Pauli Christmas

Grant Ryan

Lizzie B

Stella Bella

Let me just start by saying it took all I had not to title this post, "Alison Finds the Pickle!" This really was the hi-light of Christmas!  More about the pickle later. The kids received lots of wonderful gifts.  Grant has a new gas station and grill and Elizabeth has a new take along playhouse and a Minnie Mouse with snap on clothes! Grant got a Woody doll too and we told him he would have to keep it forever! We took all day to open gifts and it was just fun to sit back and watch the kids play.

Mimi and Elizabeth with her new playhouse

This was the only way we could Grant in the picture!

"I'm not sure I want to sit in this chair with you!"

The kids thought it was hilarious to act like they were filling up their ears with gas at Grant's new Gas Station!

Now for the traditional Pauli Pickle hunt.  As the tradition goes, a pickle ornament is hid on the tree and the child that finds it get an extra present.  They have a large pickle, a tiny pickle (the one hid for big kids) and a special Hallmark talking pickle for the grand-kids.  Amber usually finds the pickle and if she doesn't Brandon does.  Brian and I have never found the pickle...until this year! After a few restarts (Kenny wasn't watching, Amber spilled a drink, the lights went out on the tree, Elizabeth's new camcorder kept powering down and she insisted on us pausing, although we didn't!) and over eight minutes of four adults looking for a small ceramic green pickle, I found it in the back of a felt gingerbread man!  It was quite the victory.  Then the little ones were up.  We took them into the other room and gave them their pep talk.  "It's go time! We have been training all year for this.  Go find the pickle!" Come to find out, some had been practicing more than others - like Amber bought the Hallmark pickle for practicing purposes!  Well, her efforts didn't really pay off as Stella sat on her lap and cried the whole time.  I suggested that perhaps we should take a break, but a moment later a little blonde from behind the tree shouted, "I found the pickle!" Good times, good times!!

The kids surprised us with stepping stones they had made while we were on vacation.

Hey? Is he smiling? Stella, where are your pants?!