Twas The Week Before Christmas...

Austin and his preschool caroled last Thursday at an area retirement center. As any big brother would do, he informed Audrey on the way over that she could come but she couldn't sing.

After caroling we visited Santa at Jackson Crossing. Audrey had already had an in-depth conversation the day before and was uninterested in repeating her list. Lexi was less than thrilled herself, although when asked what Santa says she responds, "Ho, ho, ho, blah, blah, blah, blah."

Hosmer family Christmas, Sunday evening. Austin received a remote-controlled monster truck from Great Grandma Thomas. He has been driving this around all week, giving Ed plenty of exercise in the process. Audrey got exactly what she wanted from Grandpa and Grandma Hosmer- pink cowgirl boots. They are slightly too big which means she will be sporting them around all summer with her shorts and bikini. Lexi wasn't feeling the greatest- she's busy working on her back molars- and the excitement of the evening was a little much for her.

Christmas Eve day Tom, Austin, his dad, and brother Paul took a quick trip over to Henry Ford Museum. Christmas Eve nite we always spend with my father's side of the family. My aunt and uncle have been hosting the get together for the past couple of years, as always, their house was gorgeous. We had a wonderful dinner and Tom and I tag teamed Lexi so that we were both able to enjoy some adult conversation. My cousins are all much younger than me so my kids always have fun playing, too. When we arrived home, we discovered that Santa's elves had left presents under the kids' trees. As Austin unwrapped his package and discovered it was pj's he said very matter of factly, "the elves always bring pajamas." This is a twist on one of Tom's childhood traditions in that he and his brothers always got new pajamas on Christmas Eve. In Hosmerville the elves deliver them adding to the magic of Christmas.

Once the kids were tucked in, Tom's brother Paul and my brother Micah stopped by. Each year the three spirits of Christmas- rum, vodka, and gin- come to bring some Christmas cheer to the Hosmerville adults. My brother served as bartender and made some yummy Captain Morgan's and cider. Despite the overabundance of alcohol, we enjoyed in moderation and no one awoke Christmas morning with a hangover. Micah even managed to find the bathroom this time and spared the snowman sitting on my front porch.

How the living room looked before the kids discovered Santa's visit. Audrey crawled into our bed around 7 and whispered, "I saw presents under the tree!" and then thankfully fell back to sleep. Surprisingly my kids did not get up until almost 9 am.

Lexi got a new chair from my mom. She actually sat in it the whole time we opened presents. Austin modeling his chef's attire. He loves to bake with me and he wanted his own apron and chef's hat from Santa- luckily Grandma came through.

Audrey doing a Christmas day cheer for daddy with her new pom- poms. Later, she was able to get Austin's new baking attire away from him to parade through the house singing, "do you know the muffin girl?" I cannot keep clothes on this child!