I could do without the soreness after playing Wii tennis!
Abby with her fancy new sequined hat - anything sparkly is a winner for Abby.
Me opening one of my gifts from the kids - the new Dan Brown book. I hope to make some headway on it this week. My big gift was a 22" tv that we put right in front of the treadmill. It's perfect. Now I have no excuses to run - after all, the April 11 half marathon I signed up for is going to be here before you know it!
Seth with his big gift from us - a docking station for his iPhone.
My mom got Abby a blanket for her bed - she thought it was a chair.
I thought this picture of Adam opening a present was sweet.
Seth and Adam with Seth's new coffee maker. This is a sweet picture, too. 
Christmas Day we went to my Aunt Janet's house. This is Abby and her cousin Sophia at the dinner table.
Adam and Abby at the dinner table.
All the kids at dinner: From left Brandon (Debbie's son), Jakob (David's son), Jesse (Laura and Craig's son), Adam, Abby, Sophia (Laura and Craig's daughter) and Brayden (David's son).
Abby and Sophis laughing.
Brandon got a Wii, too, and brought it over. This is Abby and Brandon playing bowling.
Adam and my mom.
Abby - notice her outfit: knee-high boots, a black tulle skirt with silver sequins all over it, silver and purple shimmery Hannah Montana shirt and her black sequined hat. Most of this outfit came from Justice for Girls, a store Santa discovered this year where literally everything is shiny and sequined. Abby was in heaven!
Adam - so cute!
Adam - this is from 12/26 when we were playing Wii. 
Seth and Adam playing Wii boxing. So cute!
Seth and Adam playing Mario Kart. 
Abby, Adam and our neighbor, Madi, coloring on their new easel.
All in all, we had a fabulous Christmas. Probably one of the best ever. We are very blessed and had a wonderful time. Thanks to everyone who gave us gifts and hope everyone else had a great Christmas, too. Seth and I are both on vacation this week (although I may have to work a little). It will be nice to spend some relaxing time with the family. Today, my mom and I cleaned and organized the basement and took the kids to dinner, so it's already off to a great start. Talk to you soon! Happy New Year!
