I kept waking up every two hours. With one eye on the clock and both ears open to any sounds. Children sounds. They were fast asleep at 2:30AM and at 4:25AM. Then at 6:02AM, I heard the distinctive sounds of paws pattering across the hardwood floor. Oreo the cat. Then the sounds of running feet to the bathroom, feverish whispering and giggling. They were up.

Colin ushered them downstairs as I plodded a few minutes later still in my pajamas to join them. The girls, both dressed for the day, were going from mound of gifts from Santa to the stockings and to the presents under the tree. It was fun watching them squealing, oohing and aahing. They were excited and brimming with glee. Even the clementine found at the bottom of their stockings elicited wide toothy smiles (except for Emma who is still frontless).






Here are some pictures of their gingerbread houses.

Happy Holidays.