More Christmas Festivities

Picture in front of the tree - on the very first try, WITH the self-timer on.  How awesome is that?!

There were more Christmas festivities over the weekend that I wanted to share with you.  The first was that we had brunch with Santa Claus at the Butler O' Club.  We looooooove brunch at the O' Club but throw Santa in the mix and we've got a winner all around!  We made reservations right when they opened to avoid the madhouse, but it was still crazy.  After we ate we got in line and this is where I will detour on my soapbox for awhile.

When I was a kid we went to see Santa so we could tell him what we wanted for Christmas.  These days, at least here in Okinawa, it seems to be about getting an early Christmas present.  I don't get it.  Santa doesn't deliver presents until December 24th.  Why on earth would he deliver presents early? It doesn't make any sense.  Our kids don't need a present every time they turn around!

So we're in line, and the manager walks through reminding us to have our kids wait until they get home to open the gifts, (some are $1 gifts and some are $20 gifts, and she didn't want any tears).  Two sets of parents behind us were appalled at the notion of their children having to wait. "How are you supposed to give a kid a gift and tell them they can't open it?!" they exclaimed in horror. 



We explained to Wyatt he'd have to wait until he got home.  "That's okay, I know," he said.  End of story.  Meanwhile, other kids are having a huge meltdown.... I really don't get it.  Personally, I would have just made the bawling kids march right back up to Santa and return the gift.  End of story.

So we get home, and let the kids unwrap them.  They were each given baby rattles by mistake.  Wyatt was slightly confused at first ("this is for a baby!") but when we suggested we take them to Toys for Tots for another baby to have, both kids were fine with it.  No further questions.  They even put them in the donation box themselves the next day!  I was very proud of them.


Lest you think my kids are perfect, don't worry as Olivia was in rare form during the Christmas pageant that night at church.  Wyatt was Joseph (because he was the oldest boy), and did fine.  But Olivia - dressed as an Angel, to make it that much more funny - saw baby Jesus hanging out by himself as the kids walked into the chapel and promptly ran up to steal him.   She was very upset when we made her leave him there but was fine as soon as Mary picked him up and started cradling him.  I mean, we couldn't have baby Jesus not being taken care of, could we?!

Pretty soon the younger kids lost focus and started wandering.  Olivia and another little boy, who was a sheep, wandered up toward the altar and the next thing I knew he was pushing her down and sort of semi-choking/strangling her!  I had to run up there and break it up.  Sadly, I do not have any pictures of this event because I was too busy controlling the chaos.  I'm sure one of the other moms will help me out eventually, and I'll post them later...for now, I'll just enjoy this memory :)