Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Christmas Eve was a big day at our house - lots of final prep, lots of relaxing and cooking and being together, which is always nice. Unfortunately, Harry was still feeling under the weather and had a fever that would just not leave him alone. He ended up possibly scarred for life, but more on that later.

Jack started the day helping me set up my beloved Gramma's nativity scene. I haven't put it out the last few years but found a mat and patched a few places and took a few moments to recall what a treat it was to help her and play with the pieces, then wiped away a few tears as my own sweet Jack did the same. He's a much better story-teller than I, so when Harry's feeling better they can take turns with this one in years to come!

Did I mention that we are doing our best to stimulate the economy? Gluttons, I say, gluttons! But happy and loved ones, to be sure

Jack was so excited to help Daddy make a yummy breakfast - he did the eggs from start to almost finish this time....gonna make a great husband some day!

Harry spent a lot of time snuggled on the couch, here he is watching a slideshow of pix and telling me the stories to go along with them :wub:

Dean made sweet heart pancakes that we DElicious!

Jack was so excited to help make the cookies this year - he's cleaning the rolling pin and saying "I've never washed the roller all by myself!" Hopefully this joy continues ;-)

Rollin', rollin', rollin'

A more joyful and helpful boy I don't think I could find

Does that watched-pot theory apply to cookies rising?

Here he is decorating his special cookie for Santa - it's a tree farm and turned out pretty good, or so the big guy said!

Harry cowboyed up for a decorating session - had to make his special cookie for Santa! Here Harry is trying to put on a happy face, what a trooper!

(About this same time, I found a puddle of thawed ice pops in our freezer and the broken-fridge fiasco began - some sort of miracle took place this morning, and it's re-freezing things - yay for us!)

Dean hooked us up with Norad, and it was a lot of fun to track the progress

Harry rallied a bit in time for helping Jack set out reindeer treats they made at school

Jack is very excited, still

I remember that happy Harry face, and this may be one of the last times you'll ever see it unmarred, more later.Jack posing with his favorite sleepmates
Reading The Night Before Christmas

and having a last family snuggle before bed (does it look like Harry doesn't think this is such a great idea?)

Turns out he was right, as Dean and I were holding the camera and both thought the other had it after a few shots....crash! Right into poor Harry's cheek. Not as if a cold, cough, fever were enough, now the poor kid's bleeding from his cheek :-( What a trooper, he cried for a short while then toughed it out while I cleaned and bandaged him. It's not pretty but the doc saw him today for other stuff and said it looks like it might heal without serious scarring. Poor dude.

Santa was good at our house - hope he treated you well, too!