Tracking December

The houses are constructed. The icing glue is set. Cousins are waiting patiently at the dining room table, resisting attempts to get into the building materials: red and black licorice, sour patch kids, jujubes, and snowcaps. Soon the butter knives are in hand and the fun begins! Globs of icing lazily hold a candy here and there. Licorice rope flops as a poor roof line. No matter, the fingers carrying quickly divert to smiling faces and cheeks are filled with more sugary sweets than any mother would like to admit.

It isn’t long before Cody has Ryder by the neck in a sugar-buzzed embrace of pure joy. Life is good at the Mini Mack house – their Aunt Michal and Cousin Savannah have brought the start to what is to become a magical Christmas! Pig and Rory whole heartily agree that the festivities are “delicious!”

The days following were, as any kid would hope, Christmas wonder. Staying up late to watch Christmas movies in fleece pajamas. Going out for pizza, and for dessert, neighborhood Christmas light hunting while eating candy canes. Shopping with Daddy where learning to keep a secret was expertly achieved by Ryder.  A not so silent night Christmas Eve service where Cody snuffed a candle with his bare hands and attempted to roam the aisles because he could charm everyone in our section (or so he thought).

The annual cookie day was a chocolaty success as usual! With Grandma’s instruction we were in her workshop putting together Santa hat brownies, melted peanut butter snowmen, reindeer noses and stained glass cookies. But the big winner was Chris’ suggested recipe, Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies. Ritz crackers, sandwiching peanut butter and dunked in semi-sweet chocolate. The hardest part was convincing Rory to not “clean” her fork between dunks. But there was a solution for that as well – puppy kisses! Aunt Beth’s Lola helped keep the shop tidy and the little faces of those closest to her.

Christmas Day finally arrived and was quickly declared, “The Best Day Ever!” by Ryder (ok yes, he tends to declare nearly every day “The Best Day Ever”, but is that really all bad?). Cody ate tree side while we opened gifts and were soon surrounded by Super Mini Macks with amazing muscles. It has been four days since the suit was donned, and aside from underwear changes, I dare say the suit has not come off. What can I say? Super Heroes are in high demand during the holiday season.

We drove to Oma and Papa’s house (sadly not on our bikes as we had just a few days earlier) where Rory donned her new pink helmet (the only thing she asked for Christmas) while eating her Christmas waffles. We then watched movies, played Mexican train, and sipped tea until Cody was sufficiently no longer “hulk baby” and was ready to go for Christmas Day round three at Grandma and Grandpa’s.

As always, Grandma outdid herself with an outstanding Christmas feast, stocking stuffers galore (my favorite was a new mixing spoon that has a wink-smiley face), and presents with loving excitement. But before presents were opened there was a short Christmas dancing celebration with none other that Grandma and her amazing five grandbabies!

Aunt Beth gave Rory a princess wardrobe that was the hit of the night. Cody hid in the mounding piles of paper. And Ryder gathered more warrior weapons for his super suit. Because of course Spider Man uses ninja swords and matching underoos! How else could the day continue to be, “The Best Day Ever!”

 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Mini Macks!