The Week Before Christmas...

Ahhh, the week before Christmas. A week is filled with daily festive activities, caroling, home organization, Advent readings, wrappings, *holly berry* candles, toddlers opening presents prematurely, ornaments tucked in hiding spots around the house, Christmas cookies, questions of angels, magi & Christ. This weekend we offered to celebrate Christmas at our house with my family on Christmas Eve, then Paul asked what I thought about having his family over on Christmas Day for dinner. I LOVED the idea. No, I haven't lost my mind, it really does sound like fun to me. It just so happens this year that Paul's father, mother, brother, nieces and his uncle will all be able to make it! His family has been rather scattered across Washington and Alaska so this has never worked in the past, we are sooooo excited and it is such a blessing to him. 

The kids are rather irked that we are not on Christmas break from school. They *know* the school children out there are! I'd rather keep them busy this week and maaaybe take all of next week off.    

Paul and the kids taking a Sunday afternoon snooze.

Only one of these pranksters isn't pretending, can you guess who?