The Second Wind

One of the Dillards is sleeping.  The other is camped out in the garage floor surrounded by tiny, unidentifiable pieces of wood and pages of instructions.  And, I am praying for a second wind.  My house is a disaster and I am trying desperately to make one last domestic attempt at containing the mess until the flood gates open for Christmas festivities at home. 

Max went to sleep tonight with an agenda.  The magic of Christmas is alive and well in our house this year, and I have a little man that will exude fire from his footsteps when the sun comes up in the morning.  A few nights ago, we were reading some Christmas books before bed and he asks me how may days there are until Christmas (this question has been posed about a million and seven times over the last week alone).  Three days.  Three.  You will go to bed and wake up three times before it's Christmas, I explain to him.  "Good. I am so excited about my Christmas.  In three days, it will SNOW!"

Well, although I am certain that we can bake cookies, make reindeer food, sing a birthday song to Baby Jesus before the days is done, I am certain that 58 degrees will not allow for snow.  I just can't win them all:)

It's been a great couple of weekends of family--we have played hard, hugged lots of necks, and eaten way too much to defend.  So, yes, I am tired, but I am so thankful that we have a happy, healthy and very active little boy sleeping snug as a bug.  My heart is still so heavy for those who have lost their babies over the last few weeks, and for that, the chaos can just be still.

Just lately, I started to see pictures of Brandon and I and think, "when did we start looking like parents?"  We are, and we do, but (on the flip side) there's no one else I'd rather get wrinkles with:) 

  And, here are a few of our Christmas happies thus far! 

We adopted the Christmas Craft practice with the Dillard cousins this year. And, although Max has his head in his hands, it proved to be pretty fun!  They made Christmas tress and reindeer food.  Max ate his, of course!

Max and his cousin, Addison, playing with a lego pirate ship first thing in the morning.  He was so excited for a sleepover!

The Dillard Cousins!  I asked them to scoot together, and I ended up with a boys vs. girls set up.  Oh well!

These two pirates stayed in consistent character for about 36 hours.  They LOVED their new pirate gear!

It becomes increasing harder everytime to get the boys all looking in the same direction.  I expect next year to be even worse, seeing as how Brady will be mobile:)

Merry Christmas Eve to all:)