Reindeer games

The reindeer were up to their usual antics this year.  

We didn't get pictures of a few of their tricks:  when Oma and Papa were here, the reindeer pulled Brady's drawers into the hallway and stuffed Rudy's underwear into his socks; they also found some face stickers and put eyes, noses, and mouths on things all over the house (stuffed animals, lunch boxes, Christmas decorations, and so much more!); they built a fort...

They spelled HO HO HO out in Rudy's socks:

They built snowmen out of doughnuts...

They built a merry-go-round out of the cardboard tube that came in the new rug, a drill, and some clamps:

 

They got together a game of "pass left, pass right" with the other stuffed animals.

They tried to measure themselves on the new growth charts.

One of my favorites, they wore mustaches and stuck some on the sleeping boys.  James and I discovered this one when we had to leave really early for the airport.

 

Fishing for goldfish in the bathroom sink.

 

Reenacting a spiderman scene

And, the best one, texting each other from the boys' computers.  Reiny told Sven that "your bref smelz lik karots," to which Sven responded, "u have smal antlerz."  Still makes me giggle to read it!

 

Reiny and Sven, all ready to go back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve:

Oh Christmas tree

We finally decided to update our "second tree" from the freebie I'd gotten on black Friday several years ago and we went big (literally) with a nine footer.  We seem to be missing a box of ornaments that we haven't yet uncovered after the flood last year, so the decorations are much more sparse than usual.  

During the tree decorating, the reindeer made their annual appearance and brought PJs for the boys.  You probably can't read it, but the shirts say "Merry Rex-mas."  Bwa-ha-ha...

Christmas Eve 2014

We decided that the Residence Inn was not where we wanted to spend Christmas Eve, so we relocated to Kathy and Tony's for a few nights.  

We were out of Christmas cookies and took advantage of a real kitchen to whip up a few more batches of sugar cookies and toffee.  We had to have something to leave for Santa!!

We debated hiking into town to attend mass at our regular parish, but decided to go to the closer church instead.  It was much less stressful than hustling everyone out the door for a longer drive to a later service, and allowed us to enjoy the evening more. 

 

These pictures where the timer goes off and no one is ready...always make me laugh!

Everyone was allowed to open one gift after church.  Rudy wound up with Legos to play with and Brady snooped enough to be fairly confident that he was opening his Marvel Comics Encyclopedia.  This enormous book has been a go-to read for him whenever he has a few minutes to spare!

The traditional reading of Twas the Night Before Christmas (on the not so traditional Kindle; what can I say...all of our Christmas books were packed away rather early this year!)

Cookies and milk for Santa, with his reindeer helpers ready to head back to the North Pole after their pre-Christmas shenanigans.  

Reindeer and other mischievous critters

Just some of the hijinks the reindeer got into this year...

Marshmallow roasting:

 

Football game with the other Christmas stuffed animals:
(I love how Grinch seems to look guilty!)

Santa replaced Brady's reindeer mid-season:


Jenga under the table:

Goldfishing:

 

Making a sugary breakfast mess:

They brought new socks for the kids, but had to try them on I guess:

Reindeer cannon:

Of course, we also have these critters who LOVE to sleep under the trees!

Troublesome reindeer

Many of the boys' friends have an 'elf on the shelf' that keeps an eye on kids around this time of year. Santa's elves were too busy to visit us last year, so he sent two reindeer instead. They were pretty quiet last year, but must be feeling more comfortable here this year; they are getting into all sorts of mischief!

The first night, they got into the Halloween candy and made a big mess of it! Cookie (on the left) was caught with blue pixie stick dust still on her mouth! Reinny (Rudy's, on the right) looks like he passed out after a major sugar high!

Another night they were kind enough to bake cookies for the boys and leave a mess for me!

High speed train ride gone bad...

Messages in plastic soldiers:

A midnight game of Candy Land...

Making a mess of painters tape:

Hiding in the stockings:

Sleepover in the Pueblo Indian diorama:

Practicing their flying skills:

Marshmallow spa treatment?

Oh so helpful...packing lunches with pepper, olives, soy sauce, whole potatoes, Old Bay seasoning, ketchup, and a tub of frosting.

Power lifting?

They even went so far as to switch out our stockings for boxers:

Trying to hide the stockings away...