The children were nestled all snug in their beds.

Underneath that quilt in the corner is the mini-trampoline Mark WRESTLED for an hour and a half.

Mark explaining the meaning of Christmas symbols taught to him by St. Nick (his dad's tradition).

Some of the homemade goodness, finally unveiled:

And the barricade against kids who go pee in the night:MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Our folksy Christmas performance.

Here the girls and I do our living room chamber music thing last Sunday.
This is mostly for the grandparents.

Don't know why Mary Tessa's video isn't working--but I put in two places just in case it decides to come on board.

Exposed.

I thought one of the kids got out of bed and I was going to be discovered, with all my last minute elf-workshop items out. I went in to the kitchen to see what was making noises. No kid. But a cockroach BIG enough to make enough noise that I thought there was a kid in there.


UGH.

!!!!

AND MARK'S ALREADY IN BED WITH THE WORST COLD EVER.

HELP!






update, 5 minutes later:
i have slayed the beast.

between making all the homemade present goodness and defeating that Creature by myself, my family sure is lucky to have me.

For lack of a better word. or two.

I want to make this cake. Even after an entire month, that's all I'm saying. Lack of better words.