Christmas Day

Christmas Day is like Christmas Supper. It takes all day to prepare, and within minutes of sitting down....it's gone......

Christmas Day. We start preparing, decorating, shopping, plotting, at the beginning of December. Some even before. It takes me/us all of December, right up until well into the night of the 24th and perhaps into the wee morning hours of the 25th to prepare, plan and execute plans for the actual day of Christmas. And within the span of 12-24 hours, it's done. Over. Finished. Or is it? I had a small discussion about this with Auntie B. How long does the Christmas spirit last? For her, it lasts from Christmas and for about a week beyond. Pretty much until after New Years Day. I think I'll agree. Because even though the actual Christmas event has come and gone. It still feels holiday-ish. Perhaps because we will still have company (all the Aunties!!!!!) for the next week and that in itself is still special. So let's go with that and keep that Christmas spirit alive until the New Year.

On that note, Christmas kind of started on Christmas Eve at Gramma's house.

We got some gift-opening practice under our belts.
Then home and the task of getting everyone asleep so Santa could do his job.

And his job he did! Of course Lil'Miss and Mr.Mister don't really fully understand the excitement of Santa. There was no getting up at ungodly hours of the morning (6am or 7am....), everyone slept in until at least 8am. And there was no racing downstairs to see what Santa had brought. Mommy went into Lil'Missus room to say 'Good Morning!' and calmly led her downstairs to see if she could figure out the excitement for herself. Of course Mr.Mister is oblivious to it all...he just wants out of his crib in the morning!!!!
Santa had come! Presents were under the tree. Milk, cookies, and carrot sticks had been eaten by respective parties...plus a note was left behind, written by Santa, telling Lil'Miss to enjoy the last cookie on the plate....for breakfast!

Cookies for breakfast! Woot!
And then it's time to get down to business.

As per tradition, the stockings get opened first. It gives everyone something to do while waiting for all the parties to assemble and organize themselves. At this point we were still waiting for Gramma and Auntie B to walk through the door. It was enough to keep a little mind occupied. Once everyone had arrived, it was time to get to business. Auntie B was our elf, along with Lil'Miss, who delivered and offered her expertise in unwrapping if so needed.

And as such mornings go, moved along at a snail's pace. So much so, that we broke for intermission and enjoyed a great Christmas morning breakfast prepared by the Big Guy.
And then back to the acts of giving and getting.
Lil' Miss was spoiled. She was spoiled rotten. Does she realize that? No, all she knows is that she got skirts that twirled, babies that cried, blocks that strung (and stacked!) and new princess dresses to play dress-up in. There was a little confusion as some presents showed up under the tree unwrapped. Well, Lil' Miss got herself busy and tried to rectify that problem.

Problem solved by re-using spent christmas paper and a little bit of tape...and voila! Present wrapped!!!
Of course there is always a surprise at the end. The Big Guy went outside for something and found another little something left behind by Santa. Lil' Miss was told that she'd better have a little look out the window......

And there waiting for her was the coveted pink bike! In no time at all she grabbed her purse, put her boots on, and was out the door in a flash to try out her new pink bike. And in the balmy December weather (think the temperature was about +4 degrees C) she rode that bike in circles around the cement patio. And no, she wouldn't come back inside. As Mommy stood shivering in her slippers, Lil'Miss just kept on riding and riding.
Meanwhile, inside the cozy house.....

Mr.Mister was also trying out his new wheels. A shiny, new, yellow camero. What little guy wouldn't be ecstatic to recieve that????? It's smooth ride and bright yellow colour....he and the car cruised all over the living room floor. Good choice Santa!!!
And of course there is always a present that becomes an unpredicted hit.

Lil'Miss got this fine little guy from Papa Bear. Press the button and he wags his tail, flops his ears, and woofs out a melody of Christmas tunes. The fact that he is soft and cuddly definately helps. He has a permanent place under the Christmas tree now.
And so ended Christmas morning/afternoon (is Lil'Miss STILL out there riding her bike?????). The day's events also included a quick spin around the park on the new bike, countless treats and snacks, a magnificent turkey supper, a little road hockey, and some time spent around a blazing fire in the backyard with Christmas tunes blaring. Pretty darn good if I do say so myself...

And Merry Christmas to all, from us, the Big Guy, Mommy, Lil' Miss, and Mr.Mister who is busy once again sawing logs in his comfy bed.