Santa Comes Through!

Ben and I woke up to Dex exclaiming, "Santa brought new sleds!" After we got up and pointed out that Santa had eaten all his cookies and left a note, Dex noticed that Santa had set up in the living room the new automatic train and box blocks that he had asked for. "I didn't know Santa's elves could make cardboard!" Dex observed. Yup, "box blocks" are empty cardboard boxes with reindeer duct tape.

The automatic train has lights and real train sounds (even a whistle) and smoke comes out of its funnel - exactly what Dexter was hoping for.

Milk and Cookies and Carrots

Dexter diligently picked out some cookies for Santa and filled a bowl with carrots for the reindeer (never taking his eyes off the Mousetrap game!).

Santa left Dex a nice note (and a bunch of gifts) in return.

The Magic Book and Father Christmas

Each Christmas Eve, Daddy reads "T'was the Night Before Christmas" to Dex and during the reading the doorbell rings and we discover that Father Christmas has delivered a family gift. This year, Dex was very curious as to how that "magic book" could make Father Christmas come. It remains a mystery.

Dex's curiosity was usurped by the sheer thrill of playing the Mousetrap game. Father Christmas must have known how much Dex would enjoy building the mousetrap and watching the contraption function. Carefully turning the crank, unaware of what is about to happen.

Sheer joy! His whole body was filled with excitement the first time he saw the contraption work.

Then he was all about understanding (and explaining) the kinetics of the contraption. He had it all figured out except for the last bit - he asked Daddy, "How does the diver make the net go down?" Daddy explained that the force of the diver hitting the tub made enough movement to jostle the net from its perch.

Away In a Manger. Way, Way, Away

Grandma and Gunker brought up the manger that they had when Ben was growing up when they visited in November. Dex was fascinated and has been moving the people and animals (and baby Jesus) almost daily. He acts out scenes in the manger. Often, the baby Jesus ends up in the loft with all the animals and the people climb the ladder to try to reach him.

Grandma and Grampy sent Dex an advent calendar with little books telling the story of Christ's birth. Between the manger and the advent calendar, Dexter has become very interested in the story of Jesus' birth...and curious about the relationship between Jesus and Santa at Christmastime. "Mom, what does Santa have to do with celebrating Jesus' birth?" Good question.

Urban Planning

Dex had some clear ideas about how the gingerbread village should be. Luckily, he had Daddy to help execute his vision.