Here Comes Santa Claus!

Finally .... after four and a half years ... Avery sat on Santa's lap!! Remember this post last year?

This year not only did she sit on his lap, but she told him what she wanted for Christmas (a watch), and even gave him a hug afterward.

Ella settled herself onto his other knee with no problem, and was so fascinated with him, she just popped her thumb into her mouth and wouldn't look away.

I think Avery's willingness this year in large part needs to be credited to this guy:


Arty is his name. He's our Elf on a Shelf and he watches over the girls from a different spot in our house every day. By night he uses his magic to fly back to the North Pole and report their behavior to Santa. Avery is enamored with him, she is fascinated by him, she is ... well, she quite frankly is obsessed with him.

We're really going to miss him when he has to go back home after Christmas.