Christmas Eve

Do they really know Santa is coming?

It's sure taken a bit of reminding to Lil' Miss that Santa is watching. Must be tough when you're three and things just aren't going your way. Or things are just too fun and someone tells you it's time to stop. How is a little girl supposed to handle this, if not with protestings and some temper tantrums.

Mommy, in the new year....exercise patience and understanding.

We spent Christmas Eve at Gramma's house. It was just so exciting. So many secrets, so many things to 'wrap'...., so many tastee treats to sample, then so many people to help 'unwrap' all those presents.

Then home we went....we had 'stuff' to do before Santa came to visit! Cookies, milk and reindeer snacks (carrot sticks!) to put out.

Lil' Miss got a little confused about how many reindeer there are, and therefore how many carrot sticks we should be putting out....

Just how many reindeer are there???

'On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen, on Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen. And let's not forget Rudolph!' And Mommy thought there were eleven...hmmm there are nine. So there's some extra carrot sticks there (what was I thinking????).

Lil' Miss has picked out a nice red cup for Santa, and with Daddy's help, filled it up with milk!

And there is Santa's midnight snack!

 Gotta keep Santa's tummy replenished and the reindeer in fine form. Then the stockings were hung from the fireplace with care. In the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

Now the children are nestled all snug in their beds...

Mr.Mister hit the sack as soon as we got home from Gramma's ....it was a tough night on the little tyke. Staying up late is hard work! And Lil' Miss, well, as she lay in bed, everytime she heard jingle bells, she thought it might be reindeer in the neighborhood.

'Mommy! I hear somethin'!"

It took a little convincing that she needed to be fast asleep before Santa came to visit her house. He was going to all the houses were the kids were sleeping first (and we proceeded to list off all the names of her friends), then if Lil' Miss closed her eyes and went to sleep, he would come visit her Christmas tree. So she would tuck herself waaaay under the covers, and pretend to sleep. Then she would hear the jingle bells again...."Mommy! I hear somethin'!"

.....while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads (or maybe treats, candycanes and cookies are frolicking in there...not so sure about the sugarplums).

Mommy's in her kerchief and Daddy's in his cap....really need to settle their brains for a ..... shorter winter's nap.....

So Merry Christmas to all...and to all a Good Night!