Anticipation

THE DAY BEFORE

Getting to Christmas eve is at least 1 month worth of preparation, assorted decorating, cookie baking, gift giving, and party going.  The anticipation is palpable and there seemed to be a huge sigh of relief today when grandparents arrived, the gifts around the tree grew substantially, and cookies for Santa (and a carrot for the reindeer) were placed on the plate.

We started off the morning with North Pole pancakes.  Sweet, but the boys seemed to appreciate it.

Then some sibling horseplay while watching the Polar Express.  Newbie O loves her brothers.

Making cookies for Santa.  I'm too cheap to buy the cake pop materials, so we just improvise with Popsicle sticks.  Works for us!

Later that afternoon, the boys played Beyblades with their Mimi up in the play scape while I had fun feeding her some butternut squash.  The squash was a big success.  Much better than last week's apples.

You would never know it by these pictures, but Newbie O has been feeling pretty cruddy-she caught yet another cold that was brought home from first grade.  I'm hoping it passes quickly.

Then it was time to change her into her new Christmas pajamas.  She's a big drooler, so bibs are necessary at all times now.  I think those teeth are beginning to push through.

And finally it was time to pick one present to open before bedtime-Baby O had his eye on this one for a few days and Boy O kept changing his mind until he finally settled on the pair of Spiderman pajamas.  They were both a big hit.

Boy O was so excited, he rushed to his room and put them on immediately.  Very sophisticated.  Daddy O commented that he now resembled Hugh Hefner.  Boy O responded by saying, "Who's Hugh Hefner?".  Never mind.

This gift is bittersweet-Boy O was just still fitting into a size 3T when he came home not even 3 years ago.  These pajamas are a good fit and they are a size 10.  He's growing like a weed.

It's 8 o'clock.  All the kids are in bed.  The cookies have been oh so carefully/strategically placed near the fireplace.   Baby O was so tired that he asked to go to bed before 7:30 and after Boy O spotted a bright red light traveling through the sky, he immediately turned off the movie we were watching and informed everyone that they should hit the hay as well.

From our family to yours, hoping your holidays are very merry!