I've been wrapping like a crazy woman for the past week, determined to spend Christmas Eve doing stuff that actually felt Christmas-y. I do this each year, but I often still spend the day in a frenzy, prepping for the big day.
But this year? I think I'm starting to get it figured out.
We hadn't made it to the train exhibit yet this year, so we threw the kids in the car and headed to the Big City. We weren't the only ones who had that idea, as we ran into three other families we knew (Marlo, Jodi, and Libby) and an old classmate of Tom's. We were sure we'd be battling a crowd, but it surprisingly quiet.
After quiet time, we settled in to make our first cookies of the season. I was surprised to discover that this year, Neko knew how to decorate like a champ, and Shep was the one who embraced excess (there really is a cookie under all those decorations). Ellery looked at us all like we were nuts for this whole decorating business, and just kept eating toppings.
After dinner, with the promise of a drive-thru light display, the kids eagerly threw on pajamas, and off we went. The back home to hang stockings and off to bed, with surprisingly little protest.
By the time they go to college, I'll have this down to a science.