Christmas 2017 and Daddy's Birthday

We got back from our cruise on the 24th.  Although we were sad our trip was over, we were excited for Christmas eve and Santa's visit!  We unpacked and then got busy!  We baked and decorated cookies for Santa and got the reindeer's food ready.  Pearce kept asking if it was time go night night....the one night a year he can't wait to go to bed, LOL!!!  After begging us to go to bed, we finally let him turn in at 7.  Later that night, Santa came and brought lots of goodies for Pearce!  Santa has always left Pearce a big sack filled with toys that were unwrapped, but this year, he requested that Santa wrap his presents because "it's more fun."  So, Santa came through and had his elves wrap his presents :)  Pearce was so excited when he got his two main requests....a wrestling ring with guys and a Fingerling which is a little monkey that fits on your finger and talks to you.  Santa told Pearce that the elves were working overtime making Fingerlings because lots of kids wanted them :)  He also got a few other surprises....Snoopy Snow Cone machine, modeling clay, a learn-to-draw book, a bow and arrow set, new robe, and two puzzles.  He also got some fun goodies in his stocking including a slime bath.....you fill up the bathtub, sprinkle this green powder in it, and the water turns to slime...gross, but Pearce loved it!  We spent the morning watching Pearce play with all of his gifts.  That evening, we continued our tradition by going to Kobe Steakhouse for our Christmas dinner.  It was packed, which is always so fun!  Pearce LOVES going to Kobe and eats everything!  He was pretty exhausted by the time we got home :)

We celebrated Daddy's birthday on the 26th.  Pearce was so excited to pick out cupcakes, ice cream, and put out the birthday decorations!  Chris had fun going with his friends to an Irish pub to watch soccer and then we celebrated when he got home.  We gave him his gifts, sang Happy Birthday, and gobbled up those cupcakes!  Happy Birthday to our wonderful Daddy!!

On the 30th, we went to  Dallas to see Mama and Papa and Auntie Ashy, Uncle Wayne and Nay Nay and Charlotte.  Pearce was so excited to open his presents from them!  Mama and Papa got him a kids "go-pro" which he LOVES!!!!  He's been taking pictures and making videos nonstop!  He thinks he has his own YouTube channel :)  Nay Nay and Charlotte gave him his very own claw machine!  Pearce is always wanting to play the claw machines, but whenever I let him, he gets so upset that he doesn't win.  I finally told him that the people who make those machines just want everyone's money and they hardly ever let kids win.  Well, with this one, he uses tokens and can play as much as he wants and is actually successful "winning" the prizes!  All the kids had so much fun with it!  Auntie Jen gave Pearce a new Lego set (when he got his present from her, he said "Oh, I know this is Legos because I told Auntie Jen to get me them!)  Auntie Lisa and Auntie Missy gave Pearce Toys R Us giftcards which he promptly spent as soon as we got home :)  Mama and Papa gave all of us money for Christmas (WOOHOO!!!!!!!) and when Pearce got his, he thought he won the jackpot!  *Side story:  When we got home, I broke up one of his $100 bills so that he would have some bills that were easier to spend in case he wanted to buy something smaller.  Well, one day, he opened his bank and didn't see his two $100 bills.....he was sooooo mad when I told him what I did and why I did it.  He said through his tears, "Mommy, you should never ever take someone else's money!"  So, I had to go to the bank and turn his bills back into a $100 bill.  He wants to save them :)  Lesson learned!**  We spent the rest of our stay in Dallas playing, watching football, eating, and just having fun listening to the cousins enjoy each other so much!  We went out to lunch with Mama where she made the kids an offer they couldn't refuse.....$50 for anyone who sleeps in their own bed for 50 consecutive nights.  They were all over that!  Nay Nay and Charlotte are already halfway to their earnings.....Pearce is waiting for his new bedroom furniture to start :)  Luckily, his furniture should be here by next week!  Thank you for all of our wonderful gifts Mama and Papa and Auntie Ashy, Uncle Wayne, Nay Nay and Charlotte!!!!!