Let the countdown begin.

Here we are, less than one week till Christmas... and just about everything is ready.

All the shopping, wrapping, and baking is done. I do have to say that Henry has been quite the little helper. He peeled the tape off the roll when we wrapped presents. He decorated the cookies by shaking all the sugar toppings everywhere. He stuck the return address lables on the envelopes for the Christmas cards. And he was instrumental in picking out what went on the gingerbread house this year. Everything is "I"ll help you Mom!"... which has been nice. (Maddie was a big help too, her job was to watch Meg and kept her smiling.)

This afternoon we have Henry's class sing-along and tonight we have Maddie's school concert.

Tomorrow I need to pack, clean and check all my lists twice before we leave for Wisconsin.

visiting the Big Guy.

This past Saturday we went to Greg's Christmas Party for his work, this was the family party that they have every year. It was done very well, they had it at a country club and it was well-attended. There was a clown, doing balloon sculptures, an air-brush tattoo artist, a magician and a craft area. Even the buffet was for the kids with grilled cheese sandwiches, jello, pasta, chicken fingers and french fries with an ice-cream sundae bar for dessert. There was some "adult" food, but the grilled cheese won me over. There is also a firm party for the grown-ups next weekend...

Well, needless to say, all the kids were thrilled when Santa and Mrs. Claus made an apprearance, so they could give him a list of demands and nod in agreement that they'd be good for the next few weeks.


Henry was promptly in line to see the big guy. With a big grin on his face, he asked him for a Pirate Ship. And promised that he'd be good... and he was for a few minutes until I asked him to stand next to his sisters for a photo, "No Mom, I'm going to bark like a dog over here in the corner..."


Maddie asked very seriously for "The American Girl Doll 'Nellie'"... Santa said he'd look into it.


Meg asked Santa for a nap, since she just had a bottle. I'm not sure what else she'd like, but I think that Santa can read baby's minds.

Then we spent the rest of the day decorating our Christmas tree while watching movies with the kids.

Elfed.

watch the kids and Papa doing a
crazy elf-dance...