Casual Christmas tees ... apparently they have the ability to make Alena, Alivia, Trace and Alysse squeal with glee. The tees then had to be modeled immediately.
And after sliding them on, it was necessary to run around the house like a herd of reindeer. 
The tees are now in the dryer so as not to disappoint their owners expecting to slip into them tomorrow.
It inflates, it lights up and made them light up.
This third day of December the kids unwrapped an inflatable snowman taller than any of them. Alena and Alivia hugged their frosty friend. Alysse jumped at the sight of him.
And Trace ... well, he wouldn't get within three feet. Our inflatable Steeler lineman gritting his teeth can be Trace's buddy on football Sundays, but the smiling snowman presented some threat. Logical, yes?
Today's surpise? Holiday doormats.
The first has a Santa and reads "Happy Holidays" and the second pictures Santa boots, reindeer hooves and elf shoes and reads "Wipe Your Merry Feet."
The scene turned a little grinchy when a battle over the first mat erupted between Trace and Alivia. However, peace was quickly restored with some compromises and everyone ended up with a holiday welcome mat at their bedroom door. They were excited about the holiday decor additions (their rooms already had small Christmas trees and nutcrackers). 
It does say wipe your feet!
Our visit Saturday to U.S. Bank Arena for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes was nothing short of, well ... spectacular.
There was nothing about the hour and a half show that disappointed. A magical, flying Santa; confetti snowfall; and precise, eye-high kicking dancers leaves little to want in a show, after all. Every time you thought you had seen your favorite scene, the next one topped it, forcing you to rethink your pick.
Making quite an impression on Alena and Alivia, there hasn't been a day since we saw the show that they haven't practiced their Rockette kicks. Alena even goes as far as leaving the room mid kick line to take off or put on an article of clothing (her attempts at changing costumes, which the dancers did frequently during the performance).
Amidst the show's reindeer, rag doll and diamond-drenched costumes, Alena's favorite was the scene with the double-decker bus. The dancers, decked out in white coats and hats, board the bus to guide the audience through Manhattan. According to the show's site, "the Rockettes whiz past a kinetic montage of New York landmarks including the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty." The so-called kinetic montage was as realistic as one could imagine, and the bus turned a full 360 degrees making the tour simulation incredibly lifelike.
Her least favorite part of the show was the wooden soldier number. Impeccably precise, the dancers pulled off the toy soldier act beautifully, but looked like "boys" says the four-year-old entertainment critic. Obviously she preferred the glitz and glamour to the "boy" stuff.
The Santas were Alivia's pick. What began as one Santa turned into two Santas, then 10 Santas and so on, until the stage was seemingly overrun with them. Singing and wielding handbells, the performance was impressive and would have been mind-blowing to a little Santa believer.
Outstanding. Entertaining. Memorable. Spectacular. Perhaps that's why Alena asked why we couldn't get tickets for the next show before we had made it around the block.
Counting down the days until Christmas has been made more fun the last couple of years by the big box(es) of advent gifts Jason's mom and dad pack up for the kids. Numbered from one to 24, it gives them something to look forward to each day (always when dad gets home from work) and a concrete way to see the big day drawing closer as the box of gifts gets more empty.
Some days the surprise is something simple and tasty like a bag of holiday M&Ms, which provides a sweet treat for days and days to come. Other times, the gift is more lasting as were the holiday pajamas of last year that were appropriately passed down and being worn again this season. Regardless of the gift's simplicity or greatness, the kids love the "what's in it today?" suspense.
Today's December 1 date signified the start of the excitement and tearing of wrapping paper. After the rush of unwrapping, the kids weren't disappointed with what was inside ... outdoor Santa and snowmen pathway lights. Once they got a practice run light-up on the kitchen floor, dad quickly had them up along the edge of the patio so that everyone can stand at the back double door to admire them (and shout out "Ho, Ho" during dinner).
So, with the little St. Nicks and snowmen glowing outside in the cold, let's commence this Christmas countdown/gift revealing feature ... part 1. 
