It is time to emerge from the Christmas cocoon that we have been wrapped up tight in for the past few days. The house is covered in remnants of new toys and chocolate wrappers. I like to let the mess linger for a while. Because when its all cleaned up and the new treasures have found a spot on the shelves then its really over. And I like to squeeze every last drop of Christmas spirit out of the holidays.
A look back at the last week...
We had our third annual pyjama party with our friends. The kids mixed together the perfect combination of ingredients for their own gourmet reindeer food. I love this night. Everyone is wound up with excitement and anticipation.
The girls kept busy on Christmas Eve building gingerbread houses. They are getting pretty independant with these kits. I basically get to drink coffee, take pictures, and add the finishing details after they lose interest and move on to other things.
Christmas Eve day had a quiet simmering of excitement at our house. Jon was at work and our family of elves was graciously preparing for our annual Christmas Eve party. Us girls painted our nails and got our party dresses on. Callie doesn't particularly like to wear dresses as you know so I'm not sure how many more times I am going to get my way in this department! Eventually we got the pantyhose to feel right and an undershirt solved the dress seam problem and then we had a few minutes for a little photo session in front of the tree.
The girls are getting pretty good with the camera too... yes, that is a beard.
When I asked Callie her favorite thing about Christmas she said in true kid fashion... the presents! But her second favorite thing is the Christmas Eve party and playing with her cousins. She remembered that Santa always stops by this party so this year she wrote a letter to give him.
We see a few different Santas at different places over the holidays but Callie says that this is the real one. She can tell because his beard comes right out of his skin! This santa really is amazing. He remembers the kids from last year and commented about how this was the first time my girls sat on his knee without mom or dad. He looks around the room, addressing people by name and commenting on hockey abilities and who's been naughty or nice this year.
Lexi told Santa that she wanted a skateboard. Which really meant she wanted a new Barbie but just didn't know it! Callie told her to say skateboard because she she didn't know what to say under pressure.
Callie didn't tell Santa what she wanted this year. Instead she gave him the letter that she wrote. When he handed her a gift, she was all smiles. She came running to me saying she didn't even have to open it because she knew what it was. It was EXACTLY what she wrote in the letter!
She did eventually open the present. She looked at me and said, "Santa doesn't even have to come to our house now! I got just what I wanted! I guess he could still come to put stuff in our stockings!" What was that gift that Santa brought? Was it an iPad, an Xbox, or a Wii? Nope. The answer is D, none of the above. It was a Magic Jinn! Remember on Little House on the Prairie when the kids were excited about getting peppermint sticks for Christmas? This felt like that moment. Anything after this was just icing on the gingerbread house.
When we got home from the Christmas Eve party we got busy with the final preparations for our visit from the big guy...because yes, there were still some stockings to fill. The reindeer food was placed on the step and sufficient milk and cookies were waiting by the tree. A few last pictures of momma and her girls and then it was time for visions of sugar plums to dance in their heads.
When everything is in its place. When the elves were done assembly. When not a creature was stirring, except the momma. I took one last look and headed off to bed. I was going to need a couple hours of rest for what was to come.
Callie woke up first. We snuggled in bed together waiting for little sister wake up. Callie told me about how she thought she heard Santa going up and down the stairs. Then we heard a noise. "Is that Santa?" Callie asked. "I don't know," I replied. "We better stay in bed just in case." Lexi's eyes opened halfway and whispered, "I wonder if Santa came?"
It was time to follow that string and see what was to come...
Merry, Merry Christmas from our house to yours!
No comments:
Post a Comment