Christmas Eve...

The presents were wrapped, the kitchen cleaned. Chad was snoring on my couch while two exhausted children sprawled across their beds. Their tummies were filled with ham, green beans, and cake. Their minds with the toys they'd gotten from Boppa and Gee, Gran, and their great-aunt and great-uncle.

I sat at the computer, smiling as I remembered Elizabeth yelling, "Oh my GOSH!" while she ripped the paper off the doll house her grandparents got her.

I giggled a little remembering Joseph's face when he unwrapped a corner of a box and discovered Pirates of the Caribbean Whitecap Bay. "It's cooler than anything else in the whole wide world. I'm a lucky boy!"

My back ached a bit, from sitting hunched on the floor while cutting paper and taping edges. I hummed A Few of My Favorite Things.

My menu - charged by two children - was in my head: monkey bread, eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice. I started to shut down my computer when I remembered I needed to take out the trash.

And yes, I agree. Considering I'm making him breakfast tomorrow, the least Chad could have done is take out the trash, but I let it go. Peace and goodwill towards men and all that.

Coming in from the garage, imagine my surprise when I saw someone by the tree.

I can't wait to show the kids.

I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas filled with love and joy. And if you don't celebrate Christmas, then I still hope you have a wonderful day filled with love and joy.

And Chinese food.