Twas the Night Before Christmas

This is Miles' third Christmas, but the first one in which he was able to understand any part of it or to really participate in the festivities. This was also our first Christmas in which we did not travel at all. And as little suited as our little two bedroom apartment is to host five additional adults to our family of four, we were delighted to experience a family Christmas at HOME.

On Christmas Eve day, we finished what had been a three-day endeavor to make decorated sugar cookies. With a toddler participating, I found the process needed to be spread out a bit.

Miles was delighted to watch the colors magically resolve themselves with food coloring, to help frost (he was astonishingly gentle for a two year old!) and thrilled to help SPRINKLE!


Adele did not attempt to help but was along for the ride!

The finished product! We're still eating them... an excellent morning's work.

Afterward, Miles got to watch Charlie Brown Christmas! (while I picked up a lot of sprinkles from many unlikely places! and wrapped some spare presents).

Nothing like a little Vince Guaraldi for perfect Christmas tranquility.

That evening was a bit chaotic, to get everyone dressed and ready for church by 4pm, after Miles' nap ended. We almost made it! Only five minutes late and only missed one carol! The church was RESPLENDENT with evergreen and candles; I wish it wasn't tacky to photograph it.

Afterward, the boys weren't interested in being photographed (well, okay, it was really down to Miles; he was INSANE with several days' missed naps).
But the ladies struck a couple poses!

C'mon. Indulge me: she's a sugar plum fairy!

Just before bed, Miles was allowed to open one gift: his new Thomas the Train (A-Tomas-A-'Rain, as he puts it) pajamas!

And there was great rejoicing, and Santa was left three cookies and eggnogg, and lo, there was even an early bedtime. Christmas miracle? Glad tidings to us Santas, anyway!