Santa made his expected visit and brought Lucy a new American Girl doll named Rebecca. She looks just like my American girl, don't you think? Rebecca's story is that she's a Jewish immigrant in New York in 1900. So of course Lucy wanted to know why Santa Claus brought her a Christmas doll who only celebrates Hannukah. Good question. And how did Grandma know to send her Rebecca's Hannukah dress as a gift? Uh . . .
Santa brought Gavin a Captain Rex Star Wars helmet. It says things like "Destroy the Sith, we must" and "Use the Force" in a Yoda voice. It goes great with his light saber from Lucy and his Power Rangers muscle suit from his cousin Collin. With his giant, wobbly helmet and his little short body I think he looks like a big bobblehead doll.
Sometimes he loans the helmet to Austin so they can have a battle.

We had a completely wonderful Christmas day. We opened our gifts slowly and played with them as we went. At noon we went have Christmas dinner at a friend's so I didn't even have to do any cooking or cleaning! We got home in the late afternoon and there were still a few gifts to go.

And more gifts today, at least for me! Having a day-after-Christmas birthday can have its benefits. When I got up this morning Lucy had made me a special message on the wall with her new Bendaroos (wax art sticks -- who knew they stick to walls so conveniently?) And Gavin has spent most of the morning drawing me birthday pictures of his favorite Star Wars people.

Austin got me my favorite chocolate-carmel apples from Laughing Moon in Stowe and I intend to spend the rest of today reading my Christmas books and eating decadent treats. It doesn't get any better than this!