Christmas Wishes

'Twas the night before Christmas Eve, when all through the house, the mama was sewing like a crazy woman just to finish the dolls, quilts, knitted stuffed elephant toy, and pencil roll she'd been working on for weeks. Yes, it's that time. I'll pull an all-nighter if I have to, so that tomorrow night when the kids are abed, I can enjoy a glass of egg nog with my husband's arm around my shoulder, gazing at the Christmas tree surrounded by the gifts we managed to pull together. We'll prepare ourselves for the cacophony of noise Christmas morning will bring: the drums my husband found on the side of the road one day, and refurbished for the 4th generation of percussionists in his family (his grandfather played with the Glenn Millar Band when they toured in Ireland!)...the girls' lullabies as they tuck their new babies into their bunk beds (thrifted!)...and the sound of the coffee perk, of course.

A goal I have yet to achieve is to attain a really lovely family portrait at Christmastime. So far, it's been a Gong Show of infants crying, toddlers squirming, preschoolers looking askance or picking their noses...but I can always hope. Here are some of my favourites:

Jude wrangling his sisters, Christmas 2009

This was the best of about 15 taken in 2009; check out Jude's face...

This year's first attempt...girls in motion!

What's up there?

Margot in mid-blink...

This one is the best so far...

May your days be merry and bright, your Christmas morning noisy, your coffee generously laced with whiskey or Bailey's, and your family portraits somewhat decent! Merry Christmas, everyone; see you here in the New Year.