Christmas!

Making ready for the Big Man and his reindeer

Our Christmas began at approximately 3:50am, when Joe appeared beside our bed to announce that it was light outside and therefore, time to get up.  Ted had explained to the bambini that if they woke up, Joe was to check outside by lifting the blinds, and if it was light outside, they could get up.  They were told that they could play with whatever Santa had brought--which would be unwrapped--as well as with whatever was in their stockings.  Clearly, we needed a more specific definition of light that allowed for less subtlety.  Julie walked Joe back downstairs, which is when she realized that the kid hadn't looked in the living room on his way upstairs.  He'd simply beelined it bedside to ask permission to get up.  Well, Fans.  Santa had come.  He'd left scooters, sleds, a Millennium Falcon and "guys," and and a baby doll "for Clara," with baby doll accoutrements.

Naturally, the bambini were up for good no more than half an hour later.  We heard them from upstairs for the next three hours.  Crashes abounded.  When it truly was light outside, Joe began to appear bedside with increasing frequency to suggest that we get up.  When we did, we discovered that a sled laden with all of the pretend foodstuffs was responsible for some of the crashes we'd heard as it had been ferried through several tight doorways and a hallway on its way from the living room to the bambini's room.  The bambini had also clearly been busy whizzing about with the baby doll stroller and grocery cart.

Grandpa Charles and Grandma Connie arrived early so that present opening could commence.  It took all day, Fans.  !!!!!  Less because of the volume--though certainly, we were blessed with many expressions of Christmas love and generosity--and more because of overwrought excitement that slowly disintegrated into crankiness.  This is what comes of beginning one's Christmas before dawn.  Fa la la la la la la la la!